4 out of 4 stars
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Island Games: Mystery of the Four Quadrants is Caleb J. Boyer's debut novel and the first of a series of adventure books titled Island Games. Matthew and Ryan, two best friends, wake up on a sunny beach with almost no memory of their past. They only remember their names and that the last thing they were doing was playing PlayStation. They have no idea how they ended up on the beach on an island, who put them there, and why. It becomes clear that they will have to face a series of difficult challenges to survive and get off the island. Will Matthew and Ryan be able to gather the inner strength to overcome the island's challenges? Will their friendship be strong enough against adversity?
Classified under the genre of young adult fiction (YA), this book is an easy read consisting of 228 pages. Boyer was only 12 years old when he wrote the story, which is an impressive accomplishment for a kid of that age. It was also remarkable that I did not find grammatical errors in the book. That being said, readers should not compare Boyer's writing to that of adults. His writing style is innocent and simple. Sometimes, it is repetitive. For example, he repeats many times that the boys are exhausted after a challenge and thankful after finally finding food packets and bottles of water.
My favorite aspect of the book was its lessons. The most significant lesson I took from the story was about friendship. Matthew and Ryan are best friends who behave like brothers with a strong relationship. As they overcome challenges, such as escaping a shark and killing ugly beasts, they realize that doing the challenges together will increase their chances of survival. Going their separate ways, bickering, and negativity do not help their situation at all.
Another important lesson of the story was about attitude when dealing with harsh circumstances. The only thing Matthew and Ryan know is that they have to overcome challenges to survive. Just like it happens in real life, these challenges are unknown and unexpected. One moment the boys are trying to survive the scorching heat of a dessert and the next they are at the edge of an ice-cold mountain. Nevertheless, they have to keep going. Matthew perfectly says: "A warrior acts in spite of fear and is willing to do whatever it takes, even if it's hard. A warrior is bigger than any obstacle and never gives up."
I did not like two aspects of this book. First, the repetitive language was a little boring for me. However, I understand that I cannot expect Boyer to write like an experienced and adult writer. I think it is extraordinary that he wrote a good book at a young age, and I expect great stories from him as he grows as a person and a writer. Second, I think Boyer could have elaborated more on the mystery of the four quadrants at the end of the book. Perhaps, he will explain it in the future books of the series.
Without a doubt, I rate Island Games: Mystery of the Four Quadrants by Caleb J. Boyer 4 out of 4 stars because it is full of adventures and discusses principled life lessons. This story is perfect for kids in middle school and young adults. Lastly, I would like to see this book adapted into a film.
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Island Games
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