I was extremely excited to read this book. I absolutely loved S.T.A.G.S, D.O.G.S and F.O.X.E.S and cannot wait for the next two books in the series but until then I decided to read The Island by the same author, Oxford University and University of Venice graduate M.A. Bennett.
The book follows Link who has come from America to England and is struggling to settle into his new school, Osney. With its ranking system of athletic ability equating to where your position is in the school, from top dog to practically slave to those in higher positions and it’s insane traditions, Link quickly finds himself at the bottom of the food chain and the continuous butt of the joke.
After enjoying three of M.A. Bennet’s books, I had high hopes but unfortunately, I was disappointed. I thought it was going to be about a group of teenagers who crash on to an island on their way to a school trip and must do what they can to survive. I wanted feral teenagers but got a bunch of useless wankers and a hallucinating sex pest.
The storyline was farfetched, unbelievable, and really did not make much sense. I found it hard to really care about any of the characters as the majority are just awful people and the ones who were quite likable did not get enough ‘airtime’ and there was about three times when I decided to give up on the book and then continued hoping that the ending would piece it all together and make the rest of the story better when all is revealed. But it got worse!
Spoilers below:
I thought that I would feel for the main character and at times I did, I hate bullying and felt sorry for him… until he became an arsehole which was the moment he woke up on ‘his’ island. Link seemed to think that the world owed him something. Which I guess that was the point, but it was so extreme to the point of objectifying women and literally starving the nicest girl on the island who then forgives him too quickly. And despite turning this way so quickly, he then was the opposite and didn’t really seem that fussed when he found out that his parents had been behind the whole thing all along. I understand that he has the advantage on the island with his basic knowledge of fire starting and well not much else and after being bullied so harshly he holds a lot of anger to these people to then being seen as the survival expert on the island it would give you power and that power might go to your head. But the bullies rushed to him and admired him quicker than I felt was realistic, him turning into such an arse was too quick and then the forgiving and moving forward happened quicker than I could even roll my eyes.
I did like that some of the characters became nicer and they opened up to each other about their insecurities and there were some sweet moments between each other. Some of these teenagers’ experiences and their way of dealing with the pressure of school at some parts where relatable. But then after the whole ordeal they kind of just became arseholes again or just got on with their lives without taking anything from their experiences. I feel like these strong headed characters would be left with PTSD or at least a whole lot of anger towards the organisers of this experience and their parents for letting it go ahead. They seemed to just accept what had happened and then… new school term time to get on with it. Personally, I’d be rebelling and acting out, big time! Also how dare his parents try and discipline him for his mild drug use while trapped on an island, not knowing if he’d ever get off the island. Like come on! Really?
Also the last part of the book, of Link in the future was so pointless in my opinion and it made me dislike the book even more. I feel it would have made sense for him to be in a therapy session or disowning his awful parents. Not looking back like ‘Ah yeah… that time I was abandoned on an island with nothing but my school bullies and some random shite.. good times.’
I’m still looking forward to the next two S.T.A.G.S books but I just can’t get my head around this being written by the same author. This is the first book in a long time that I have really disliked. Some I thought I disliked but then the ending made it all connect and fall into place and gave me a whole new perspective on the story and I really hoped that this would do that but alas it did not.
Hibiscus_Flower 