Review of Island Games

[Henry Patrovic]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Island Games" by Caleb J. Boyer.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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The young adult novel “Island Games” by Caleb J. Boyer is about two young boys, who wake up on an island without any memory of their past. But this island isn’t normal. It is filled with deadly challenges and mighty beasts that want to kill them. The reward for beating them? Food, water, and another day to live. Their will, courage, and most importantly, friendship will be put to the test repeatedly. If they want to leave the island and find out who put them there, they will need to work together.

The concept of the island is an interesting one. I like the idea of beating challenges to gain rewards. It is satisfying to read. Most of the challenges are also unique and deadly. Some of them are to simply survive in a difficult environment, like a desert or a snowstorm, but those are also interesting in their own way. One small problem I have with the challenges is that most of them are completed by brute force and not smart thinking. This is not exactly an issue, but a wasted opportunity.

The characters are very important because their friendship is key to the plot. So, what are they like? Their character dynamic is good. One of them is a bit reckless, while the other one is smart and thinks before acting. Their interactions are enjoyable. The dialogue on the other hand is sometimes problematic. It ranges from being funny to being very unnatural. Some jokes also drag on for too long.

Another problem is the ending. It explains nothing and leaves the reader disappointed. The author tries to make it symbolic and meaningful but does not succeed. It would be a better book if the author had continued writing it like an adventure novel. The writing style is also an issue, as it can sometimes be awkward to read. The reason for this is that the same words are often used multiple times in one sentence. This is very noticeable and annoying to read.

I give this book two out of four stars. There are simply too many negatives outweighing the good aspects. The ending and the writing style bring the rating down considerably. The book has a lot of potential but it is not used fully. I recommend this book to people who like action stories where friendship and trust play an important role. These two elements are very prevalent in this novel.

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Island Games
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