What do you think?
Lost Girls
No parents. No rules. No way home.
Fourteen-year-old Bonnie MacDonald couldn't be more excited for a camping trip on an island off the coast of Thailand. But when a strong current sweeps Bonnie and her friends past their appointed campsite, depositing them instead on what the boatman calls a "forbidden island," they're just happy to have reached dry land.
Overnight, things take a turn for the worse. Three torturous days pass, but the boatman doesn't return, and what once seemed like a vacation in paradise becomes a battle against the elements.
Peppered with short, frantic entries from Bonnie's journal as she struggles to survive, Lost Girls tells the page-turning, heart-pounding story of a group of teen girls fighting for their lives.
Fourteen-year-old Bonnie MacDonald couldn't be more excited for a camping trip on an island off the coast of Thailand. But when a strong current sweeps Bonnie and her friends past their appointed campsite, depositing them instead on what the boatman calls a "forbidden island," they're just happy to have reached dry land.
Overnight, things take a turn for the worse. Three torturous days pass, but the boatman doesn't return, and what once seemed like a vacation in paradise becomes a battle against the elements.
Peppered with short, frantic entries from Bonnie's journal as she struggles to survive, Lost Girls tells the page-turning, heart-pounding story of a group of teen girls fighting for their lives.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2010
About the author
Ann Kelley
23 books15 followersAnn Kelley is the author of The Burying Beetle (shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award) and The Bower Bird (Winner of the Costa Children’s Book of the Year Award). She has also published two poetry collections, The Poetry Remedy (1999) and Paper Whites (2001). She has won several prizes for her poems and has run courses for aspiring poets from her home. She is an honorary teaching fellow at Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter and Plymouth. Her collected photographic works are Born and Bred (1988) and Sea Front (2005).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
July 8, 2012
okay, a book in which a group of girls get stranded on a "forbidden" island in the thai archipelago with no real supplies or survival know-how and must fend for themselves and deal with the stresses of conflicting personalities and heat, wildlife, lack of food and other perils? lord of the flies with lady-parts??
oh, sign me up right now.
and yet... this one didn't do it for me. not as much as i had hoped. before i read beauty queens, i thought that was what that book would be like, it turned out to be a completely different kind of book, and i loved the life out of it, and this one is more along the lines of what i was hoping for from b.q., and yet i am still unsatisfied.
there are some good things. i am always grateful when a book like this aimed at a younger audience doesn't shy away from the horrific realities that would actually confront young girls stranded on an island: injuries, death, chiggers, odor, the necessity of latrines, menstruation.
it was good to see that those details were not overlooked or prettified. and there were some characters with know-how, so there were kind of a lot of facts dropped, sometimes clumsily, into conversation about jungle survival and how to test for edible plants (although any edibility test that ends with step nine wait five hours without eating anything else, and if you aren't sick or dying, it's edible. worries me. i do not like that "if." i thought the first 8 very cautious and sensible steps would prevent me from dying??? no??)
their ostensible "adult" is a scottish woman they all admire because she is so gorgeous and glamorous, but gorgeous and glamorous do not go very far in the wilderness, especially when g&g is working through her own personal problems and finds it easier to take solace in smuggled whiskey and hallucinogenic plants. so the girls are on their own.
and they are mostly no good at survival.
two of them band together with g&g, and spend their time putting on makeup and doing their hair and getting wasted. one girl is dead, one is injured, one has lost her glasses (pppiiiiggggyyyy!), one of them just can't stop with the science facts, one is super-strong but meek, and our narrator can't seem to rally everyone together and comes across as bossy and ineffectual to the other girls. then there are the younger girls. okay, i know this takes place during the vietnam war, so it is a different time and maybe i am just more accustomed to reading about modern-day kids, but there is a ten-year-old girl in this with an imaginary friend, who clings to her teddy bear, and is unaware that isn't real. now, the teddy bear i get - in a crisis situation, you cling to whatever you have that is familiar, and a bunch of the younger girls have teddies with them. but the imaginary friend thing predates the trauma, and i don't know - do ten-year-old girls still have imaginary friends? i feel like that is the social crutch of a much younger girl.
for me, this did have enough of the physical danger to hold my interest, but not nearly enough of the psychological. it wasn't as tense and immediate as i think it could have been. some characters got lazy, some got bitchy, some got dead, but it lacks what is truly great about L.O.T.F., where we see the characters falling under the influence of their freedom and their new reality, replacing their civilized moral code with one older and wilder. but this isn't that kind of story.
it's fine, it's just not great. it is based on a true story, so with that what you will, and it is an ARC. so maybe the little inconsistencies will work themselves out or maybe the story will somehow get tighter, but for now, it is just a little three-star book from which i had anticipated a five.
come to my blog!
oh, sign me up right now.
and yet... this one didn't do it for me. not as much as i had hoped. before i read beauty queens, i thought that was what that book would be like, it turned out to be a completely different kind of book, and i loved the life out of it, and this one is more along the lines of what i was hoping for from b.q., and yet i am still unsatisfied.
there are some good things. i am always grateful when a book like this aimed at a younger audience doesn't shy away from the horrific realities that would actually confront young girls stranded on an island: injuries, death, chiggers, odor, the necessity of latrines, menstruation.
it was good to see that those details were not overlooked or prettified. and there were some characters with know-how, so there were kind of a lot of facts dropped, sometimes clumsily, into conversation about jungle survival and how to test for edible plants (although any edibility test that ends with step nine wait five hours without eating anything else, and if you aren't sick or dying, it's edible. worries me. i do not like that "if." i thought the first 8 very cautious and sensible steps would prevent me from dying??? no??)
their ostensible "adult" is a scottish woman they all admire because she is so gorgeous and glamorous, but gorgeous and glamorous do not go very far in the wilderness, especially when g&g is working through her own personal problems and finds it easier to take solace in smuggled whiskey and hallucinogenic plants. so the girls are on their own.
and they are mostly no good at survival.
two of them band together with g&g, and spend their time putting on makeup and doing their hair and getting wasted. one girl is dead, one is injured, one has lost her glasses (pppiiiiggggyyyy!), one of them just can't stop with the science facts, one is super-strong but meek, and our narrator can't seem to rally everyone together and comes across as bossy and ineffectual to the other girls. then there are the younger girls. okay, i know this takes place during the vietnam war, so it is a different time and maybe i am just more accustomed to reading about modern-day kids, but there is a ten-year-old girl in this with an imaginary friend, who clings to her teddy bear, and is unaware that isn't real. now, the teddy bear i get - in a crisis situation, you cling to whatever you have that is familiar, and a bunch of the younger girls have teddies with them. but the imaginary friend thing predates the trauma, and i don't know - do ten-year-old girls still have imaginary friends? i feel like that is the social crutch of a much younger girl.
for me, this did have enough of the physical danger to hold my interest, but not nearly enough of the psychological. it wasn't as tense and immediate as i think it could have been. some characters got lazy, some got bitchy, some got dead, but it lacks what is truly great about L.O.T.F., where we see the characters falling under the influence of their freedom and their new reality, replacing their civilized moral code with one older and wilder. but this isn't that kind of story.
it's fine, it's just not great. it is based on a true story, so with that what you will, and it is an ARC. so maybe the little inconsistencies will work themselves out or maybe the story will somehow get tighter, but for now, it is just a little three-star book from which i had anticipated a five.
come to my blog!
December 17, 2011
Do you remember Lost? During the first season when it was good all about surviving. Remove the bizarro smoke monsters and you've got something reminiscent of Lost Girls. When a gang of 9 kids with one adult chaperone get dropped off on the wrong island, they soon realize it's not the paradise that they first perceived.
