What do you think?
Rate this book
The Island
Frances is alone on a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. She has to find water and food. She has to survive. And when she is there she also thinks about the past. The things that she did before. The things that made her a monster. Nothing is easy. Survival is hard and so is being honest about the past. Frances is a survivor however, and with the help of the only other crash survivor, she sees that the future is worth fighting for.
The Island is a gripping and thoughtful story about a girl who didn’t ask to be the person she is but is also determined to make herself the person she wants to be.
The Island is a gripping and thoughtful story about a girl who didn’t ask to be the person she is but is also determined to make herself the person she wants to be.
321 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2016
18 people are currently reading
1199 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 122 reviews
February 9, 2020
3 ⭐️
Ok, I didn’t have particularly high hopes going into this one as the reviews are so mixed.
A young girl is the lone survivor of a plane crash in true ‘Cast Away’ style. The chapters switch between her attempt to survive on a desert island and her past living with her addict mother and looking after her little brother.
I found the main character hard to take sometimes, she came across as really young and so sometimes annoying. However she is only 16 - I think I read too many books where the main characters act older than their ages.
It was interesting to read about her past and seeing how she ended up getting into trouble with the law. I felt for her and her situation.
A quick read with some hard hitting issues. 3 stars ⭐️
**********************
Wow, I don't think I've seen a book with such polarising reviews in ages!
But the TBR box says this is next to order from the library, so who am I to argue?
Ok, I didn’t have particularly high hopes going into this one as the reviews are so mixed.
A young girl is the lone survivor of a plane crash in true ‘Cast Away’ style. The chapters switch between her attempt to survive on a desert island and her past living with her addict mother and looking after her little brother.
I found the main character hard to take sometimes, she came across as really young and so sometimes annoying. However she is only 16 - I think I read too many books where the main characters act older than their ages.
It was interesting to read about her past and seeing how she ended up getting into trouble with the law. I felt for her and her situation.
A quick read with some hard hitting issues. 3 stars ⭐️
**********************
Wow, I don't think I've seen a book with such polarising reviews in ages!
But the TBR box says this is next to order from the library, so who am I to argue?
May 22, 2016
4.5 stars
In the beginning, it is really quite difficult to back Fran and root for her. She isn't easy to like and she makes some questionable decisions. She drinks the majority of her water right away and throws away other supplies that would be incredibly useful. However, as time progresses, it becomes easier to sympathise and understand her poor choices. This is largely down to the flashback chapters where we get to learn more about her life before these devastating events.
I loved the writing style of short chapters that flip between the past and the present. I thought the interspersed chapters of her past were quite fitting as Fran was delving back into her memories as she comes to terms with her situation. She's slowly allowing herself to think of all the bad things which allows us to learn what happened to her and what she did to end up on the expedition in the first place. The chapters being so quick makes it a fast paced read that's hard to put down.
The addition of another survivor added a whole new element to the story which I loved. We get some lighter moments as well as a really touching bond between them. With Fran being difficult to understand and like, it was nice to have this other character who I could connect with more. His willingness to get along with Fran and work together to survive, even when she is being annoying, made it easier for me to root for her too. I also adored Dog despite the fact my heart was worrying for his safety the entire time!
One of my favourite things about The Island is that it's a realistic portrayal of being stranded on a desert island; it isn't romanticised. There aren't two people swooning over each other and forgetting the dire situation they are in. It's harsh and dirty and brutal. It's all about survival skills and the durability of the human body. Body hair, bodily functions and periods aren't forgotten about.
The ending is one of those ones where you have to imagine what happens next yourself. I usually don't like these kinds of endings but I think it works well here given that there is more than one route the author could have taken. I think a fixed ending would have had the potential to feel rushed and so I'm happy with what we have. The Island was a gripping, well-written story of survival and I really, really enjoyed it.
In the beginning, it is really quite difficult to back Fran and root for her. She isn't easy to like and she makes some questionable decisions. She drinks the majority of her water right away and throws away other supplies that would be incredibly useful. However, as time progresses, it becomes easier to sympathise and understand her poor choices. This is largely down to the flashback chapters where we get to learn more about her life before these devastating events.
I loved the writing style of short chapters that flip between the past and the present. I thought the interspersed chapters of her past were quite fitting as Fran was delving back into her memories as she comes to terms with her situation. She's slowly allowing herself to think of all the bad things which allows us to learn what happened to her and what she did to end up on the expedition in the first place. The chapters being so quick makes it a fast paced read that's hard to put down.
The addition of another survivor added a whole new element to the story which I loved. We get some lighter moments as well as a really touching bond between them. With Fran being difficult to understand and like, it was nice to have this other character who I could connect with more. His willingness to get along with Fran and work together to survive, even when she is being annoying, made it easier for me to root for her too. I also adored Dog despite the fact my heart was worrying for his safety the entire time!
One of my favourite things about The Island is that it's a realistic portrayal of being stranded on a desert island; it isn't romanticised. There aren't two people swooning over each other and forgetting the dire situation they are in. It's harsh and dirty and brutal. It's all about survival skills and the durability of the human body. Body hair, bodily functions and periods aren't forgotten about.
The ending is one of those ones where you have to imagine what happens next yourself. I usually don't like these kinds of endings but I think it works well here given that there is more than one route the author could have taken. I think a fixed ending would have had the potential to feel rushed and so I'm happy with what we have. The Island was a gripping, well-written story of survival and I really, really enjoyed it.
Read
June 1, 2016Frances, a girl who has done something Very Bad, is being sent to an island near Indonesia as part of her sentence. It'll be a work-camp sort of situation: she'll gain valuable skills and lessons while not putting in jail time for the crime she's committed.
Except on the flight, the TeamSkills crew ends up in a terrible accident. Frances is the lone survivor and finds herself alone on an island. It's up to her to figure out how to survive and how to get out.
This is a realistic survival story with grit and teeth and bones and sharp, jutting edges. It's a page-turner without being exhilarating -- much of survival is straight-up boring, so it makes sense there is downtime, there is time for Frances to flash back to the things she did, to take stock of her life before the accident.
