Review of Island Games
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Kelli Diane Seymour
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Review of Island Games
[Following is a volunteer review of "Island Games" by Caleb J. Boyer.]
In Island Games, Caleb J. Boyer creates a fantasy island in which two best friends have become stranded with no recollection as to how they got there. During their time on the island the two must face the challenges that arise almost back to back. These challenges test their survival skills, friendship, knowledge, and endurance. It becomes clear to the duo that this island is not a normal island, but rather a simulation of an island with strange animals, tasks, weather, and rewards along the way. A sort of life or death game the two have become stuck in.
Overall, this book is a fast read with interesting situations on almost every page. Stories such as this always keep me wanting to know what comes next before I can turn the page. I do enjoyed reading about how the characters needed to change their attitudes and mindset in order to survive, as we all must in life. Boyer does a great job of sprinkling life lessons about adapting to our surroundings in this book.
While I did enjoy this book and believe the author will only improve with age (he was only 12 at the time this book was published), I did not like the way the book ended without a clear ending. There is no indication of a second book, nor do we know what happens to the two boys after they complete all the challenges they have faced on the island. Instead the two just kind of know their time on the island is over and the scene fades to black. There is also one theory that comes up twice and then goes untouched throughout the book. The boys twice dream they are in a laboratory, discuss this, and then no more effort goes into that theory. Perhaps if there is a second book we will find out the relevance of these dreams. Until then we are left to guess as to what happens to the boys and whether or not they are actually in a control lab experiment.
Despite the fact that this story is not one that I would reread I feel that the author did a great job covering the basic storyline and the book was well edited. Throughout the entirety of the book I only spotted one error. Overall, I would give this book a 3 out of 4. One reason is because there was the theme that the boys were in a laboratory rather than an actual island that went untouched. Another is because there was no clear ending. However, hopefully these two reasons will be addressed in a second book, which I will gladly read.
I would recommend this book to older children and young adults struggling to accept changes happening in their life or are experiencing family turmoil. Or anyone in this age range as growing up can be difficult for all of us sometimes.
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Island Games
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In Island Games, Caleb J. Boyer creates a fantasy island in which two best friends have become stranded with no recollection as to how they got there. During their time on the island the two must face the challenges that arise almost back to back. These challenges test their survival skills, friendship, knowledge, and endurance. It becomes clear to the duo that this island is not a normal island, but rather a simulation of an island with strange animals, tasks, weather, and rewards along the way. A sort of life or death game the two have become stuck in.
Overall, this book is a fast read with interesting situations on almost every page. Stories such as this always keep me wanting to know what comes next before I can turn the page. I do enjoyed reading about how the characters needed to change their attitudes and mindset in order to survive, as we all must in life. Boyer does a great job of sprinkling life lessons about adapting to our surroundings in this book.
While I did enjoy this book and believe the author will only improve with age (he was only 12 at the time this book was published), I did not like the way the book ended without a clear ending. There is no indication of a second book, nor do we know what happens to the two boys after they complete all the challenges they have faced on the island. Instead the two just kind of know their time on the island is over and the scene fades to black. There is also one theory that comes up twice and then goes untouched throughout the book. The boys twice dream they are in a laboratory, discuss this, and then no more effort goes into that theory. Perhaps if there is a second book we will find out the relevance of these dreams. Until then we are left to guess as to what happens to the boys and whether or not they are actually in a control lab experiment.
Despite the fact that this story is not one that I would reread I feel that the author did a great job covering the basic storyline and the book was well edited. Throughout the entirety of the book I only spotted one error. Overall, I would give this book a 3 out of 4. One reason is because there was the theme that the boys were in a laboratory rather than an actual island that went untouched. Another is because there was no clear ending. However, hopefully these two reasons will be addressed in a second book, which I will gladly read.
I would recommend this book to older children and young adults struggling to accept changes happening in their life or are experiencing family turmoil. Or anyone in this age range as growing up can be difficult for all of us sometimes.
******
Island Games
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