Off to a great start with the first 30 pages already involving a dead kid and a major storm that left them with next to nothing, Lost Girls is exciting from start to finish. Set in 1970's Thailand during the Vietnam War, this is a story about surviving in the wild. Expect a lot of disagreements, flaring tempers, and desperation. We've got a good handful of characters to admire and endure in this novel. Some you will applaud, others you will want to maim. Our protagonist Bonnie is amazingly valuable to the group, even though they don't seem to notice, let alone care. Besides being extremely resourceful and smart, her strength and determination is something worthy of praise. I loved how I could count on her; no matter how emotionally or physically strained she becomes, she keeps on trucking and that makes her positively easy to like, even easier to care if she makes it. It's not hard to lose track of who's who when you have over half a dozen characters that all seem to blend together, this is not the case in Lost Girls. I was pleased by how much the survivors all stand out from each other with distinguishable personalities and behaviours. I can't say that I was especially attached to the supporting roles. I didn't weep from certain deaths or become gripped by their individual predicaments, but I was kept completely engrossed by their overall circumstances.
It's actually quite fascinating to learn all these facts and tricks about surviving in the wilderness. Being on a tropical island, we encounter exotic animals and insects that bring about all kinds of dangers they have to face. Infection, hunger, and dehydration are constant threats. I can't say I was profoundly devoted to the story, though. Of course the deaths are tragic and their situations mentally taxing, but I found myself more mesmerized by their struggle to survive, more curious of the outcome, than emotionally tuned to their state of mind. For this reason I don't look at it as a highly emotional story, but rather a tense adventure - though I can see that some may experience it differently. The journal entries that we get sporadically throughout the book make sure it's not an emotionally passive story either. Bonnie uses her journal to write her thoughts and feelings about what's happening on the island, letting us into her exhausted mind. This helps us get a feel of how a situation like this affects a person's chain of thought; grief and misery makes us desperate, can even turn us into someone we don't recognize. If anything, it helps us appreciate what we have. Imagine living on only one or two food items for days, weeks.
Realistic and filled with unthinkable circumstances, Lost Girls is an inspiring story where survival is at the mercy of nature and skills. What would you do if you were stranded on a deserted island? Would you survive?
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
Off to a great start with the first 30 pages already involving a dead kid and a major storm that left them with next to nothing, Lost Girls is exciting from start to finish. Set in 1970's Thailand during the Vietnam War, this is a story about surviving in the wild. Expect a lot of disagreements, flaring tempers, and desperation. We've got a good handful of characters to admire and endure in this novel. Some you will applaud, others you will want to maim. Our protagonist Bonnie is amazingly valuable to the group, even though they don't seem to notice, let alone care. Besides being extremely resourceful and smart, her strength and determination is something worthy of praise. I loved how I could count on her; no matter how emotionally or physically strained she becomes, she keeps on trucking and that makes her positively easy to like, even easier to care if she makes it. It's not hard to lose track of who's who when you have over half a dozen characters that all seem to blend together, this is not the case in Lost Girls. I was pleased by how much the survivors all stand out from each other with distinguishable personalities and behaviours. I can't say that I was especially attached to the supporting roles. I didn't weep from certain deaths or become gripped by their individual predicaments, but I was kept completely engrossed by their overall circumstances.
It's actually quite fascinating to learn all these facts and tricks about surviving in the wilderness. Being on a tropical island, we encounter exotic animals and insects that bring about all kinds of dangers they have to face. Infection, hunger, and dehydration are constant threats. I can't say I was profoundly devoted to the story, though. Of course the deaths are tragic and their situations mentally taxing, but I found myself more mesmerized by their struggle to survive, more curious of the outcome, than emotionally tuned to their state of mind. For this reason I don't look at it as a highly emotional story, but rather a tense adventure - though I can see that some may experience it differently. The journal entries that we get sporadically throughout the book make sure it's not an emotionally passive story either. Bonnie uses her journal to write her thoughts and feelings about what's happening on the island, letting us into her exhausted mind. This helps us get a feel of how a situation like this affects a person's chain of thought; grief and misery makes us desperate, can even turn us into someone we don't recognize. If anything, it helps us appreciate what we have. Imagine living on only one or two food items for days, weeks.
Realistic and filled with unthinkable circumstances, Lost Girls is an inspiring story where survival is at the mercy of nature and skills. What would you do if you were stranded on a deserted island? Would you survive?
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
July 6, 2012
Whenever I hear a news story or watch a movie about people who end up in bad situations after ignoring the advice of locals, my reaction is something like this:
I don't think they deserve to DIE, but since a ton of resources are going to be spent on their rescue due to their arrogance, they can deal with a little Running Man.
In the beginning of Lost Girls, a group of Amelia Earhart Cadets ranging in age from 9-14 find themselves blown off course while heading to an island for a camping trip. Their chaperone, a glamorous Scottish woman in her 20s named Layla Campbell, has the boatman drop them off on another island despite his protestations and refusal to step foot on the island. Layla Campbell, nicknamed the Duchess by the adoring girls, dismisses the boatman's warnings and has the girls start setting up their campsite. Get ready to do the Running Man.
The first day is picture perfect and the girls go to sleep thinking they're in paradise. Their idyll ends the first night when they're awoken by a storm that rips apart their campsite. One girl is fatally injured. They have two more days left before the boatman is scheduled to pick them up. The two days pass, but no one comes. Not only that, they see an explosion in the distance. Was the mainland attacked? Are their families in trouble, thus explaining why no one has come for them? Are people looking for them?
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. The story is told from 14-year-old Bonnie's point of view through her journal entries. This reminded me of Ellie in Tomorrow When the War Began , one of my favorite series. The situation also called to mind another favorite book, Lord of the Flies . Bonnie addresses this similarity, but says girls wouldn't act that way. I love this because I remember thinking the same thing while reading Lord of the Flies. There is one obvious biological difference between boys and girls that is addressed -- oh, the joys of menstruation -- but a lack of testosterone doesn't stop girls from behaving badly either.
I really liked Bonnie. She's the responsible, bossy one who isn't popular with the girls who wear makeup, and she's prone to make judgements about people, but I found her to be relatable. She goes from being glad her mother didn't come so she can spend time with a "cool" adult like the Duchess, to wishing more than anything that her mother was there. She brought along her mother's copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance , and as the Duchess keeps failing her, Bonnie turns to that book as a survival guide.
I love books like Tomorrow and Lost Girls because I always wonder what I'd do in extreme survival situations (I'd die), and I take notes on all the things I should learn to do just in case. Pro tip #1: Learn to make a fire without matches. (Actually, tip #1 is always: If a local starts yelling and flailing when you say you're going somewhere, DON'T GO THERE.) The author doesn't skimp on details of the smell, the bugs, and the filth, and I hope to God to never encounter a chigger as long as I live.
Lost Girls is set in 1974 during the Vietnam War, but aside from references to the Duchess's petticoat and a lack of references to cell phones, this story could be set in the present. There are a few references to the war and whether it's right or wrong through Bonnie's flashbacks to fights with her soldier father, but substitute Iraq for Vietnam and this is a modern discussion. This book isn't middle grade, but it does skew toward the younger end of the YA spectrum. I would've loved reading this book in 8th grade. Despite being far beyond 8th grade, I still really enjoyed this book.
This review appears on Young Adult Anonymous.
I don't think they deserve to DIE, but since a ton of resources are going to be spent on their rescue due to their arrogance, they can deal with a little Running Man.
In the beginning of Lost Girls, a group of Amelia Earhart Cadets ranging in age from 9-14 find themselves blown off course while heading to an island for a camping trip. Their chaperone, a glamorous Scottish woman in her 20s named Layla Campbell, has the boatman drop them off on another island despite his protestations and refusal to step foot on the island. Layla Campbell, nicknamed the Duchess by the adoring girls, dismisses the boatman's warnings and has the girls start setting up their campsite. Get ready to do the Running Man.
The first day is picture perfect and the girls go to sleep thinking they're in paradise. Their idyll ends the first night when they're awoken by a storm that rips apart their campsite. One girl is fatally injured. They have two more days left before the boatman is scheduled to pick them up. The two days pass, but no one comes. Not only that, they see an explosion in the distance. Was the mainland attacked? Are their families in trouble, thus explaining why no one has come for them? Are people looking for them?
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. The story is told from 14-year-old Bonnie's point of view through her journal entries. This reminded me of Ellie in Tomorrow When the War Began , one of my favorite series. The situation also called to mind another favorite book, Lord of the Flies . Bonnie addresses this similarity, but says girls wouldn't act that way. I love this because I remember thinking the same thing while reading Lord of the Flies. There is one obvious biological difference between boys and girls that is addressed -- oh, the joys of menstruation -- but a lack of testosterone doesn't stop girls from behaving badly either.