But it turns out that Fran may not be alone on the island after all.
Frances is a girl of piss and vinegar because she's a girl who has been hurt again and again. She's angry and she's grieving and dealing with emotions in very raw, pained ways. Her experience on the island is a manifestation of those things, as much as her attitude is. This isn't a story about romance or falling in love; this is a story that's blissfully free of any shoehorned romance or love.
It might be easy to describe this as Hatchet, but actually interesting. I realize how many fans Hatchet has, but for those who, like me, sat through classroom readings of that book again and again and again in school because it's a "great book for boys," it's a story that just...doesn't...click. This, though, this has the sharpness that teen readers, especially those who crave female-centered hard-ass adventure stories, will want.
What a gem of a book.
Except on the flight, the TeamSkills crew ends up in a terrible accident. Frances is the lone survivor and finds herself alone on an island. It's up to her to figure out how to survive and how to get out.
This is a realistic survival story with grit and teeth and bones and sharp, jutting edges. It's a page-turner without being exhilarating -- much of survival is straight-up boring, so it makes sense there is downtime, there is time for Frances to flash back to the things she did, to take stock of her life before the accident.
But it turns out that Fran may not be alone on the island after all.
Frances is a girl of piss and vinegar because she's a girl who has been hurt again and again. She's angry and she's grieving and dealing with emotions in very raw, pained ways. Her experience on the island is a manifestation of those things, as much as her attitude is. This isn't a story about romance or falling in love; this is a story that's blissfully free of any shoehorned romance or love.
It might be easy to describe this as Hatchet, but actually interesting. I realize how many fans Hatchet has, but for those who, like me, sat through classroom readings of that book again and again and again in school because it's a "great book for boys," it's a story that just...doesn't...click. This, though, this has the sharpness that teen readers, especially those who crave female-centered hard-ass adventure stories, will want.
What a gem of a book.
March 12, 2016
I've never read a book so fast! I loved this book, I couldn't put it down the entire time I had it. I loved how interestingly it was written and the short chapters kept me interested. the ending was good, although I'm dying to know what happens afterwards! I fell in love with the characters and I'm glad that I loved this book because my English teacher wrote it ;)
November 9, 2018
Not counting a couple of interesting passages, this book was sub par. The plot was too circular, going over and over the same flashback without adding value to the story. It was hard to connect with any of the characters. Not recommended.
February 24, 2016
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. YOu can see this review along with all my others (plus book blogging tips!) at http://bookmarkedbookreviews.blogspot....
Warning: This review may contain unnecessary capital letters, extreme fanboying and maybe some screaming.
Have you seen this cover? HAVE YOU? HAVE YOU SEEN IT? LOOK AT IT WITH YOUR EYES!!! It is possibly one of the most brilliant covers I've seen this year.
Basically, this book is WOW. I wasn't sure how much I was going to love it, but I ended up REALLY REALLY REALLY ENJOYING IT. HOW CAN I SAY THIS? MY HEART OF STONE CANNOT HANDLE HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK. I'M HAVING AN OVERLOAD OF EMOTION. *faints*
Anyway.
Frances is one of the only survivors after she crash lands onto the shores of a desert island. As she fights for her life, we learn LOTS more about her dark past and what made her ever-so-slightly psychopathic.
Admittedly it sounds a bit Lord of the Flies-ey, but it's SO MUCH BETTER.
The Island is written brilliantly. I mean, it kept me gripped the entire way through and was just SO beautiful in places.
I really LOVED Frances, but sometimes I found her a bit... stupid?
I feel really guilty saying this, because right now I'm in love with this book, but sometimes I just felt Frances was being... stupid? Maybe it's because I'm so intelligent *ahem*. But hear me out. You've just rocked up on a desert island - what's the first thing you do? Drink all of your water supplies of course.
NOOOOOOOOOOO.
That aside, I think Frances is portrayed perfectly. Perfectly. I really enjoyed how her anger was dealt with and it really was all written brilliantly. Although the idea of being stuck on an island isn't really that original, Olivia Levez has definitely managed to put her own twist on it.
Some YA books feel really censored, and seem to pretend that everything ends in a happy ever after. *shudders* That type of thing really annoys me. This book doesn't do that. It doesn't make out that teenagers don't swear, and that everyone grows up trouble free. Frances doesn't feel imaginary, she feels like someone you could bump into in the street.
I loved this book. I mean, it's one of those special ones that you just want to reread as soon as you've read it. While I was reading this I actually looked forward to getting the chance to open it.
I feel like I really connected with Frances (and dog) - I felt like I wanted this book to go on and on. I'm not usually a fan of animals in YA, but I think even the dog was written brilliantly. I wondered how much the author could do with just three characters on an island... but it turns out you can do a helluva lot.
I'm pretty sure this is going to be one of the best books of 2016. Yep, I said it. This book is so freakin' good. I enjoyed it so much and fell in love with Frances right from the start. You should definitely buy it. And then you can stare at the BEAUTIFUL cover for at least TEN YEARS (maybe even twelve).
Warning: This review may contain unnecessary capital letters, extreme fanboying and maybe some screaming.
Have you seen this cover? HAVE YOU? HAVE YOU SEEN IT? LOOK AT IT WITH YOUR EYES!!! It is possibly one of the most brilliant covers I've seen this year.
Basically, this book is WOW. I wasn't sure how much I was going to love it, but I ended up REALLY REALLY REALLY ENJOYING IT. HOW CAN I SAY THIS? MY HEART OF STONE CANNOT HANDLE HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK. I'M HAVING AN OVERLOAD OF EMOTION. *faints*
Anyway.
Frances is one of the only survivors after she crash lands onto the shores of a desert island. As she fights for her life, we learn LOTS more about her dark past and what made her ever-so-slightly psychopathic.
Admittedly it sounds a bit Lord of the Flies-ey, but it's SO MUCH BETTER.
The Island is written brilliantly. I mean, it kept me gripped the entire way through and was just SO beautiful in places.
