Review of Impact Zone

[MNW3]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Impact Zone" by B.D. Roy.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Impact Zone by B.D. Roy is a heartfelt, coming-of-age, story that follows fifteen-year-old Jack through major life changes that encourage him to grow and mature. His parents’ recent divorce is the catalyst for many emotional and physical changes in his life, forcing Jack to confront his feelings on the matter and make better decisions.

The first thing I noticed upon reading was how personable and likeable the characters were. They were also very consistent and felt so real; clearly, the author knew his characters very well. The setting in the story is also very descriptive in a way that made me feel as though I was there alongside the characters, especially during scenes relating to surfing.

Forgiveness is a prominent theme in this story, where Jack must ask himself time and again whether he should hold resentment or forgive those who may have wronged him. Many valuable lessons about forgiveness were displayed in this story, where instead of seeing a situation as black and white, characters had the opportunity to learn that there is always more to a story than what’s being lead on. I like the way this theme is tied into the different events that take place throughout the story.

I also appreciated the lens through which the parents in the story are viewed. In the story, the parents are vulnerable and imperfect in a way that humanizes their actions. I can resonate with the realization that one’s parents are not all-knowing beings, but humans who make mistakes. This is something that Jack has to learn and overcome, which makes him even more relatable as a character.

Despite being in the Young Adult category, I would mainly recommend this story to teens, as the main character is a teenager himself. My only complaint is that I think some of the lessons in the story could have been described more subtly in a way that assumes the reader can read between the lines and make certain discoveries on their own. However, with that being said, if this story is directed to a younger audience, those readers may find this writing style very valuable and have more of an appreciation for this direct approach than myself.

Overall, Impact Zone is a beautiful story full of heart with a lot of valuable takeaways and it was such a joy to read.

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Impact Zone
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