I really liked Bonnie. She's the responsible, bossy one who isn't popular with the girls who wear makeup, and she's prone to make judgements about people, but I found her to be relatable. She goes from being glad her mother didn't come so she can spend time with a "cool" adult like the Duchess, to wishing more than anything that her mother was there. She brought along her mother's copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance , and as the Duchess keeps failing her, Bonnie turns to that book as a survival guide.
I love books like Tomorrow and Lost Girls because I always wonder what I'd do in extreme survival situations (I'd die), and I take notes on all the things I should learn to do just in case. Pro tip #1: Learn to make a fire without matches. (Actually, tip #1 is always: If a local starts yelling and flailing when you say you're going somewhere, DON'T GO THERE.) The author doesn't skimp on details of the smell, the bugs, and the filth, and I hope to God to never encounter a chigger as long as I live.
Lost Girls is set in 1974 during the Vietnam War, but aside from references to the Duchess's petticoat and a lack of references to cell phones, this story could be set in the present. There are a few references to the war and whether it's right or wrong through Bonnie's flashbacks to fights with her soldier father, but substitute Iraq for Vietnam and this is a modern discussion. This book isn't middle grade, but it does skew toward the younger end of the YA spectrum. I would've loved reading this book in 8th grade. Despite being far beyond 8th grade, I still really enjoyed this book.
This review appears on Young Adult Anonymous.
September 28, 2018
Lost Girls was a great book, yes, but all their fails to be saved kind of got old.
Read
January 25, 2015DNF at page 102.
What the freak was this book?
I just couldn't get into it.
I bought this book for 2 reasons:
1. It was in a sale for £1
2. It had a premise about people being trapped on an island, which is what I find pleasure in. Kinda sadistic in a way, but who cares?
I think my problem was the writing style.
I couldn't get into it.
I didn't really like any of the characters, especially Mrs Campbell. She annoyed me.
Such a shame. I don't like DNFing books. I normally read 100 pages until I decide to be fair to the book, but even after 100 pages I just couldn't get into it. And because of that I won't give it a rating as I didn't complete the book.
But just because this book wasn't for me doesn't mean it can't be for you :)
What the freak was this book?
I just couldn't get into it.
I bought this book for 2 reasons:
1. It was in a sale for £1
2. It had a premise about people being trapped on an island, which is what I find pleasure in. Kinda sadistic in a way, but who cares?
I think my problem was the writing style.
I couldn't get into it.
I didn't really like any of the characters, especially Mrs Campbell. She annoyed me.
Such a shame. I don't like DNFing books. I normally read 100 pages until I decide to be fair to the book, but even after 100 pages I just couldn't get into it. And because of that I won't give it a rating as I didn't complete the book.
But just because this book wasn't for me doesn't mean it can't be for you :)
May 21, 2015
I did feel quite sorry for the characters in this because of the situation they were in, but I didn''t connect to any of them enough to really like them.
This wasn't a bad read, but it didn't keep my interest very well. I got bored at points, and the story just didn't suck me in.
Overall, An okay read.
This wasn't a bad read, but it didn't keep my interest very well. I got bored at points, and the story just didn't suck me in.
Overall, An okay read.
August 23, 2017
Lost girls is a classic survival story of a girl scout named Bonnie and her peers with a cheerless counselor becomes stranded in a "forbidden island off the coast of Thailand. when set foot on the island it almost feels like paradise but when night fall comes a tropical storm slams the island and wrecks all their supplies and kills one girl, despite the storm, throughout the story they are forced to work with others and overcome all troubles they face.
mostly the story was page turning but I didn't really like all the perils throughout the story and how they are stranded for weeks with that little amount of supplies. I was also upset at the counselor weighing on some girls with her bad decisions to take drugs. But i also learned some tips and facts on surviving on an island, and of course to always be prepared and to have enough items to sustain a whole trip on an island.
In total, I personally enjoyed the book and if you like compelling and interesting story go for it!
The characters were well built and the story line is amazing. I would definitely recommend it to my peers and people that enjoy survival story's!
mostly the story was page turning but I didn't really like all the perils throughout the story and how they are stranded for weeks with that little amount of supplies. I was also upset at the counselor weighing on some girls with her bad decisions to take drugs. But i also learned some tips and facts on surviving on an island, and of course to always be prepared and to have enough items to sustain a whole trip on an island.
In total, I personally enjoyed the book and if you like compelling and interesting story go for it!
The characters were well built and the story line is amazing. I would definitely recommend it to my peers and people that enjoy survival story's!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2012
In Vietnam-era Thailand, a group of girls, the children of serviceman stationed nearby, plan a primitive camping expedition on an island with an adult leader when everything that could possibly go wrong does. Their Thai boatman misses landing on their intended island in the rising wind and sea, and drops them at a different island, one of dozens of nameless, uninhabited islands off the coast. A terrifying storm blows up that night, destroying their camp and killing one of the girls. They're alone, injured, short of supplies, with no way to call for help. Explosions on the mainland (visible from their beach) lead them to fear the worst, and as the days stretch on with no rescue, the girls have no one but themselves to rely on, for better, or they learn, for worse.
While it's tempting to draw comparisons to Lord of the Flies, this book delves more into the interior lives of the girls. It is, after all, a book about girls, mostly teens and pre-teens, so no worshipping of pigs' heads here, to be sure. Instead, the structure that supported the Mean Girls clique (called The Glossies here) is stripped away and the girls find themselves on level ground. You are either wise, and brave, and clever, and contribute something that will keep everyone alive, or you're worthless. Superficial values and goals carried over from a previous life are quickly discarded as shallow and petty in the light of life-and-death struggles.
The sense of place and authenticity really gives this book a unique appeal. From the omnipresent sand, the heat and smell of decaying vegetation, the jungle rot, the animal cries, the sense of a jungle and all its dangers and perils is very vivid.
I had hoped to see the Glossies get more of a bitter lesson in this book, but as often happens with their kind, they sail through this largely unscathed, and it's the biggest hearts that carry the heaviest loads off this island.
Lost Girls is a good read for thoughtful teens who are interested in foreign cultures.
While it's tempting to draw comparisons to Lord of the Flies, this book delves more into the interior lives of the girls. It is, after all, a book about girls, mostly teens and pre-teens, so no worshipping of pigs' heads here, to be sure. Instead, the structure that supported the Mean Girls clique (called The Glossies here) is stripped away and the girls find themselves on level ground. You are either wise, and brave, and clever, and contribute something that will keep everyone alive, or you're worthless. Superficial values and goals carried over from a previous life are quickly discarded as shallow and petty in the light of life-and-death struggles.
The sense of place and authenticity really gives this book a unique appeal. From the omnipresent sand, the heat and smell of decaying vegetation, the jungle rot, the animal cries, the sense of a jungle and all its dangers and perils is very vivid.
I had hoped to see the Glossies get more of a bitter lesson in this book, but as often happens with their kind, they sail through this largely unscathed, and it's the biggest hearts that carry the heaviest loads off this island.
Lost Girls is a good read for thoughtful teens who are interested in foreign cultures.
March 21, 2013
1974, Thailand. A group of girls, whose families are stationed on the Thai coast during the Vietnam War, venture off on a 3 day scouting camp out on a nearby island. The weather gets rough and the boatman is blown off course, landing them on an uninhabited island which he declares is cursed. The boatman refuses to stay and leaves the girls and their leader. This is the beginning of their survival ordeal which is gruesome and, mostly, realistic. The leader is completely ineffectual and abandons all responsibility, drinking and smoking herself into oblivion. The story is told by Bonnie, a 14 yr old, who keeps a journal. But the narrative is only partly advanced by the journal, the rest first person. So the reader may infer that eventually the girls will rescued. The girls are on the island for nearly a month, relying on their resourcefulness and wits to survive.