Blue shimmering water.
And a blue shimmering sky.
I am surrounded by nothing.
An endless sea of nothing.
I really LOVED Frances, but sometimes I found her a bit... stupid?
I feel really guilty saying this, because right now I'm in love with this book, but sometimes I just felt Frances was being... stupid? Maybe it's because I'm so intelligent *ahem*. But hear me out. You've just rocked up on a desert island - what's the first thing you do? Drink all of your water supplies of course.
The water sachets keep sliding out of my hands but I manage to stab one, pin it between my knees like it's a fish or something and hold it to my mouth and drink. And drink and drink. I drink three of them till my belly feels tight and full.
I have two left.
NOOOOOOOOOOO.
That aside, I think Frances is portrayed perfectly. Perfectly. I really enjoyed how her anger was dealt with and it really was all written brilliantly. Although the idea of being stuck on an island isn't really that original, Olivia Levez has definitely managed to put her own twist on it.
Some YA books feel really censored, and seem to pretend that everything ends in a happy ever after. *shudders* That type of thing really annoys me. This book doesn't do that. It doesn't make out that teenagers don't swear, and that everyone grows up trouble free. Frances doesn't feel imaginary, she feels like someone you could bump into in the street.
I loved this book. I mean, it's one of those special ones that you just want to reread as soon as you've read it. While I was reading this I actually looked forward to getting the chance to open it.
I feel like I really connected with Frances (and dog) - I felt like I wanted this book to go on and on. I'm not usually a fan of animals in YA, but I think even the dog was written brilliantly. I wondered how much the author could do with just three characters on an island... but it turns out you can do a helluva lot.
I'm pretty sure this is going to be one of the best books of 2016. Yep, I said it. This book is so freakin' good. I enjoyed it so much and fell in love with Frances right from the start. You should definitely buy it. And then you can stare at the BEAUTIFUL cover for at least TEN YEARS (maybe even twelve).
December 28, 2016
The Island is about a girl who crash landed on an island and is to survive with nothing but a raft and a dog as a companion - but she finds out that she isn't the only survivor.
Sigh.. I was so excited when I received an arc of this book. The cover is absolutely beautiful and I actually stopped reading two books for this. The back of the book said something about a girl who finds out that a boy survived the same plane crash and are both stranded on the same island so I thought it had a 'The Blue Lagoon: The Awakening' kind of feel but the book was nothing like it. The story is told back and forth between Fran's past and present and that really confused me. I normally don't have a problem with reoccurring flashbacks in books but this one bugged me a whole lot. I had no care for her past because it had nothing to do with the present. When she got to the island I thought, okay, finally she's on the island - there should be some action going on right now, right? But no. none. Nada. Instead she floats toward the island on a raft, picks up a bottle filled with vodka and drinks. She also used up pretty much everything there is on the raft that is suppose to help her survive. Sigh. I was well about done with this book.
So she gets to the island. I was expecting the survivor to appear any moment now, but no. I had to go through about 180 pages to get to him. Sigh. I thought the survivor was a pretty fun character though, so I enjoyed that part of the book.
So yeah. It was really hard for me to finish this book and it took a lot of time. Also that ending was pretty weird and it got me thinking a lot soo I do hope there's a second book. I probably won't end up reading the book but let's see. Thank you Cailin for sending over this book! I adore the cover but sadly the story isn't for me.
Sigh.. I was so excited when I received an arc of this book. The cover is absolutely beautiful and I actually stopped reading two books for this. The back of the book said something about a girl who finds out that a boy survived the same plane crash and are both stranded on the same island so I thought it had a 'The Blue Lagoon: The Awakening' kind of feel but the book was nothing like it. The story is told back and forth between Fran's past and present and that really confused me. I normally don't have a problem with reoccurring flashbacks in books but this one bugged me a whole lot. I had no care for her past because it had nothing to do with the present. When she got to the island I thought, okay, finally she's on the island - there should be some action going on right now, right? But no. none. Nada. Instead she floats toward the island on a raft, picks up a bottle filled with vodka and drinks. She also used up pretty much everything there is on the raft that is suppose to help her survive. Sigh. I was well about done with this book.
So she gets to the island. I was expecting the survivor to appear any moment now, but no. I had to go through about 180 pages to get to him. Sigh. I thought the survivor was a pretty fun character though, so I enjoyed that part of the book.
So yeah. It was really hard for me to finish this book and it took a lot of time. Also that ending was pretty weird and it got me thinking a lot soo I do hope there's a second book. I probably won't end up reading the book but let's see. Thank you Cailin for sending over this book! I adore the cover but sadly the story isn't for me.
August 2, 2017
2.75 stars. But just what was that ending? I hate open endings and this was just ridiculous. I can't decide If I loved or disliked this book.
July 25, 2017
"The Island" drinking game:
- if you drink every time the author uses the cliche "bluer-than-blue", you'll be pretty tipsy throughout the book;
- if you drink every time the author uses the most annoyingannoyingannoying gimmick of smushing a word or phrase together in triplicatetriplicatetriplicate for emphasisemphasisemphasis, you'll be room-spinning drunk after only a couple dozen pages, and upchucking regularly throughout the book;
- if you drink every time the author treats every new sentence like it's a new paragraph, you will need to read this in the emergency room because you will need to have your stomach pumped regularly.
Actually 1.5 stars. I was interested in the story enough to finish the book, but the author's clunky writing style, apparent lack of a thesaurus, and authorial tics/habits grate something fierce (don't even get me started on the random breaking
up of sentences
as if we're
playing at
poetry
for no
apparent
reason), so I didn't particularly enjoy reading it. Also, Medusa, gorgon, stone stare, monster, yes, yes, we get it. I did very much enjoy the use of "!" and "?" to represent a dog's barks, though; that's cute and pretty apt.
