Review of Island Games
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Miranda Alex
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- Latest Review: Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer
Review of Island Games
[Following is a volunteer review of "Island Games" by Caleb J. Boyer.]
Uncertain of how they got there or where they are, two lads suddenly find themselves on the coast of an unknown island. They have a sneaking suspicion that someone or something is manipulating everything that occurs to them on the weird island, testing their relationship.
The boys are increasingly convinced that a master puppeteer is watching them as they venture deeper into the jungle and wherever else they are being transported on the strange island, facing challenge after challenge that puts their lives in danger. The boys have no recollection of their past other than their long friendship. However, they quickly realized they could overcome any problem set in front of them by working as a team. They endure the circular barriers placed before them with the minimal supplies of food packs and water bottles while being irrationally intrigued by the similarity of the form. Along with trials, people also acquire lessons in life that they would not have known earlier in their regular lives.
When I could see myself beside the characters as they went through the journey, I knew a novel had captured my attention. But, unfortunately, I wasn't interested in this book at all. Page after page, I kept hoping it would get better, but I was disappointed. The first few chapters needed more excitement, with either mundane or unoriginal scenarios. And the lads continued making the same error by impulsively entering situations without thinking or exercising prudence. And this was when they discovered that everything that happened on the island was part of a game that was being played only for them. Well, their youth may as well be the cause of these hasty actions.
The characteristics of the characters were obvious from the beginning and persisted throughout the book. The qualities of friendship, teamwork, trust, and optimism that this book aims to instill in its audience are admirable. I am aware of the importance of friends in our lives. One line, in particular, remained in my head: "Sometimes things that are right there in front of us are unseen." Good work, Mr. Boyer!
I give Island Games by Caleb J. Boyera a score of 2 out of 5. As a bestseller, I had high hopes for the author. Despite the author's age, I gave this work a rating. Regardless of a person's gender, age, or tastes, a novel's strengths or shortcomings should be addressed. A great book should fall just short of being great. Because I thought this book was a letdown, I didn't give it a 3. Almost every significant challenge the two faced could have been more interesting and notable. I thought he could do better, even if this were to be expected from a 12-year-old writer. I didn't award one since the narrative wasn't that horrible for a novice and had no obvious grammatical mistakes.
The novel needs to include this genre's significant thrills and excitement. So when one of the boys woke up with a beast breathing down on his face, I thought it was humorous. At this time, I questioned why the lads had not yet realized that nothing happening to them was real or intended to kill them rather than provide them with difficult difficulties. Nobody was in danger of dying. Though I have read better books, there were times when the book made me smile with its lighthearted settings.
I didn't believe Matthew would be astonished to find a key in a chest. I might understand being surprised or horrified, but being shocked is unbelievable. Who may be a crucial surprise? Unless it was a key he misplaced, a key that had a face, or anything unusual?
I suggest this book to mature adults like me. I would not. I wouldn't be shocked if some readers stopped reading and completed the book. This may be a fascinating book for young readers, possibly some 6-year-old kids and below, but it would provoke yawns and boredom in 7-year-old kids and beyond. As the eternal optimist that I am, I persevered to the end, hoping against hope that the experiences would become more thrilling. But regrettably, I came up short. It became boring seeing the same sort of animals all the time! Every time I purchase or read a book, I usually read the last few chapters to determine whether or not I will like the conclusion. So it was with this book as well: I was very tempted to do it, particularly after being intrigued by the use of circular forms in their problems. But I persisted in my belief that the book's final chapters could be its saving grace, so why not hang on? I should have waited more quickly than I did.
******
Island Games
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Uncertain of how they got there or where they are, two lads suddenly find themselves on the coast of an unknown island. They have a sneaking suspicion that someone or something is manipulating everything that occurs to them on the weird island, testing their relationship.
The boys are increasingly convinced that a master puppeteer is watching them as they venture deeper into the jungle and wherever else they are being transported on the strange island, facing challenge after challenge that puts their lives in danger. The boys have no recollection of their past other than their long friendship. However, they quickly realized they could overcome any problem set in front of them by working as a team. They endure the circular barriers placed before them with the minimal supplies of food packs and water bottles while being irrationally intrigued by the similarity of the form. Along with trials, people also acquire lessons in life that they would not have known earlier in their regular lives.
When I could see myself beside the characters as they went through the journey, I knew a novel had captured my attention. But, unfortunately, I wasn't interested in this book at all. Page after page, I kept hoping it would get better, but I was disappointed. The first few chapters needed more excitement, with either mundane or unoriginal scenarios. And the lads continued making the same error by impulsively entering situations without thinking or exercising prudence. And this was when they discovered that everything that happened on the island was part of a game that was being played only for them. Well, their youth may as well be the cause of these hasty actions.
The characteristics of the characters were obvious from the beginning and persisted throughout the book. The qualities of friendship, teamwork, trust, and optimism that this book aims to instill in its audience are admirable. I am aware of the importance of friends in our lives. One line, in particular, remained in my head: "Sometimes things that are right there in front of us are unseen." Good work, Mr. Boyer!
I give Island Games by Caleb J. Boyera a score of 2 out of 5. As a bestseller, I had high hopes for the author. Despite the author's age, I gave this work a rating. Regardless of a person's gender, age, or tastes, a novel's strengths or shortcomings should be addressed. A great book should fall just short of being great. Because I thought this book was a letdown, I didn't give it a 3. Almost every significant challenge the two faced could have been more interesting and notable. I thought he could do better, even if this were to be expected from a 12-year-old writer. I didn't award one since the narrative wasn't that horrible for a novice and had no obvious grammatical mistakes.
The novel needs to include this genre's significant thrills and excitement. So when one of the boys woke up with a beast breathing down on his face, I thought it was humorous. At this time, I questioned why the lads had not yet realized that nothing happening to them was real or intended to kill them rather than provide them with difficult difficulties. Nobody was in danger of dying. Though I have read better books, there were times when the book made me smile with its lighthearted settings.
I didn't believe Matthew would be astonished to find a key in a chest. I might understand being surprised or horrified, but being shocked is unbelievable. Who may be a crucial surprise? Unless it was a key he misplaced, a key that had a face, or anything unusual?
I suggest this book to mature adults like me. I would not. I wouldn't be shocked if some readers stopped reading and completed the book. This may be a fascinating book for young readers, possibly some 6-year-old kids and below, but it would provoke yawns and boredom in 7-year-old kids and beyond. As the eternal optimist that I am, I persevered to the end, hoping against hope that the experiences would become more thrilling. But regrettably, I came up short. It became boring seeing the same sort of animals all the time! Every time I purchase or read a book, I usually read the last few chapters to determine whether or not I will like the conclusion. So it was with this book as well: I was very tempted to do it, particularly after being intrigued by the use of circular forms in their problems. But I persisted in my belief that the book's final chapters could be its saving grace, so why not hang on? I should have waited more quickly than I did.
******
Island Games
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer
