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Girl Island
TEENAGE GIRLS CAN BE SAVAGE.
Six teenage girls. One deserted island. Removed from civilised society, can they challenge class, identity and toxic femininity to pull together and survive? Or will they descend into savagery?
This thrilling must-read adventure novel is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.
***
Seventeen-year-old farm girl Ellery is used to being alone; used to taking care of herself. After she wins an athletics scholarship to a prestigious new school, she finds herself facing her own personal nightmare – stuck on a plane with a bunch of mean girls, the school dork and her ex-best friend. But when the plane crashes and they find themselves alone on a deserted island, the real challenge begins.
As they fight for survival, long-buried secrets are uncovered and – one by one – each girl’s true character emerges. Can friendships, like fires, be relit? And can Ellery survive on Girl Island?
Six teenage girls. One deserted island. Removed from civilised society, can they challenge class, identity and toxic femininity to pull together and survive? Or will they descend into savagery?
This thrilling must-read adventure novel is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.
***
Seventeen-year-old farm girl Ellery is used to being alone; used to taking care of herself. After she wins an athletics scholarship to a prestigious new school, she finds herself facing her own personal nightmare – stuck on a plane with a bunch of mean girls, the school dork and her ex-best friend. But when the plane crashes and they find themselves alone on a deserted island, the real challenge begins.
As they fight for survival, long-buried secrets are uncovered and – one by one – each girl’s true character emerges. Can friendships, like fires, be relit? And can Ellery survive on Girl Island?
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2021
135 people are currently reading
1288 people want to read
About the author
Kate Castle
3 books40 followersKate Castle is an English writer. She is best known as the author of the best-selling young adult adventure novel Girl Island - winner of two Golden Crown Literary Society 'Goldie' Awards (Debut Novel and Young Adult Fiction) and two Lesfic Bard Awards. Her next novels will be released in 2025: Letters From the Apocalypze - a young adult zombie apocalypse thriller - and The Coven - a dark, dystopian new adult adventure.
Kate's books fall into the young adult and new adult adventure, thriller, and horror categories and always feature a sapphic romance subplot. Kate is passionate about representing young LGBTQ+ females in mainstream literature and writes immersive, fast-paced stories populated with fierce, independent, queer young women - the kind of characters she wished she could have read more about growing up.
Kate lives in London, England, with her family, two cats, and a dog called Teddy.
Read more about Kate, or sign up for new releases, giveaways, and other news at www.kate-castle.com. Or follow her on social media @katecastlebooks.
Kate's books fall into the young adult and new adult adventure, thriller, and horror categories and always feature a sapphic romance subplot. Kate is passionate about representing young LGBTQ+ females in mainstream literature and writes immersive, fast-paced stories populated with fierce, independent, queer young women - the kind of characters she wished she could have read more about growing up.
Kate lives in London, England, with her family, two cats, and a dog called Teddy.
Read more about Kate, or sign up for new releases, giveaways, and other news at www.kate-castle.com. Or follow her on social media @katecastlebooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
January 23, 2022
4.5⭐️ – I read this whole story in a shroud of constant trepidation. I don’t know how to say it in a way that doesn’t make it sound like it’s a bad thing because it’s really not. I knew what I was getting into (overall). It’s written on the cover, Mean Girls (which I loved) meets Lord of the Flies (which traumatized me as a kid) and teenage girls can be savage. No lie there!
Ellery, British under-18th heptathlon champion, is still grieving her father’s death when she joins her new classmates at the prestigious King’s Academy for a PE trip to an island in the Indian Ocean. Other than all of them being athletes, Ellery has nothing in common with the other teenagers, except maybe one, Skye, whom she didn’t expect to meet again. When their plane crashes on a deserted island, the mean girls, their boyfriends, the school dork and the new girl have to find ways to survive until they – hopefully – get rescued.
Kate Castle sets the scene right from the first sentence and maybe I shouldn’t have started reading at night. Ellery is a very hard character to let go of, and I felt almost guilty for leaving her on this island whenever I had to put the book down.