- if you drink every time the author uses the cliche "bluer-than-blue", you'll be pretty tipsy throughout the book;
- if you drink every time the author uses the most annoyingannoyingannoying gimmick of smushing a word or phrase together in triplicatetriplicatetriplicate for emphasisemphasisemphasis, you'll be room-spinning drunk after only a couple dozen pages, and upchucking regularly throughout the book;
- if you drink every time the author treats every new sentence like it's a new paragraph, you will need to read this in the emergency room because you will need to have your stomach pumped regularly.
Actually 1.5 stars. I was interested in the story enough to finish the book, but the author's clunky writing style, apparent lack of a thesaurus, and authorial tics/habits grate something fierce (don't even get me started on the random breaking
up of sentences
as if we're
playing at
poetry
for no
apparent
reason), so I didn't particularly enjoy reading it. Also, Medusa, gorgon, stone stare, monster, yes, yes, we get it. I did very much enjoy the use of "!" and "?" to represent a dog's barks, though; that's cute and pretty apt.
February 28, 2016
I won a ARC copy of this book via Goodreads. I immediately stopped reading another book to get this one read first as I wanted to share my view on it before it's release date which is early March.
So the story follows Francis who was in a plane crash which resulted on her being shipwrecked on an island but it flashes back to her past and how she ended up where she is today. I didn't mind the flashbacks but as it went on it irritated me a little because it really wasn't relevant to the story aside from letting you know a little about her as a person. She is strong and had to grow up so quickly to raise her brother. Problem with that is.....she didn't show that from the plane onwards. She acts like a petty child who doesn't care that she's destroying all items needed for survival or basically about anybody else but herself.
I have to admit that when you find out there's another survivor who happens to be male I wanted there to be a little more of a connection there but that just didn't happen. The end was terrible. I felt cheated. I read this whole book waiting for some form of ending and there was none. Do they survive? Was that really a helicopter light she was seeing? Did she fuck up and throw a spear to catch a 'star' and actually destroy all hope for rescue? We will never know. I'm not sure if this was a stand alone but if it does go on into another book I'm not sure I will be hooked enough to read it to get these answers.
So the story follows Francis who was in a plane crash which resulted on her being shipwrecked on an island but it flashes back to her past and how she ended up where she is today. I didn't mind the flashbacks but as it went on it irritated me a little because it really wasn't relevant to the story aside from letting you know a little about her as a person. She is strong and had to grow up so quickly to raise her brother. Problem with that is.....she didn't show that from the plane onwards. She acts like a petty child who doesn't care that she's destroying all items needed for survival or basically about anybody else but herself.
I have to admit that when you find out there's another survivor who happens to be male I wanted there to be a little more of a connection there but that just didn't happen. The end was terrible. I felt cheated. I read this whole book waiting for some form of ending and there was none. Do they survive? Was that really a helicopter light she was seeing? Did she fuck up and throw a spear to catch a 'star' and actually destroy all hope for rescue? We will never know. I'm not sure if this was a stand alone but if it does go on into another book I'm not sure I will be hooked enough to read it to get these answers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2016
I absolutely know that I would not last five minutes stranded alone on a desert island (no WiFi). But this is a wonderful study of what anyone (even someone completely, totally messed up) can do if they have to. The author really puts her MC through it, and there were definitely times when I didn't blame her because Franny is so maddening, but the development of this 16 year old was handled so skilfully and realistically that, though there is much sadness, it ended up being a really uplifting read.
If that's not enough to persuade you, The Island also has a great dog in it. I loved it!
If that's not enough to persuade you, The Island also has a great dog in it. I loved it!
March 21, 2022
3.5 - during the first 100ish pages I almost dnf-Ed this book but then it started winning me over, i think my biggest annoyance was never knowing where I’m the story each “chapter” was. But it either got less hectic or I finally got used to it.
July 25, 2022
I was really into this book for the longest time and then the ending... was so abrupt and unsatisfying. I really question the author's purpose in telling this story, especially in consideration of the ending and I'm still wondering if there's something I missed or just didn't understand. Overall, an interesting tale and compelling, but I found the conclusion so disappointing I'm not certain I can recommend it.
January 24, 2016
I feel bad about giving this book a one star. But I can't help it. It was awful. And I didn't like it at all. Though there were a few scenes that were interesting. But not enough to give it a two star rating. Sigh. I have so many thoughts about this one. I shall try to share them all. Maybe. It's just. I really wanted to like it.
I heard about The Island when I was emailed by the UK publisher in November, if I wanted to review it. And I read about it. And I thought that I would like it, so I got an ARC of it. It is pretty. But oh. Sadly, the inside was not good at all. I tried my best to enjoy this one. But it was impossible. It just didn't work for me at all.
I knew from the first pages that I would not like this book. I wanted to not read it. But it is only the second book I have gotten from this lovely publisher, and I thought that I needed to finish it and write a review. And then I thought about DNFing it, as it was so slow to read, but I didn't. I wanted to finish because I got it for review. And. Well. I sort of regret reading it. But also sort of glad that I did. But I'm also having so many feelings about it right now. And none of it is good. I'm just angry. And my review might end up being very negative. Sorry about that. But I wish to be honest about my feelings for this book. So I might end up posting a few small spoilers about the plot in the book. But nothing too big and not that interesting.
I'm unsure where to start. So I shall begin with the writing. It was awful. Really truly awful. I couldn't stand this writing at all. Which makes me a bit sad. But yeah. It was really bad. I'm not sure how to else describe it. But everything about it was bad. How the girl was thinking. How she described things. I don't usually have issues at all with strong language, but it was bad in this one. It didn't fit in at all. I just really did not like the writing. At all. And story was not all that exciting either. I'm disappointed.
I don't even know how old the main girl, Frances, is. She drank vodka a whole lot. She seemed like she was over eighteen sometimes, and other times she seemed like she was twelve. It was so annoying. But pretty sure she was supposed to be sixteen. Reading about her was the worst. I guess I was supposed to feel sorry for her, you know, with her fat and useless and pathetic mom who got paid for sex. It just seemed a bit too much. And I didn't care one bit. Not even a little. I did not like Frances. Which is sad.