I like survival stories. This should have been right up my alley but it was lacking something to make it truly compelling and page turning. There were many horrific elements that made it realistic but it lacked a sense of urgency. In the end, the rescue was anticlimactic and, frankly, the most unbelievable part of the story. It took several days before the parents realized something might be wrong despite a TROPICAL storm. Because a crash at the base had destroyed additional planes, none could be spared to look for the missing children. And their parents were denied leave to look for them themselves. This was too contrived as an excuse for leaving them on the island. Overall, pretty lackluster. I think middle schoolers would lose interest pretty quickly.
I like survival stories. This should have been right up my alley but it was lacking something to make it truly compelling and page turning. There were many horrific elements that made it realistic but it lacked a sense of urgency. In the end, the rescue was anticlimactic and, frankly, the most unbelievable part of the story. It took several days before the parents realized something might be wrong despite a TROPICAL storm. Because a crash at the base had destroyed additional planes, none could be spared to look for the missing children. And their parents were denied leave to look for them themselves. This was too contrived as an excuse for leaving them on the island. Overall, pretty lackluster. I think middle schoolers would lose interest pretty quickly.
August 19, 2010
Amazing! One of the best books i have ever read.
July 30, 2013
I didn't so much like this. I mean, So after that, it's pretty much: Now what?
September 27, 2018
Lost Girls is a fictional book about Bonnie MacDonald, a fourteen year old girl that lives in Thailand, on a camping trip with her fellow Amelia Earhart Cadets. The day is May 11, 1974 and Bonnie is eagerly packing for her voyage out to an island with her friends and cadet instructor, Layla Campbell. It’s finally time! “The senior Cadets include, Jas, Hope, May and Arlene (the “Glossies”), and myself. While the juniors are, Jody, Natalie, Sandy, and Carly” Bonnie writes in her journal as all of them bounce with excitement as they load what little bags they have in the car. It’s raining so hard as they are all traveling to the boat dock they can’t even see where they are going. As they are heading to the island it starts to storm and the boat is forced to take a different path by the waves. Finally they get to an island all the girls jump off the boat as quickly as they can but the boatman wouldn’t set foot on the island. He kept shouting “Yaksha! Yaksha! Koh Tabu!” and pointing back to the mainland. Instantly Bonnie felt scared, because of the storm they almost died and the boatman’s attitude didn’t help when they got to the island. Everyone start gathering their stuff and setting up camp as the sun goes down quickly. It’s dark and the girls are in their group tents all sleeping in their sleeping bags when all of the sudden their tents are ripped away from them by excessive amounts of heavy winds. It’s another storm but this time it’s worse. Raindrops the size of golf balls, the wind feeling like a freight train pushing everyone over as they try to get to a cave for safety. Mrs. Campbell starts to count all of the girls once they get inside the cave to make sure she has everyone. Roll call begins. Everyones name is called and everyone answers except Sandy. Now the girls have nothing, because the hurricane destroyed their camp, and they are missing Sandy. If you want to find out if they make it back home safely, or are stranded on the island for the rest of their lives read this book!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I would highly recommend this book to someone who loves nail biting mysteries.Throughout the entire book you will have the constant uncertainty as to if the girls will get home or remain stranded. I love the way the author describes the plot and characters; she paints a very vivid picture in my mind. I would not recommend this book to someone who doesn’t like, or can’t comprehend the complexity of flashback narratives.
December 2, 2017
3.5. Got so much better the further on it got but honestly I found it so hard to get past that the Scottish protagonist was called Bonnie MacDonald. Like, the most Scottish name in all of Scotland. Wow. Found some of the character's not hugely believable, but loved Layla - mainly because I spent 90% of the book hating her. Good to have someone with a bit of a backstory. Okay read for ages 15 and up imo.
May 15, 2020
This book was enjoyable. I wasn’t blown away by it, but I didn’t really hate anything about it either. I wasn’t a big fan of the character development, or lack there of, with a few characters in the end though. Two of the kids suddenly became helpful and skilled, and it felt like I was watching a Disney movie where everyone has to be good in the end, but the writer didn’t take enough time to convince the audience why.
December 27, 2023
Slightly biased because I read this book when I was younger and it really stuck with me but I love this book. It's so visceral and doesn't hold back anything at all. There's a few moments of judders or lapses in the story line but overall I think it perfectly does what a book should do - transports you to another place and makes you forget where you are until you look up from the page.
May 10, 2021
Solid 1.5. It just skimmed the top and was so lacking in emotion and depth. I thought this would be like Hatchet or Island of the Blue Dolphins but this was so sterile. I felt like I didn't get to know anyone and was looking at them all from afar.
October 13, 2017
Koh Tabu was an amazing book that I would recommend to anyone who likes books of survival.
January 14, 2021
This isn’t my usually type of book, I usually like sci-fi/fantasy. That said, this book was amazing. It was so tragic and beautiful, I highly recommend it.
February 17, 2023
Amazingly captivating! I didn’t want to put it down.
September 8, 2023
Good story about survival and strengths and weaknesses
October 28, 2016
another one that has long been on the shelf. Brutal at times but hard to put down.
June 29, 2012
I have seriously been dying to start reading Lost Girls by Ann Kelley. I mean come on! A novel set during the seventies with a series of shipwrecked girls? Read the synopsis, doesn’t that sound just plain awesome? I was expecting a story that could be compared to Lord of the Flies and would be kind of like Lost minus the novel ending in a church. I was expecting so many amazing things (one of them including cannibalism) and am a bit sad to say that Lost Girls fell far from what I expected.
The novel is set in the mid-seventies from the POV (point of view) of Bonnie MacDonald whose family is in a military base in Thailand. Going on a trip with her fellow Amelia Earhart Cadets to an island that the boatman claimed was forbidden. Things quickly take a turn for the worst when a hurricane rips through their camp, killing one of their own and making a few day trip turn into weeks lost on the “forbidden island” where death seems to be causing the groups numbers to dwindle.
Lost Girls had such a promising plot, but if there’s one thing that totally set me off it was the fact that nobody was panicking. Seriously? You all just got caught in a hurricane, the ocean is a mess, nobody is gonna be coming to save you, one of your own friends just died and your holding onto stupid prejudices and acting like everything is going to be perfectly clear. It wasn’t denial. It was almost like everybody in the story except for the main character Bonnie and her friends Hope and Jas noticed that their trip just turned into something out of a horror movie.
Throughout the story their numbers begin to fall and constantly “the Glossies” and their chaperon Layla act like idiots by telling Bonnie to stop annoying them, to go get food for them while they get high and drunk and remain ignorant by saying that somebody will come to save them. The Glossies themselves just annoyed me, how did they manage to get into a cadets group that is dedicated to survival and believe that they should bring make-up and hair curlers onto their trip to the middle of nowhere? I liked how author Ann Kelley could create characters and situations that could grind my gears like that, but there did come a point where I’d have to put the book down and let my emotions sit.
The tragedies that came across in this book were great, really. They grab your emotions and take you on a ride. Especially since some of the deaths are for nine year old girls and for readers who have kids or people close to them who are that age, you’ll probably need a box of tissues. Another thing though that I think I should bring up is the lack of realism in the age groups. Kelley had nine year old girls acting like five year olds, it wasn’t too long ago that I was nine years old and I am pretty sure that I didn’t need a teddy bear to go to sleep and that my imaginary friend stopped existing a couple of years prior.
It’s probably because I’m still young that that bothered me so much, I still remember being nine and that was only four years ago. Nine year olds don’t act like five year olds and I feel like a lot of authors in YA make that mistake.
There were a ton of points in the story that left me shocked and so I expected the ending of the novel to be this big climax that would leave me feeling the way I did when I saw the Dark Knight Rises: Breathless. Sadly, I found the end of the novel to be lacking and in total the novel didn’t work for me the way I wanted it to.
I would recommend Lost Girls to readers who are in search of an adventure story and fans of shows like Lost and Survivor (minus the reality TV).
The novel is set in the mid-seventies from the POV (point of view) of Bonnie MacDonald whose family is in a military base in Thailand. Going on a trip with her fellow Amelia Earhart Cadets to an island that the boatman claimed was forbidden. Things quickly take a turn for the worst when a hurricane rips through their camp, killing one of their own and making a few day trip turn into weeks lost on the “forbidden island” where death seems to be causing the groups numbers to dwindle.