I won’t say much because not knowing for sure what’s going to happen next is part of the fun. Suspecting, dreading it is part of the fun as well. It’s like Christmas in reverse, exchanging anticipation for apprehension. Who cares if the mean girls are a little too mean and Ellery is a little too good at almost everything? And sure, I’ve read the story before, or seen it on TV (The Wilds comes to mind, or Yellowjackets, which I haven’t been brave enough to watch yet), but it doesn’t matter. It’s all in how the story is told. And Castle tells it terrifyingly well.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ellery, British under-18th heptathlon champion, is still grieving her father’s death when she joins her new classmates at the prestigious King’s Academy for a PE trip to an island in the Indian Ocean. Other than all of them being athletes, Ellery has nothing in common with the other teenagers, except maybe one, Skye, whom she didn’t expect to meet again. When their plane crashes on a deserted island, the mean girls, their boyfriends, the school dork and the new girl have to find ways to survive until they – hopefully – get rescued.
Kate Castle sets the scene right from the first sentence and maybe I shouldn’t have started reading at night. Ellery is a very hard character to let go of, and I felt almost guilty for leaving her on this island whenever I had to put the book down.
I won’t say much because not knowing for sure what’s going to happen next is part of the fun. Suspecting, dreading it is part of the fun as well. It’s like Christmas in reverse, exchanging anticipation for apprehension. Who cares if the mean girls are a little too mean and Ellery is a little too good at almost everything? And sure, I’ve read the story before, or seen it on TV (The Wilds comes to mind, or Yellowjackets, which I haven’t been brave enough to watch yet), but it doesn’t matter. It’s all in how the story is told. And Castle tells it terrifyingly well.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 28, 2023
If you have ever read William Golding's classic novel, and asked the question, "What would have happened if it had been girls trapped on that island?" Kate Castle attempts to answer that question. The books are very similar (Lord of the Flies and Girl Island), although Castle says that it was an intentional homage, there are echoes in the story beats, even in some of the characters, but they are not the same.
The characters were very strong. The main character grabbed my heart early on. Clearly, I felt she was realistic, with a great deal going on psychologically. She is a good student trying to contend with emotional traumas that build upon each other. Then, she gets marooned on an island with nine others who need to learn to play nice. Some people have never had to learn to play nice. That's all I will say regarding story.
My rating and recommendation are high. Castle made me feel things on a visceral level, where I wanted / believed that I could actually harm someone. Mean people deserve to taste some of what they mete out, and I did not like the way I was made to feel: sometimes you need to eliminate a problem BEFORE the problem becomes a problem.
The characters were very strong. The main character grabbed my heart early on. Clearly, I felt she was realistic, with a great deal going on psychologically. She is a good student trying to contend with emotional traumas that build upon each other. Then, she gets marooned on an island with nine others who need to learn to play nice. Some people have never had to learn to play nice. That's all I will say regarding story.
My rating and recommendation are high. Castle made me feel things on a visceral level, where I wanted / believed that I could actually harm someone. Mean people deserve to taste some of what they mete out, and I did not like the way I was made to feel: sometimes you need to eliminate a problem BEFORE the problem becomes a problem.
November 4, 2022
Ellery Holmes has received a scholarship to the prestigious Kings Academy. Before classes begin, she goes on a PE trip with other student athletes. Things don’t go as planned and she finds herself stranded on an island with her former best friend, Skye, Miss Ramsey and several of her new classmates. It isn’t long before the dangers they face come from within their ranks.
This book is touted as Mean Girls meets Lord of the Flies. I came for the tagline, but I stayed for Ellery. With Ellery, Castle created a memorable character who was the heart and soul of the story. She is brave, intelligent and someone who sees people for who they are and isn’t concerned with impressing anyone by being someone she isn’t. Dawkes is a wonderful character who is looked down upon by the mean girls. It is no wonder she gravitates to Ellery, who shows her kindness and treats her as an equal.
I don’t normally read YA books, however, I tore through this in just a few hours. It held my interest the entire time and had my heart racing at times. The book also shows how one’s true colors are revealed in times of tragedy. If you are looking for a book with nonstop action that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then Girl Island is one you should check out. I highly recommend it.
ARC received from the author for an honest review
This book is touted as Mean Girls meets Lord of the Flies. I came for the tagline, but I stayed for Ellery. With Ellery, Castle created a memorable character who was the heart and soul of the story. She is brave, intelligent and someone who sees people for who they are and isn’t concerned with impressing anyone by being someone she isn’t. Dawkes is a wonderful character who is looked down upon by the mean girls. It is no wonder she gravitates to Ellery, who shows her kindness and treats her as an equal.
