3 out of 4 stars
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The Island of Camig by Brenda Munitich is a fantasy story for children.
After getting into a fight near the circus, Ivor and Thanjana find themselves thrust into a magical world where they must put aside their differences and work together to get back home. Much like a circus itself, the Island of Camig is full of all kinds of strangeness. There are clowns that speak in riddles, Chess playing kings that are always fighting, a peaceful city with robots and cameras that watch their every move, and much more. They are given some simple directions on how to get back home, all they have to do is cross the island. However, crossing it is not as easy as it seems for there is danger everywhere.
While the story is geared toward Africa, it carries a message that a child in any country could relate to. The message is one of love, friendship, and peace. I like the way the author incorporates this message through riddles and problem solving. I think it is something that children will enjoy because it is interactive.
There are a few areas I feel should have been explained better. For instance, when the boys suddenly find themselves in Camig, it took me a while to realize that they were no longer in their own world. This is due to the fact that the setting is not described very much and the boys’ reactions do not seem very realistic for their situation. There are some other areas as well where the description was lacking.
The book is fast paced and a lot happens in a short span of time. I think some areas are a little rushed, but it is a good pace for children who get bored easily. There is plenty of action to keep their attention.
I wish the characters had been better developed. Although they have different stories and backgrounds, they don't seem to have much of a personality. The way they speak and think does not quite capture who they are. Personally, I dislike internal dialogue that is more than an occasional sentence or two. I would much rather know what a character is thinking by what they say or do. That is not to say the author went overboard with the internal dialogue, just that it would have been better with less.
My rating for The Island of Camig is 3 out of 4 stars. Overall, it is a cute story with a great message. I do not think most children would notice the things I mentioned about the internal dialogue or descriptions so it would not hinder their enjoyment. It is also a book children of any culture would enjoy, especially those who love riddles. One thing I will note is that the book’s age level is listed as 10-15, but I think it is much better suited for the 6-9 (possibly 9-12) age range. It is a bit too simple for teens.
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The Island of Camig
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