The plot is about her being on a plane that crashes, and her being the only survivor. But gosh it was written so badly. First she manages to get out of the plane by making a hole in the roof. Did not seem likely. She grabs a raft. And then she wakes up inside it. She has one small bottle, with a bit of vodka inside. So of course she drinks it all and gets super drunk. Did not seem likely. And she destroys just about everything inside her one emergency bag. Seriously. It was done so badly and not realistic at all.
This book is about her being on an island. Alone for about two hundred pages, and about eighty days for her alone. Just about half the book is flashbacks. And it was just annoying. I didn't care about her life. Her little brother seemed interesting, until he got taken away and then didn't care about her at all anymore. Seriously. Plot is that Frances did something really bad and is being sent away for weeks. But, well, the thing she did was so silly and just stupid to read about. I didn't care about it one bit. Sigh.
This summary mentions another survivor. But he isn't there for two hundred pages. And then he is just annoying. And Frances is being so rude and awful. She is sixteen. He is over twenty. I thought there might be a cute romance to save me from this awful book. But nooo. Turns out he is gay. Ugh. My dislike for this book just grew so much. Because it was boring. Oh so boring. They spent forever on the island doing just about nothing. Nothing exciting ever happened. Which bothered me. Could have been better.
And then there is that ending. What the hell. It is a cliffhanger. Someone is just about dead. And we don't get to see what happens with it at all. It was the worst ending I have ever read in a standalone book. Just. What. That is not okay. And it just made me so angry. Sigh. I spent ages reading this book, suffering through it, and then it doesn't even have a good ending. What the hell. I'm upset about it. And just. I felt like I wasted my time. Though I was interested in the plot a few times. Sort of. Not enough.
I'm not sure what else to say about this one. Well, okay, I could probably mention a whole lot of other bad things about it. But I'm not going to. Because I'm ready to forget all about it. I'm sorry that I didn't like it. I'm sorry that it was such a bad book. But yeah. It was not for me at all. Some of the survival things were interesting. But for the most part it was boring. Some might like it, though. Just. Thank you so, so much to Cailin at Oneworld Publications for sending me this. <3 I'm sorry that I hated it.
---
This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2016/0...
I heard about The Island when I was emailed by the UK publisher in November, if I wanted to review it. And I read about it. And I thought that I would like it, so I got an ARC of it. It is pretty. But oh. Sadly, the inside was not good at all. I tried my best to enjoy this one. But it was impossible. It just didn't work for me at all.
I knew from the first pages that I would not like this book. I wanted to not read it. But it is only the second book I have gotten from this lovely publisher, and I thought that I needed to finish it and write a review. And then I thought about DNFing it, as it was so slow to read, but I didn't. I wanted to finish because I got it for review. And. Well. I sort of regret reading it. But also sort of glad that I did. But I'm also having so many feelings about it right now. And none of it is good. I'm just angry. And my review might end up being very negative. Sorry about that. But I wish to be honest about my feelings for this book. So I might end up posting a few small spoilers about the plot in the book. But nothing too big and not that interesting.
I'm unsure where to start. So I shall begin with the writing. It was awful. Really truly awful. I couldn't stand this writing at all. Which makes me a bit sad. But yeah. It was really bad. I'm not sure how to else describe it. But everything about it was bad. How the girl was thinking. How she described things. I don't usually have issues at all with strong language, but it was bad in this one. It didn't fit in at all. I just really did not like the writing. At all. And story was not all that exciting either. I'm disappointed.
I don't even know how old the main girl, Frances, is. She drank vodka a whole lot. She seemed like she was over eighteen sometimes, and other times she seemed like she was twelve. It was so annoying. But pretty sure she was supposed to be sixteen. Reading about her was the worst. I guess I was supposed to feel sorry for her, you know, with her fat and useless and pathetic mom who got paid for sex. It just seemed a bit too much. And I didn't care one bit. Not even a little. I did not like Frances. Which is sad.
The plot is about her being on a plane that crashes, and her being the only survivor. But gosh it was written so badly. First she manages to get out of the plane by making a hole in the roof. Did not seem likely. She grabs a raft. And then she wakes up inside it. She has one small bottle, with a bit of vodka inside. So of course she drinks it all and gets super drunk. Did not seem likely. And she destroys just about everything inside her one emergency bag. Seriously. It was done so badly and not realistic at all.
This book is about her being on an island. Alone for about two hundred pages, and about eighty days for her alone. Just about half the book is flashbacks. And it was just annoying. I didn't care about her life. Her little brother seemed interesting, until he got taken away and then didn't care about her at all anymore. Seriously. Plot is that Frances did something really bad and is being sent away for weeks. But, well, the thing she did was so silly and just stupid to read about. I didn't care about it one bit. Sigh.
This summary mentions another survivor. But he isn't there for two hundred pages. And then he is just annoying. And Frances is being so rude and awful. She is sixteen. He is over twenty. I thought there might be a cute romance to save me from this awful book. But nooo. Turns out he is gay. Ugh. My dislike for this book just grew so much. Because it was boring. Oh so boring. They spent forever on the island doing just about nothing. Nothing exciting ever happened. Which bothered me. Could have been better.
And then there is that ending. What the hell. It is a cliffhanger. Someone is just about dead. And we don't get to see what happens with it at all. It was the worst ending I have ever read in a standalone book. Just. What. That is not okay. And it just made me so angry. Sigh. I spent ages reading this book, suffering through it, and then it doesn't even have a good ending. What the hell. I'm upset about it. And just. I felt like I wasted my time. Though I was interested in the plot a few times. Sort of. Not enough.
I'm not sure what else to say about this one. Well, okay, I could probably mention a whole lot of other bad things about it. But I'm not going to. Because I'm ready to forget all about it. I'm sorry that I didn't like it. I'm sorry that it was such a bad book. But yeah. It was not for me at all. Some of the survival things were interesting. But for the most part it was boring. Some might like it, though. Just. Thank you so, so much to Cailin at Oneworld Publications for sending me this. <3 I'm sorry that I hated it.
---
This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2016/0...