Lost Girls had such a promising plot, but if there’s one thing that totally set me off it was the fact that nobody was panicking. Seriously? You all just got caught in a hurricane, the ocean is a mess, nobody is gonna be coming to save you, one of your own friends just died and your holding onto stupid prejudices and acting like everything is going to be perfectly clear. It wasn’t denial. It was almost like everybody in the story except for the main character Bonnie and her friends Hope and Jas noticed that their trip just turned into something out of a horror movie.
Throughout the story their numbers begin to fall and constantly “the Glossies” and their chaperon Layla act like idiots by telling Bonnie to stop annoying them, to go get food for them while they get high and drunk and remain ignorant by saying that somebody will come to save them. The Glossies themselves just annoyed me, how did they manage to get into a cadets group that is dedicated to survival and believe that they should bring make-up and hair curlers onto their trip to the middle of nowhere? I liked how author Ann Kelley could create characters and situations that could grind my gears like that, but there did come a point where I’d have to put the book down and let my emotions sit.
The tragedies that came across in this book were great, really. They grab your emotions and take you on a ride. Especially since some of the deaths are for nine year old girls and for readers who have kids or people close to them who are that age, you’ll probably need a box of tissues. Another thing though that I think I should bring up is the lack of realism in the age groups. Kelley had nine year old girls acting like five year olds, it wasn’t too long ago that I was nine years old and I am pretty sure that I didn’t need a teddy bear to go to sleep and that my imaginary friend stopped existing a couple of years prior.
It’s probably because I’m still young that that bothered me so much, I still remember being nine and that was only four years ago. Nine year olds don’t act like five year olds and I feel like a lot of authors in YA make that mistake.
There were a ton of points in the story that left me shocked and so I expected the ending of the novel to be this big climax that would leave me feeling the way I did when I saw the Dark Knight Rises: Breathless. Sadly, I found the end of the novel to be lacking and in total the novel didn’t work for me the way I wanted it to.
I would recommend Lost Girls to readers who are in search of an adventure story and fans of shows like Lost and Survivor (minus the reality TV).
July 8, 2012
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: Literary Exploration
There were two things that drew me to this book. (1) I am a huge fan of Lost and (2) Lord of the Flies is one of my favorite stories from high school. However, Lost Girls in no way measures up to either of those amazing stories. Not only did the characters grate on my nerves, but the writing style and setting bored me to tears. I have to admit, I strongly disliked most of this book. The problem is, I didn't know why I wasn't enjoying it for quite some time. Sure, I had an issue with the writing but I figured I'd get used to it. I assumed the characters would grow on me and eventually become heroes of some sort. Also, I had to know how it was going to end. I had to know who else was going to die and whether or not they would all be saved. Regardless of what I had hoped would happen, I disliked Lost Girls even more by the time it was over.
Bonnie is, at best, a soldier's daughter with some great survival skills. At worst she's a brat without many leadership skills. I highly disliked Bonnie for most of the story. I found she was just really boring and I hated her attitude. It seemed like she was always trying to be the hero while putting everyone else down. On her trip, she's taken a book with her. Something about motorcycles. She continually references this book and the main character in order to solve all of her problems on the island. Really?? I was unaware that a fictional story about a guy and his motorcycle would provide any survival tips when stranded on an island. Eventually, Bonnie loses her mind and starts referring to her motorcycle guy as if he were a real person.
I just have to point this out: I wrote down the word boring four times in my notes. I guess I had to remind myself how boring this book was. Albeit, there were a few interesting moments, but most of the time I was just flipping pages waiting for something good to happen. For a survival story, there was not nearly enough blood, death, gore, death, bullying, death, or death. Did I mentioned I would have liked more death? Maybe not death. Maybe just some maiming. At least that would have livened up the story line. And the writing was such a mood killer. The story is written in first person present and I am pretty sure the narrator is a twelve year old. The sentence structures are choppy and redundant and the inclusion of journal entries is pointless since the entire book is basically a journal. Even the parts that should have had me cringing or screaming didn't. Everything was too sugarcoated.
Lost Girls had a lot of potential, but it just fell flat for me. I struggled to even finish it at all. The characters are all pretty bland and dislikable and the writing style is so distracting and simplistic that it was hard for me to concentrate on the story. I kept reading because I had to find out what was going to happen, but even the ending was a bit of a let down. When it comes to survival stories, the more realistic the better. If you're looking for a great story about young people in dire circumstances you're better off picking up Ashfall by Mike Mullin or Lord of the Flies. Overall, I'd recommend skipping this one.
There were two things that drew me to this book. (1) I am a huge fan of Lost and (2) Lord of the Flies is one of my favorite stories from high school. However, Lost Girls in no way measures up to either of those amazing stories. Not only did the characters grate on my nerves, but the writing style and setting bored me to tears. I have to admit, I strongly disliked most of this book. The problem is, I didn't know why I wasn't enjoying it for quite some time. Sure, I had an issue with the writing but I figured I'd get used to it. I assumed the characters would grow on me and eventually become heroes of some sort. Also, I had to know how it was going to end. I had to know who else was going to die and whether or not they would all be saved. Regardless of what I had hoped would happen, I disliked Lost Girls even more by the time it was over.
Bonnie is, at best, a soldier's daughter with some great survival skills. At worst she's a brat without many leadership skills. I highly disliked Bonnie for most of the story. I found she was just really boring and I hated her attitude. It seemed like she was always trying to be the hero while putting everyone else down. On her trip, she's taken a book with her. Something about motorcycles. She continually references this book and the main character in order to solve all of her problems on the island. Really?? I was unaware that a fictional story about a guy and his motorcycle would provide any survival tips when stranded on an island. Eventually, Bonnie loses her mind and starts referring to her motorcycle guy as if he were a real person.
I just have to point this out: I wrote down the word boring four times in my notes. I guess I had to remind myself how boring this book was. Albeit, there were a few interesting moments, but most of the time I was just flipping pages waiting for something good to happen. For a survival story, there was not nearly enough blood, death, gore, death, bullying, death, or death. Did I mentioned I would have liked more death? Maybe not death. Maybe just some maiming. At least that would have livened up the story line. And the writing was such a mood killer. The story is written in first person present and I am pretty sure the narrator is a twelve year old. The sentence structures are choppy and redundant and the inclusion of journal entries is pointless since the entire book is basically a journal. Even the parts that should have had me cringing or screaming didn't. Everything was too sugarcoated.
Lost Girls had a lot of potential, but it just fell flat for me. I struggled to even finish it at all. The characters are all pretty bland and dislikable and the writing style is so distracting and simplistic that it was hard for me to concentrate on the story. I kept reading because I had to find out what was going to happen, but even the ending was a bit of a let down. When it comes to survival stories, the more realistic the better. If you're looking for a great story about young people in dire circumstances you're better off picking up Ashfall by Mike Mullin or Lord of the Flies. Overall, I'd recommend skipping this one.
March 19, 2012
I'm honestly not sure how to categorize this book in genre. It has nothing to do with the book itself, it was actually a really, really good story and I really enjoyed reading it. But it's based in the 1970's, so that would make it historical fiction, right? Apparently it's also based off of true events and it is entirely possible that this could happen either way, so that would make it realistic ficton, right? Then it's a fight for survival, so it's pretty easy to label it as a survival book. I just have to come to the conclusion that it's all of these, besides, most books are a mixture of genres now anyways.
Ann Kelley has shown me a tropical world and how harsh it can be. I really felt sorry for Bonnie and the other girls in Lost Girls. They were all excited to go on a camping trip, but then there is a storm and they get swept far past their target campground and to a supposedly "forbidden" island. Then on their first night there, there is a storm that was probably a hurricane and they lose the first girl. It was even more disheartening when they discovered that the boatman crashed on the rocks and never made it back, so no one knows where they are. The entire story is a battle against the elements and dangers of the rain forest, and there are many. The girls have to think of a way to survive and find enough food, water and shelter. Their guide has given up hope and spends all of her time drinking and getting high. What can they do when the only adult isn't sober enough to help out?
