Review of Starboard Eight
-
Alvaro Garcia 1
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 37
- Joined: 28 Sep 2022, 15:18
- Favorite Book: From Drift to SHIFT
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 34
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-alvaro-garcia-1.html
- Latest Review: All Body Bags and No Knickers by Shawe Ruckus
Review of Starboard Eight
[Following is a volunteer review of "Starboard Eight" by Brian Casey.]
Starboard Eight, written by Brian Casey, is the story of Jesse, a young man suffering from anger issues, who is sent to a school that operates from a ship. The classes are mixed with sailing, and students must carry their weight and take watches in the dead of night. Jesse meets some other troubled teenagers with whom he shares a compartment; their relationships evolve from sheer indifference to something more akin to family, as the experiences lived in the middle of the sea cannot be easily forgotten. He also meets Gold, a kindred soul who shares many similarities with Jesse, and those two will butt heads as only two angsty teenagers secluded in a ship can do.
The best aspect of the book is the relationships between the characters, how each of them deals with their own past, and how that changes the way they talk to one another; some are fearful and jumpy, and others are egotistical and prideful. Seeing how those relationships change as the story progresses is fascinating, and the author makes it feel seamless. The parallelism between Jesse and Gold is drawn beautifully; at first, Jesse sees Gold as a bully, mean, and cruel. However, as events start unfolding, Jesse learns that they might be much more similar than he would have wanted, forcing Jesse to confront his weaknesses.
I found myself laughing at Jesse's antics, he is a cheeky kid, and his bravado and egotistical tendencies are hilarious. This keeps the book light-hearted and helps the plot flow smoothly. Although some compelling messages can be drawn from Jesse's adventures, a common theme is how sometimes our emotions control us and can draw our worst sides. Jesse's own problem reflects the one his father suffered in his youth, making their relationship feel strained and complicated. Perseverance and giving your best are powerful messages that stand out throughout the book; Jesse manages to overcome difficulties by applying himself and his mates' help, becoming a proper sailor.
Jesse is both a sailor and a pilot, which means that a lot of vocabulary related to those topics is used; this makes the book difficult to follow at times, mainly when they are working the sails. However, it's not a very big problem, and the author makes an effort to explain the more common terms. In addition, I found the book to be exceptionally well-edited.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I loved this story and couldn't put the book down. The book targets young adults and teenagers, and I believe it is a compelling book with some great insights, which can also be enjoyed for its riveting plot.
******
Starboard Eight
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Starboard Eight, written by Brian Casey, is the story of Jesse, a young man suffering from anger issues, who is sent to a school that operates from a ship. The classes are mixed with sailing, and students must carry their weight and take watches in the dead of night. Jesse meets some other troubled teenagers with whom he shares a compartment; their relationships evolve from sheer indifference to something more akin to family, as the experiences lived in the middle of the sea cannot be easily forgotten. He also meets Gold, a kindred soul who shares many similarities with Jesse, and those two will butt heads as only two angsty teenagers secluded in a ship can do.
The best aspect of the book is the relationships between the characters, how each of them deals with their own past, and how that changes the way they talk to one another; some are fearful and jumpy, and others are egotistical and prideful. Seeing how those relationships change as the story progresses is fascinating, and the author makes it feel seamless. The parallelism between Jesse and Gold is drawn beautifully; at first, Jesse sees Gold as a bully, mean, and cruel. However, as events start unfolding, Jesse learns that they might be much more similar than he would have wanted, forcing Jesse to confront his weaknesses.
I found myself laughing at Jesse's antics, he is a cheeky kid, and his bravado and egotistical tendencies are hilarious. This keeps the book light-hearted and helps the plot flow smoothly. Although some compelling messages can be drawn from Jesse's adventures, a common theme is how sometimes our emotions control us and can draw our worst sides. Jesse's own problem reflects the one his father suffered in his youth, making their relationship feel strained and complicated. Perseverance and giving your best are powerful messages that stand out throughout the book; Jesse manages to overcome difficulties by applying himself and his mates' help, becoming a proper sailor.
Jesse is both a sailor and a pilot, which means that a lot of vocabulary related to those topics is used; this makes the book difficult to follow at times, mainly when they are working the sails. However, it's not a very big problem, and the author makes an effort to explain the more common terms. In addition, I found the book to be exceptionally well-edited.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I loved this story and couldn't put the book down. The book targets young adults and teenagers, and I believe it is a compelling book with some great insights, which can also be enjoyed for its riveting plot.
******
Starboard Eight
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: All Body Bags and No Knickers by Shawe Ruckus