September 13, 2019
Probably a little unfair but 20 pages in and I gave up
I NEVER give up on books but this just wasn’t going to be my kind of thing
I NEVER give up on books but this just wasn’t going to be my kind of thing
June 18, 2022
DNF. Maybe if Fran wasn’t so dang unlikable I could continue. But I felt no connection with her. And even though this type of story is one of my favorites, my lack of feeling anything towards the character made me want to kick it across the room. So I did.
As a side note, I really despised the writing style and the CONSTANT annoyingannoyingannoying smushing of words. Why?! I mean maybe once, but once per page? No.
As a side note, I really despised the writing style and the CONSTANT annoyingannoyingannoying smushing of words. Why?! I mean maybe once, but once per page? No.
February 4, 2017
The best survival book I've read since The Martian! I love how intense it was, switching from Frances stuck on the island and back to her life in England. Boy, she had a fucked up home life! No wonder she was so pissed at the world. No spoilers. But I am dying to discuss the ending with someone so let me know if you read this.
For the 2017 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge
Read a book that is set more than 5000 miles from you location.
For the 2017 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge
Read a book that is set more than 5000 miles from you location.
August 8, 2021
Okay I really liked this book. I'm a sucker for survival books, I really like Rufus, and I particularly enjoyed this writing style. I like how short the different sections were, making this a quick read. The reason I'm not giving this five stars is the ending. It's cryptic and there's not really any finishing connection between the past and the present sections of this book. Literally could have wrapped this book up with one more chapter (AT LEAST) and I would have said 5/5. Ending is disappointing.
March 3, 2016
Reviewed at: http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/
This book is everything I’ve been searching for in a story. It truly is. I could not stop reading. Already I’m finding it difficult to put my thoughts into a review because I JUST WANT TO WRITE EVERYTHING IN CAPITALS, THAT’S HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THIS BOOK.
The Island starts with Frances on a plane journey to work abroad as part of a scheme she is required to take part in after committing a crime. When the journey goes terribly wrong, Frances never reaches her intended destination. Instead she ends up deserted on an island and struggling to survive.
I’ll be totally honest; at first, I wasn’t too sure whether this book was for me. The writing style was quite different to what I’m used to, and I wasn’t really connecting with Frances. But that quickly changed. Before I knew it, I couldn’t put it down. This book is seriously addictive.
It didn't take long for me to start adoring Frances. She’s feisty, she has an attitude, and she’s at war with her own past. The book tells her story by switching from present day to the events that already have happened, showing us what led to Fran being in her current situation. The author is wonderful at writing from the perspective of a troubled teenager, and it allowed me to sympathise with Fran’s difficulties, to understand why she took the actions that she did.
The details of Fran’s home life were heart-breaking to read, especially the relationship between her and her younger brother, Johnny. I loved how the book let us know that these characters had faced troubled times, but slowly revealed it little by little as Fran had to deal with her memories whilst alone on the island.
What I especially love about this book is that it doesn’t romanticise being trapped on a desert island. This is about real survival skills and a genuine fight for life. Fran’s journey throughout this book is a tremendously difficult one, and it’s not cute. The author brilliantly demonstrates exactly how rough and dangerous life on the island is. I loved Fran getting stronger and learning to do more to help her chances of survival. At first, she wallowed in self-pity and wasted resources, so seeing her change and start to fight for herself was empowering.
Now I’m not going to name the other plane survivor (because spoilers), but they were utterly perfect. When they were introduced, the story took a little more of a light-hearted turn, which I felt was a much needed breather from Fran’s constantly desperate struggle. Obviously, it’s not all easy-living from there. It’s still two people trapped on a desert island and fighting to survive, but there is more humour and some exceptionally touching scenes, and I adored every moment that the two of them shared. From initially disliking each other, their bond of friendship grows beautifully strong, and it was great to see them finally open up to each other about their lives back home.
The ending of this book, THE ENDING. Gosh, I’m still not over it. It’s an ending that leaves you wondering beyond that final page. Whilst in a perfect world, I’d be handed a firm conclusion about the fate of the characters and I’d get some closure, but the actual ending forces you to think about possible outcomes for yourself.
Seriously, I can’t praise this book enough. It truly was a breath of fresh air. The Island is so different to a lot of the books I usually read and I’m thrilled that I got the chance to read it. This is a YA book that doesn’t rely on romance and typical teen clichés. This is a book about strength, determination, about finding courage when all hope is lost and facing up to the past. This is a truly beautiful debut from Olivia Levez, and it’s made me extremely excited for whatever she shares with us next.
This book is everything I’ve been searching for in a story. It truly is. I could not stop reading. Already I’m finding it difficult to put my thoughts into a review because I JUST WANT TO WRITE EVERYTHING IN CAPITALS, THAT’S HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THIS BOOK.
The Island starts with Frances on a plane journey to work abroad as part of a scheme she is required to take part in after committing a crime. When the journey goes terribly wrong, Frances never reaches her intended destination. Instead she ends up deserted on an island and struggling to survive.
I’ll be totally honest; at first, I wasn’t too sure whether this book was for me. The writing style was quite different to what I’m used to, and I wasn’t really connecting with Frances. But that quickly changed. Before I knew it, I couldn’t put it down. This book is seriously addictive.
It didn't take long for me to start adoring Frances. She’s feisty, she has an attitude, and she’s at war with her own past. The book tells her story by switching from present day to the events that already have happened, showing us what led to Fran being in her current situation. The author is wonderful at writing from the perspective of a troubled teenager, and it allowed me to sympathise with Fran’s difficulties, to understand why she took the actions that she did.
The details of Fran’s home life were heart-breaking to read, especially the relationship between her and her younger brother, Johnny. I loved how the book let us know that these characters had faced troubled times, but slowly revealed it little by little as Fran had to deal with her memories whilst alone on the island.
What I especially love about this book is that it doesn’t romanticise being trapped on a desert island. This is about real survival skills and a genuine fight for life. Fran’s journey throughout this book is a tremendously difficult one, and it’s not cute. The author brilliantly demonstrates exactly how rough and dangerous life on the island is. I loved Fran getting stronger and learning to do more to help her chances of survival. At first, she wallowed in self-pity and wasted resources, so seeing her change and start to fight for herself was empowering.