I have to say that I really liked the writing style of this book. It's littered with journal entries from Bonnie's (the protagonists) journal. So we get to see exactly how she feels about the situation and others and her desperate wishes of rescue. I found it relatively fast-paced, although there were a few slower parts, I managed to get through this book in a day. Having read Lord of the Flies, I was making comparisons. It was hard not to. And while they are very similar books, they are both very different and have their own elements that keep you guessing about what will happen next. Lost Girls even referenced Lord of the Flies a couple of times. I did end up feeling a connection with Bonnie, so I was always hoping for rescue for her. So that was another thing about the writing I enjoyed, I like to be able to feel with the characters, and I definitely could in this one.
So is this a book you should read? I think so. It's a good read about survival, and based off of truth, so more bonus points there. I think if you've read and enjoyed Lord of the Flies, that you will probably enjoy this one as well. Or if you just like realistic fiction and stories about survival. So yes, this is a book that I recommend, you should read it. Have you ever read anything similar that you think I should read? I'm really enjoying these types of books at the moment.
Ann Kelley has shown me a tropical world and how harsh it can be. I really felt sorry for Bonnie and the other girls in Lost Girls. They were all excited to go on a camping trip, but then there is a storm and they get swept far past their target campground and to a supposedly "forbidden" island. Then on their first night there, there is a storm that was probably a hurricane and they lose the first girl. It was even more disheartening when they discovered that the boatman crashed on the rocks and never made it back, so no one knows where they are. The entire story is a battle against the elements and dangers of the rain forest, and there are many. The girls have to think of a way to survive and find enough food, water and shelter. Their guide has given up hope and spends all of her time drinking and getting high. What can they do when the only adult isn't sober enough to help out?
I have to say that I really liked the writing style of this book. It's littered with journal entries from Bonnie's (the protagonists) journal. So we get to see exactly how she feels about the situation and others and her desperate wishes of rescue. I found it relatively fast-paced, although there were a few slower parts, I managed to get through this book in a day. Having read Lord of the Flies, I was making comparisons. It was hard not to. And while they are very similar books, they are both very different and have their own elements that keep you guessing about what will happen next. Lost Girls even referenced Lord of the Flies a couple of times. I did end up feeling a connection with Bonnie, so I was always hoping for rescue for her. So that was another thing about the writing I enjoyed, I like to be able to feel with the characters, and I definitely could in this one.
So is this a book you should read? I think so. It's a good read about survival, and based off of truth, so more bonus points there. I think if you've read and enjoyed Lord of the Flies, that you will probably enjoy this one as well. Or if you just like realistic fiction and stories about survival. So yes, this is a book that I recommend, you should read it. Have you ever read anything similar that you think I should read? I'm really enjoying these types of books at the moment.
June 15, 2012
I really, really wanted for this book to be good. It was one I had really been looking forward to, but after reading it I feel really let down. The only thing that really stood out to me was Ann's writing, that was by far the most redeeming factor for this book. The story itself just felt so bland, and even boring at times. I loved the idea behind it though, I just wish it had been executed a little better than it was. But as I said, the writing in this book was amazing and was the strong point of the book for sure.
I don't even really know what to discuss when it comes to the story. You have these girls trapped on an island, trying to figure out a way to get off of it. Crazy things happen, people get hurt and some people don't even make it. I enjoy stories like this, it reminds me a lot of other books/movies/shows that share similar scenarios. Although I think it's safe to say that this is one of the first that consists of a group of teenage girls at least from a darker perspective. The story isn't all bland though, it does have it's strong points and there were quite a few moments where I did find myself really enjoying the book. I just feel as though the bland parts did outweigh the enjoyable parts.
The characters were actually pretty great too, I really fond myself enjoying the characters. Having a group of teenagers trapped on an island can get pretty crazy. There were a lot of moments where they would be arguing about how to do things and little things like that. I'm not going to go into a massive amount of detail though, the one thing I really liked was how Bonnie kept her journal and you got to read entries of it throughout the book.. Some of them got pretty gruesome though, I remember one talking about a head being split open... yeah that was a mental picture I would like to forget. When it comes down to it though, the cast of characters were really great and really helped carry this book for me.
The ending was another great part of the book, I was really pleased with the way things ended and Ann did a great job at providing closure for a lot of the events that took place throughout the book. Even though I found myself getting bored, I can't deny that the ending of this book was fantastic and really helped pull the story up.
In the end, I feel like this book does have potential. If it's something you think you'll like then by all means read it. As you can see from my review, it really does have some very good strong points. I don't think it's a book you should stay away from simply because I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping I would. If you have read this book though, I would love to hear what you thought about it. I don't really know what I would of liked to have seen changed, I just feel like things could of been played out a little better throughout the story.
I don't even really know what to discuss when it comes to the story. You have these girls trapped on an island, trying to figure out a way to get off of it. Crazy things happen, people get hurt and some people don't even make it. I enjoy stories like this, it reminds me a lot of other books/movies/shows that share similar scenarios. Although I think it's safe to say that this is one of the first that consists of a group of teenage girls at least from a darker perspective. The story isn't all bland though, it does have it's strong points and there were quite a few moments where I did find myself really enjoying the book. I just feel as though the bland parts did outweigh the enjoyable parts.
The characters were actually pretty great too, I really fond myself enjoying the characters. Having a group of teenagers trapped on an island can get pretty crazy. There were a lot of moments where they would be arguing about how to do things and little things like that. I'm not going to go into a massive amount of detail though, the one thing I really liked was how Bonnie kept her journal and you got to read entries of it throughout the book.. Some of them got pretty gruesome though, I remember one talking about a head being split open... yeah that was a mental picture I would like to forget. When it comes down to it though, the cast of characters were really great and really helped carry this book for me.
The ending was another great part of the book, I was really pleased with the way things ended and Ann did a great job at providing closure for a lot of the events that took place throughout the book. Even though I found myself getting bored, I can't deny that the ending of this book was fantastic and really helped pull the story up.
In the end, I feel like this book does have potential. If it's something you think you'll like then by all means read it. As you can see from my review, it really does have some very good strong points. I don't think it's a book you should stay away from simply because I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping I would. If you have read this book though, I would love to hear what you thought about it. I don't really know what I would of liked to have seen changed, I just feel like things could of been played out a little better throughout the story.
September 13, 2012
Logically, this novel did not really make sense to me. If you disregard that logical connection, I did enjoy the progression of the novel. It was like my right and left hemispheres of my brain were fighting for attention since they were not able to work together.
Bonnie MacDonald is on a sort of girlscout-esque trip to an island off of Thailand, where she is living because her father is currently stationed there as part of the UK's armed forces. Due to unforeseen forces, the girls and their counselor end p on a different island. This is where the logic did not really fit for me. If you planned on going to one island, and all the parents of the girls (all are minors) expect you to be at that one island, why would you chose to stay at the random island you reached by being blown off course? How does this make sense to anyone? This was my main problem with the novel just because the source of all of their problems seems completely avoidable to me... and I don't understand why they didn't... you know... avoid them... My only other criticism is that there are three characters in specific who never change their attitudes, even when they are clearly in a survival situation. I cannot possibly fathom how they would completely disregard everything that needed to be done... Even if they were just unnaturally unhelpful, they should have some sense of the danger and urgency of the situation.
Other than that, the story was enjoyable. I loved how a good portion of the novel is explained through Bonnie's drawings and maps (which I wish were actually shown) and pages of her diary/journal (which were actually shown). Her attitudes towards her journal were really interesting to watch develop; she goes through periods of wishing no one will ever see it, so writing because it may be the last thing her parents read of her, and everything in between. It made me think about all the "primary documents" that people read to study history, which include diaries, letters, etc. - all things that people create solely for themselves and expect to be private. Does that privacy diminish once a person dies? It is just something interesting to think about.
Another aspect that I loved was getting to know the island, and how the characters changed once they became more familiar with what surrounds them. It was the secret aspects that the characters keep from each other that were the most interesting to learn about. Which characters know what? And how much are they willing to share?
This book is definitely presented for younger audiences. It is not specifically Middle Grade, but the narrator's voice is very young and I can see tweens/early teens enjoying this novel even more than I did.