Now I’m not going to name the other plane survivor (because spoilers), but they were utterly perfect. When they were introduced, the story took a little more of a light-hearted turn, which I felt was a much needed breather from Fran’s constantly desperate struggle. Obviously, it’s not all easy-living from there. It’s still two people trapped on a desert island and fighting to survive, but there is more humour and some exceptionally touching scenes, and I adored every moment that the two of them shared. From initially disliking each other, their bond of friendship grows beautifully strong, and it was great to see them finally open up to each other about their lives back home.
The ending of this book, THE ENDING. Gosh, I’m still not over it. It’s an ending that leaves you wondering beyond that final page. Whilst in a perfect world, I’d be handed a firm conclusion about the fate of the characters and I’d get some closure, but the actual ending forces you to think about possible outcomes for yourself.
Seriously, I can’t praise this book enough. It truly was a breath of fresh air. The Island is so different to a lot of the books I usually read and I’m thrilled that I got the chance to read it. This is a YA book that doesn’t rely on romance and typical teen clichés. This is a book about strength, determination, about finding courage when all hope is lost and facing up to the past. This is a truly beautiful debut from Olivia Levez, and it’s made me extremely excited for whatever she shares with us next.
May 11, 2016
I’ve struggled over the past week to formulate my thoughts on this book coherently, which is usually a big give away that I loved it. And I did love it – The Island was perhaps my favourite book of this year so far. It was a book packed with mystery and emotion (ALL the feels).
Frances is left alone on an island after a terrible accident. And for a great deal of the book she is the only character focused on. Because of this, mixed with the isolated setting, I was worried that I might get bored with the story, or that it might become repetitive. This is certainly not the case. It never got boring, and kept my interest throughout – I actually found it very difficult to put down (if it weren’t for upcoming exams and revision etc, then I’m sure I would have read it in one sitting!). And we get to see more of Frances, her past, and how she got to be on the island with flashbacks, which were just as gripping and emotive as the chapters set in the present.
Frances’s voice is a unique one – she was a whirlwind of a character who, despite her past actions, I couldn’t help but love and sympathise with. I began to understand her more in the flashback chapters – and even relate to her – and began to realise just how strong of a person she actually is. And, even though they weren’t central characters in the book, and aren’t focused on too heavily, I was blown away by how spectacular the characterization of Frances’s family – her brother and mum – was. Olivia Levez did a spectacular job of creating and presenting such real, three-dimensional characters.
The character development in this book is out of this world. Frances grows so much — at the beginning of the book she appears to be a cold, distant character, and her sometimes harsh attitude made her mysterious and interesting. I couldn’t help but be drawn into her story, which was described in a way that was gritty and honest, and made us empathise with Frances more, and understand her anger and sadness. I loved seeing how she gradually begins to change, and becomes willing to become a better person, and face and deal her problems head on.
Yet another thing to make The Island a unique story that stands out is the way that it is written. I loved the way that Olivia Levez writes. She perfectly conveys Frances’ thoughts, and describes things in such a simple yet vivid and striking way – it’s truly spectacular, and I haven’t read anything quite like this before.
Also, just incase these things aren’t enough: there is a dog!
The Island was an absolutely sensational debut and I’m very excited to read more of this author’s writing!
More on my blog!
Frances is left alone on an island after a terrible accident. And for a great deal of the book she is the only character focused on. Because of this, mixed with the isolated setting, I was worried that I might get bored with the story, or that it might become repetitive. This is certainly not the case. It never got boring, and kept my interest throughout – I actually found it very difficult to put down (if it weren’t for upcoming exams and revision etc, then I’m sure I would have read it in one sitting!). And we get to see more of Frances, her past, and how she got to be on the island with flashbacks, which were just as gripping and emotive as the chapters set in the present.
Frances’s voice is a unique one – she was a whirlwind of a character who, despite her past actions, I couldn’t help but love and sympathise with. I began to understand her more in the flashback chapters – and even relate to her – and began to realise just how strong of a person she actually is. And, even though they weren’t central characters in the book, and aren’t focused on too heavily, I was blown away by how spectacular the characterization of Frances’s family – her brother and mum – was. Olivia Levez did a spectacular job of creating and presenting such real, three-dimensional characters.
The character development in this book is out of this world. Frances grows so much — at the beginning of the book she appears to be a cold, distant character, and her sometimes harsh attitude made her mysterious and interesting. I couldn’t help but be drawn into her story, which was described in a way that was gritty and honest, and made us empathise with Frances more, and understand her anger and sadness. I loved seeing how she gradually begins to change, and becomes willing to become a better person, and face and deal her problems head on.
Yet another thing to make The Island a unique story that stands out is the way that it is written. I loved the way that Olivia Levez writes. She perfectly conveys Frances’ thoughts, and describes things in such a simple yet vivid and striking way – it’s truly spectacular, and I haven’t read anything quite like this before.
Also, just incase these things aren’t enough: there is a dog!
The Island was an absolutely sensational debut and I’m very excited to read more of this author’s writing!
More on my blog!
March 2, 2016
Won on Goodreads
Two Goodreads books in a row that I really enjoyed? Unheard of! But I did!
The Island is about troubled teen Fran told through flashbacks and present day narrative from Fran's point of view. Quite a lot of the new books I've read recently are in this style and it does work well in many cases (including this one) but perhaps is becoming a little tired... just saying contemporary writers, there are other techniques!
Fran's past centers on her younger brother Jonny, mum Cassie and evil step-father Wayne. Her only escape is in the classroom with Miss who helps her to channel her feelings in to writing fiction.
In the present Fran has been sent to a new kind of boot camp for juvenile criminals to help them to rehabilitate, learn some skills and pull their socks up generally. On the way the plane crashes and, after seeing the bodies of her fellow passengers, Fran finds herself on an island alone. She does find a survivor and this is mentioned in the blurb. People seem upset about when the survivor is found but I wasn't because she does find someone very quickly and this character appears to be overlooked.
The writing style feels refreshing for a book aimed at older teens/adults with its use of slang language and the tone it sets. Very blunt, very honest, very painful. I also loved that it didn't follow cliches normally followed when there's a female protagonist. She is stupid at times but also resourceful in her own way and there are no silly girly romances to detract from the very real problems she has at home in England and on her island.
Overall a great read. A quick read at only 300 odd pages (lots of white space per page). Excellent for a beach/park read in the summer or for a cosy weekend in.
Two Goodreads books in a row that I really enjoyed? Unheard of! But I did!
The Island is about troubled teen Fran told through flashbacks and present day narrative from Fran's point of view. Quite a lot of the new books I've read recently are in this style and it does work well in many cases (including this one) but perhaps is becoming a little tired... just saying contemporary writers, there are other techniques!
Fran's past centers on her younger brother Jonny, mum Cassie and evil step-father Wayne. Her only escape is in the classroom with Miss who helps her to channel her feelings in to writing fiction.
In the present Fran has been sent to a new kind of boot camp for juvenile criminals to help them to rehabilitate, learn some skills and pull their socks up generally. On the way the plane crashes and, after seeing the bodies of her fellow passengers, Fran finds herself on an island alone. She does find a survivor and this is mentioned in the blurb. People seem upset about when the survivor is found but I wasn't because she does find someone very quickly and this character appears to be overlooked.
The writing style feels refreshing for a book aimed at older teens/adults with its use of slang language and the tone it sets. Very blunt, very honest, very painful. I also loved that it didn't follow cliches normally followed when there's a female protagonist. She is stupid at times but also resourceful in her own way and there are no silly girly romances to detract from the very real problems she has at home in England and on her island.
Overall a great read. A quick read at only 300 odd pages (lots of white space per page). Excellent for a beach/park read in the summer or for a cosy weekend in.
June 8, 2016
A tough kid goes off on an Outward Bound camp for wayward teens only to have the plane crash on a secluded island in the Indian Ocean. She should have listened to the instructions, she should have kept the water and not swapped it for vodka but all the should haves won't help her survive being alone now. Frances acts like the monster she is told she is. The truth is the world has let her down, dragged her under like the rip tide and taken everything dear to her away. When her little brother is taken from her and placed in foster care something snaps. It will take being stranded on an island depending only on her wits and a few gifts from the heavens to help bring Frances back to the world
and able to atone for her past mistake. More frightening than "Survivor", more heart than a Hallmark movie and more page turning excitement than the latest bestselling thriller - "The Island"will have teens and adults rooting for Team Frances up to the last page. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
and able to atone for her past mistake. More frightening than "Survivor", more heart than a Hallmark movie and more page turning excitement than the latest bestselling thriller - "The Island"will have teens and adults rooting for Team Frances up to the last page. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
August 6, 2016
I did not want to put this book down. I love Fran. I want to adopt her, if only she was real. She has so many reasons to hate this world, and I do not blame her for most of her actions. She is a child but acts more like an adult than her own Mother. While being sent away with other troubled teens to an island for "rehabilitation", the plane crashes. Fran is the only survivor. She not only survives while she is alone on the island, but thrives in her new environment. Then her world is turned upside down when she is reunited with someone from the plane. The bond that they develop is strong enough to change Fran's outlook on her life. They help her become the incredible young lady that I knew was always there. I was very sad when this book ended. I don't want their story to end. This is an incredible book Olivia Levez! Well done!
April 1, 2016
This book was very good. I enjoyed the short but fast-paced chapters which help to give a "one more chapter" effect. This also meant it was easy to pick up and read whenever you have a spare few minutes. The characters are very real and I found myself sympathizing with both Fran and Rufus. The story switches between the past and the present, giving detail about Dean's background in a non-chaotic way. Both time periods were strong, and she knows when to switch between them. The ending was a little dissapointing as I wanted to know what would happen next. However, I know some people like this as it allows them to decide. All in all, the book is gripping and worth a read.
September 26, 2016
2.75 Stars
I was really excited about this book, but it turns out, it just wasn't for me. I normally love survival stories and I was happy to hear that this novel had a female MC, but she was a bit over the top and the reader just doesn't care about her. The secondary MC could have been reintroduced long before you get halfway through the book (the story is more interesting with two survivors). Some of the survival instincts illustrated by Frances were pretty creative and these were the reasons I kept reading. The ending could be a little better too; it's somewhat underwhelming. Overall, this book may appeal to teens.
LT Early Reviewers
I was really excited about this book, but it turns out, it just wasn't for me. I normally love survival stories and I was happy to hear that this novel had a female MC, but she was a bit over the top and the reader just doesn't care about her. The secondary MC could have been reintroduced long before you get halfway through the book (the story is more interesting with two survivors). Some of the survival instincts illustrated by Frances were pretty creative and these were the reasons I kept reading. The ending could be a little better too; it's somewhat underwhelming. Overall, this book may appeal to teens.
LT Early Reviewers
March 21, 2016
There is one reason why I gave this book 4 stars: because the first 80-100 pages it was a bit confusing when the story aas switching between Fran's memories and the parts on the island. Other than that, this book was amazing. Fran's charachter development is great. The chapters in this book were very short, so this was a quick read. This book was such a fun adventure and I wish that it lasted longer. I love the writing. I highly reccomend this book to everyone.
January 5, 2017
At first I had trouble reading this because I hated the main character, but over time I understood where she was coming from and even grew to like her. The story was definitely gripping and I read it in two days. The ending was not an ending in my opinion however, and I feel quite let down. I almost feel like I read the book for nothing. The writing style was really neat and this would have been a five-star rating for sure if not for the non-ending.
December 29, 2016
This book was in solid three star territory (decent story and pacing but some issues with character development and growth) but then the book had my pet peeve: there was no ending/conclusion, it just stopped.
Read
April 5, 2016I absolutely love survival stories, especially the redemptive kind. This was an A+ read for me.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 122 reviews