Bonnie MacDonald is on a sort of girlscout-esque trip to an island off of Thailand, where she is living because her father is currently stationed there as part of the UK's armed forces. Due to unforeseen forces, the girls and their counselor end p on a different island. This is where the logic did not really fit for me. If you planned on going to one island, and all the parents of the girls (all are minors) expect you to be at that one island, why would you chose to stay at the random island you reached by being blown off course? How does this make sense to anyone? This was my main problem with the novel just because the source of all of their problems seems completely avoidable to me... and I don't understand why they didn't... you know... avoid them... My only other criticism is that there are three characters in specific who never change their attitudes, even when they are clearly in a survival situation. I cannot possibly fathom how they would completely disregard everything that needed to be done... Even if they were just unnaturally unhelpful, they should have some sense of the danger and urgency of the situation.
Other than that, the story was enjoyable. I loved how a good portion of the novel is explained through Bonnie's drawings and maps (which I wish were actually shown) and pages of her diary/journal (which were actually shown). Her attitudes towards her journal were really interesting to watch develop; she goes through periods of wishing no one will ever see it, so writing because it may be the last thing her parents read of her, and everything in between. It made me think about all the "primary documents" that people read to study history, which include diaries, letters, etc. - all things that people create solely for themselves and expect to be private. Does that privacy diminish once a person dies? It is just something interesting to think about.
Another aspect that I loved was getting to know the island, and how the characters changed once they became more familiar with what surrounds them. It was the secret aspects that the characters keep from each other that were the most interesting to learn about. Which characters know what? And how much are they willing to share?
This book is definitely presented for younger audiences. It is not specifically Middle Grade, but the narrator's voice is very young and I can see tweens/early teens enjoying this novel even more than I did.
March 17, 2012
I saw this book's cover and read the synopsis in the publisher's catalog and immediately wanted to read it. The premise was similar to many books before it, but it was very well delivered on this time around. What caught my attention was the foreign setting and as well as the element of history within. Altogether, it was a winning formula.
Purple: my favorite color. I love how gritty the cover looks, it shows the massive amounts of rain the was received on the island the characters were stranded on. You couldn't quite see the cover model's face, not giving the reader any idea of what she might look like, leaving the reader to imagine what she looks like. You can also see that it was a tropical location by the palm trees in the back, they also showed the immensity of the storm's winds. The font brought the entire thing together by looking very military and old.
There was only one character I didn't like: Bonnie. You're probably thinking 'But she's the main character!'. I didn't overall hate her, but I just didn't like how indecisive she could be over very simple matters. Whether it was her feelings about another character or something even more trivial, she just couldn't seem to make her mind up on anything. I really enjoyed Mrs. Campbell because of how she was able to make me feel angry towards her due to how well written she was. Not many characters can illicit such strong feelings from me, but she was written just so, making her a character who was drowning in her own troubles and was suddenly expected to ensure the survival of a bunch of young girls.
Grittiness was a big feature in the writing of Lost Girls. Having that gritty feel in the writing was essential for the story because of it's setting on the island without any of the amenities of home (running water, bathrooms, electricity, etc.). The short journal entries were a good add in for the writing; not too long that they got boring, but not short to be pointless. I found the setting of the island to be fairly realistic (to the extent of my knowledge, at least) with the frequent tropical storms and lush jungles. It made for an entertaining setting, providing unforeseeable challenges for the girls stranded. The plot was well rounded and it didn't leave with a huge cliffhanger or leave many strings loose. It got to the point fairly quickly and demanded my attention the entire way.
The end was a good one, it rounded things off where there will not be a sequel. This was a novel with few flaws, I'd recommend it to people looking for something original or to fans of survival books. I give Lost Girls a 4/5.
Purple: my favorite color. I love how gritty the cover looks, it shows the massive amounts of rain the was received on the island the characters were stranded on. You couldn't quite see the cover model's face, not giving the reader any idea of what she might look like, leaving the reader to imagine what she looks like. You can also see that it was a tropical location by the palm trees in the back, they also showed the immensity of the storm's winds. The font brought the entire thing together by looking very military and old.
There was only one character I didn't like: Bonnie. You're probably thinking 'But she's the main character!'. I didn't overall hate her, but I just didn't like how indecisive she could be over very simple matters. Whether it was her feelings about another character or something even more trivial, she just couldn't seem to make her mind up on anything. I really enjoyed Mrs. Campbell because of how she was able to make me feel angry towards her due to how well written she was. Not many characters can illicit such strong feelings from me, but she was written just so, making her a character who was drowning in her own troubles and was suddenly expected to ensure the survival of a bunch of young girls.
Grittiness was a big feature in the writing of Lost Girls. Having that gritty feel in the writing was essential for the story because of it's setting on the island without any of the amenities of home (running water, bathrooms, electricity, etc.). The short journal entries were a good add in for the writing; not too long that they got boring, but not short to be pointless. I found the setting of the island to be fairly realistic (to the extent of my knowledge, at least) with the frequent tropical storms and lush jungles. It made for an entertaining setting, providing unforeseeable challenges for the girls stranded. The plot was well rounded and it didn't leave with a huge cliffhanger or leave many strings loose. It got to the point fairly quickly and demanded my attention the entire way.
The end was a good one, it rounded things off where there will not be a sequel. This was a novel with few flaws, I'd recommend it to people looking for something original or to fans of survival books. I give Lost Girls a 4/5.
August 6, 2012
I read this ARC version of this book so some things may have changed. If so, please let me know just because I'm curious!
Plot:
Similar to the beginning of Lost, only with a group of teenage/young girls and their cadet leader. I liked that the plot was always keeping me on my toes. I wasn't sure whether the girls would actually survive or not. The suspense and day-to-day living helped bring the story to life.
Setting:
A deserted island near Thailand that seems idyllic but is anything but most of the time. I haven't read many books that take place on such islands so it was refreshing. The Thailand aspect during the Vietnam War was also interesting, though I feel it went slightly over my head.
Characters:
I really liked the main character, Bonnie. She had her ups and downs, was far from perfect, and interesting. I liked how she tried to keep things together and felt so strongly about certain things.
I also enjoyed Jas, Hope, and Jody. Actually, Hope really grew on me and what happened to her makes me sad. She had some great character development.
Couldn't stand the Glossies and wasn't even sure why they were there. I didn't understand the appeal of Layla Campbell but liked her character development as well as how Bonnie's feelings toward her change.
I felt sorry for Natalie and even the Boatman.
Relationships:
This isn't the type of book that has romantic relationships, though Bonnie does have a crush on one of the guys where she stays with her parents.
I did like how Bonnie's relationship changes with Jas and Layla, as well as the entire camp.
Writing/Voice:
I really liked the writing and Bonnie's voice. The characters felt real, the descriptions were vivid and gritty, and the author reminded me somewhat of Stephen King in that there were some things that were very hard to forget (mostly involving Sandy and Natalie). There were some parts that were a little confusing, such as the part with the tiger-man, and some of the war's effects went over my head, but overall a very enjoyable read that made me feel for the characters. I liked that this book was a mix of Bonnie's journal and what was going on around her (non written).
Ending:
The main thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. Not much closure and it didn't seem to flow with the rest of the story. The epilogue was unnecessary. A journal entry written by Bonnie would have fit better.
Overall, I really liked this one. It was different from most YA I come across and gave me the same feelings I get when I read Stephen King or Michael Grant. Definitely recommend, especially if you are a fan of survival stories.
Plot:
Similar to the beginning of Lost, only with a group of teenage/young girls and their cadet leader. I liked that the plot was always keeping me on my toes. I wasn't sure whether the girls would actually survive or not. The suspense and day-to-day living helped bring the story to life.
Setting:
A deserted island near Thailand that seems idyllic but is anything but most of the time. I haven't read many books that take place on such islands so it was refreshing. The Thailand aspect during the Vietnam War was also interesting, though I feel it went slightly over my head.
Characters:
I really liked the main character, Bonnie. She had her ups and downs, was far from perfect, and interesting. I liked how she tried to keep things together and felt so strongly about certain things.
I also enjoyed Jas, Hope, and Jody. Actually, Hope really grew on me and what happened to her makes me sad. She had some great character development.
Couldn't stand the Glossies and wasn't even sure why they were there. I didn't understand the appeal of Layla Campbell but liked her character development as well as how Bonnie's feelings toward her change.
I felt sorry for Natalie and even the Boatman.
Relationships:
This isn't the type of book that has romantic relationships, though Bonnie does have a crush on one of the guys where she stays with her parents.
I did like how Bonnie's relationship changes with Jas and Layla, as well as the entire camp.
Writing/Voice:
I really liked the writing and Bonnie's voice. The characters felt real, the descriptions were vivid and gritty, and the author reminded me somewhat of Stephen King in that there were some things that were very hard to forget (mostly involving Sandy and Natalie). There were some parts that were a little confusing, such as the part with the tiger-man, and some of the war's effects went over my head, but overall a very enjoyable read that made me feel for the characters. I liked that this book was a mix of Bonnie's journal and what was going on around her (non written).
Ending:
The main thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. Not much closure and it didn't seem to flow with the rest of the story. The epilogue was unnecessary. A journal entry written by Bonnie would have fit better.
Overall, I really liked this one. It was different from most YA I come across and gave me the same feelings I get when I read Stephen King or Michael Grant. Definitely recommend, especially if you are a fan of survival stories.
May 3, 2012
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...
The story is about a group of Amelia Earhart cadets, young daughters of those Americans stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. The group of young cadets were heading out excitedly on a camping trip to an island off the coast, when they are caught up in a raging storm. The boatman manages to steer them to the nearest island, although he refuses to set foot on it even with the waters overcoming the small boat. He deposits the group of girls and their one chaperon, Mrs. Campbell, on the island and steers right back to the mainland. Leaving the girls to imagine they’d be picked up in 3 days time, as planned.
Our narrator is fourteen year old, Bonnie. I felt she had such presence among the group. She can be annoyingly indecisive, but considering the situation and her age, it’s easy to get past. As for Mrs. Campbell, the only adult accompanying the group of girls on the trip, she’s useless in every way. She drinks the liquor she stashed in her bag rather than disinfect one girl’s injury and smokes joints she brought on the trip, even encouraging a couple of the girls to smoke with her. Bonnie and her best friend, Jas, were the ones that kept the group in motion and in survival mode.
In the first couple of chapters, there is a loss that caught me so off guard it made me suddenly teary when I realized what happened. The scenarios the girls find themselves in are written so realistically that you can almost feel the grit of the sand in your mouth along with them. You can hear the squeals of the wild boars and monkeys on that island. This story was all about survival. The chapters were scattered with entries from Bonnie’s personal journal that she kept while stranded. Her fears and frustrations etched in those pages, are a great reminder to the reader that they are just a group of terrified little girls wanting to go home.
Even with all of the hard to stomach details written into this story, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from it. I just had to know what would happen next…would they even survive in those lush jungles surrounding them? How far could such young girls go until all of their hope for rescue just faded from them? I’d recommend Lost Girls to anyone looking for a fast-paced, detailed, enthralling story to read. Through to the very end, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
The story is about a group of Amelia Earhart cadets, young daughters of those Americans stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. The group of young cadets were heading out excitedly on a camping trip to an island off the coast, when they are caught up in a raging storm. The boatman manages to steer them to the nearest island, although he refuses to set foot on it even with the waters overcoming the small boat. He deposits the group of girls and their one chaperon, Mrs. Campbell, on the island and steers right back to the mainland. Leaving the girls to imagine they’d be picked up in 3 days time, as planned.
Our narrator is fourteen year old, Bonnie. I felt she had such presence among the group. She can be annoyingly indecisive, but considering the situation and her age, it’s easy to get past. As for Mrs. Campbell, the only adult accompanying the group of girls on the trip, she’s useless in every way. She drinks the liquor she stashed in her bag rather than disinfect one girl’s injury and smokes joints she brought on the trip, even encouraging a couple of the girls to smoke with her. Bonnie and her best friend, Jas, were the ones that kept the group in motion and in survival mode.
In the first couple of chapters, there is a loss that caught me so off guard it made me suddenly teary when I realized what happened. The scenarios the girls find themselves in are written so realistically that you can almost feel the grit of the sand in your mouth along with them. You can hear the squeals of the wild boars and monkeys on that island. This story was all about survival. The chapters were scattered with entries from Bonnie’s personal journal that she kept while stranded. Her fears and frustrations etched in those pages, are a great reminder to the reader that they are just a group of terrified little girls wanting to go home.
Even with all of the hard to stomach details written into this story, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from it. I just had to know what would happen next…would they even survive in those lush jungles surrounding them? How far could such young girls go until all of their hope for rescue just faded from them? I’d recommend Lost Girls to anyone looking for a fast-paced, detailed, enthralling story to read. Through to the very end, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
June 17, 2012
Lost Girls is set in the 1970′s where a group of girls set off for a three-day camping trip to an island off the coast of Thailand. A strong current carries them past the island they’re supposed to visit and the boatmen leaves them on a different island known as “the forbidden island” to the locals.
The girls are all excited to be there and spend the first day enjoying the beach, but when a strong storm blows in, destroying their campsite and killing one of the younger girls, things begin to go quickly downhill. They know they only need to hold on for a couple more days and then the boat will return for them. When the boat doesn’t come, it’s evident that they may not make it off the island. No one knows where they are.
When their cadet leader goes AWOL on them, fourteen-year-old Bonnie and her best friend Jas do their best to help the other girls survive, venturing into the forest to find food amidst king cobras, wild boars, tigers and other dangerous creatures — they literally have to fight to keep themselves and the remaining girls alive.
I wasn’t sure what I would be getting myself into when I started this book, but I’m so glad I read it.
While reading the first chapter, a few questions burned in my mind. Why do they go ahead with the trip when there’s so much flooding happening already in Thailand? The weather is awful when they leave, so why did they even get on the boat in the first place? My second burning question was why did the boatman just leave them at the “forbidden island” and more importantly, why did the cadet leader allow it to happen? These questions still lingered throughout the book, but once the action picked up and the girls were fighting for their lives, I pushed the questions aside. It didn’t matter why they were there any longer, just that they got home safe.
Ms. Kelley’s writing is perfect for this book. The tone effectively shifts from a sense of excitement about the adventure, to worry, to all out survival. You experience the story through Bonnie’s eyes (the story is also peppered with her personal journal entries), and though you spend the book inside Bonnie’s head, you get a good feel of all the other characters as well.
Some have compared this to a female Lord of the Flies, and I do agree to an extent. If you are a fan of survival stories/movies ( a la Castaway and Lost - minus the mind-trippy twists) this is the book for you.
The girls are all excited to be there and spend the first day enjoying the beach, but when a strong storm blows in, destroying their campsite and killing one of the younger girls, things begin to go quickly downhill. They know they only need to hold on for a couple more days and then the boat will return for them. When the boat doesn’t come, it’s evident that they may not make it off the island. No one knows where they are.
When their cadet leader goes AWOL on them, fourteen-year-old Bonnie and her best friend Jas do their best to help the other girls survive, venturing into the forest to find food amidst king cobras, wild boars, tigers and other dangerous creatures — they literally have to fight to keep themselves and the remaining girls alive.
I wasn’t sure what I would be getting myself into when I started this book, but I’m so glad I read it.
While reading the first chapter, a few questions burned in my mind. Why do they go ahead with the trip when there’s so much flooding happening already in Thailand? The weather is awful when they leave, so why did they even get on the boat in the first place? My second burning question was why did the boatman just leave them at the “forbidden island” and more importantly, why did the cadet leader allow it to happen? These questions still lingered throughout the book, but once the action picked up and the girls were fighting for their lives, I pushed the questions aside. It didn’t matter why they were there any longer, just that they got home safe.
Ms. Kelley’s writing is perfect for this book. The tone effectively shifts from a sense of excitement about the adventure, to worry, to all out survival. You experience the story through Bonnie’s eyes (the story is also peppered with her personal journal entries), and though you spend the book inside Bonnie’s head, you get a good feel of all the other characters as well.
Some have compared this to a female Lord of the Flies, and I do agree to an extent. If you are a fan of survival stories/movies ( a la Castaway and Lost - minus the mind-trippy twists) this is the book for you.
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