I don’t normally read YA books, however, I tore through this in just a few hours. It held my interest the entire time and had my heart racing at times. The book also shows how one’s true colors are revealed in times of tragedy. If you are looking for a book with nonstop action that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then Girl Island is one you should check out. I highly recommend it.
ARC received from the author for an honest review
November 12, 2023
Teenage girls really are vicious, lol! I found myself getting so annoyed at the Cronies, which shows the mark of a good writer when they can evoke such emotion! And without spoilers, the intense scene near the end took my breath away. A great YA adventure on a deserted island!
May 2, 2022
i’m in love with this sapphic Lord of the Flies twist but those 376 pages felt like a breeze - i needed more !!
can’t complain about the lovers-strangers-friends-lovers though. Skye and Ellery on the island kind of gave me Shelby and Toni vibes from The Wilds, so like i’ll take it
can’t complain about the lovers-strangers-friends-lovers though. Skye and Ellery on the island kind of gave me Shelby and Toni vibes from The Wilds, so like i’ll take it
January 24, 2022
This is so fucking good!
March 19, 2022
Wow! This book is one intense ride. Castle sets up the tension between these girls at the start and she never dials it back. This is one heart-thumping, edge-of-your-seat, page-turner that readers will not soon forget.
The plot is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, but has a heavy dose of Mean Girls. In fact, it might be several notches above Mean Girls even, heading straight to Jawbreakers, if any one remembers that classic. The point is that these girls are ruthless, and they are used to getting what they want. They don’t compromise, even on a small island where survival should be paramount to petty. Readers really grow to hate them, but that’s the point. They’re meant to incite anxiety and disdain. They’re meant to foster a spirit of distrust.
On the flip side though, Castle gives her readers Ellery, a young girl who represents all that is decent and kind in the world. She is compassionate, smart, resourceful and despised by the “mean girls.” However, this horrid lot actually owes their lives to Ellery because without her quick thinking, they all would have perished in the plane crash. The Cronies, which is what Ellery and her small circle call them, would have certainly been dead mean girls. I wouldn’t have cried too hard about that, but there wouldn’t have been much of a story without them.
The story is told in first person from Ellery’s point of view, and it’s a brilliant move really. The reader sees and experiences everything as Ellery does, creating the necessary inner tension that’s needed in this tale. The fear, desperation and struggle to survive are felt on a visceral level, packing a real punch to the storytelling. However, Ellery’s vision softens it, too, making the harsh seem not so harsh. Ellery appreciates the simpler, more essential things in life; her perspective ground’s their reality and brings forth a compassion that’s needed. She balances the her good with The Cronies’ evil and helps to shift the unease and discord that takes place in the story.
The other important players in this story are Skye and Dawkes. Their backstories and personalities contribute perfectly to the story arc. Dawkes’ journal offers additional insight into the girls’ experience. Her keen observations provide readers with additional details about The Cronies, Ellery and Skye that they might not otherwise be privy. Over all, Dawkes’ input widens the scope of the narrative and makes the storytelling more compelling and interesting. It’s an unusual literary choice, but it works.
Final remarks…
If you are a fan of the tv drama series The Wilds or Survivor, then this modern-day female take on Lord of the Flies will surely delight you. It’s cover to cover, non-stop, intense action and I highly recommend it.
Strengths…
Gripping
Suspenseful
Well-written
Well-paced
Well-plotted
Great cast of characters
Fantastic story world
The plot is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, but has a heavy dose of Mean Girls. In fact, it might be several notches above Mean Girls even, heading straight to Jawbreakers, if any one remembers that classic. The point is that these girls are ruthless, and they are used to getting what they want. They don’t compromise, even on a small island where survival should be paramount to petty. Readers really grow to hate them, but that’s the point. They’re meant to incite anxiety and disdain. They’re meant to foster a spirit of distrust.
On the flip side though, Castle gives her readers Ellery, a young girl who represents all that is decent and kind in the world. She is compassionate, smart, resourceful and despised by the “mean girls.” However, this horrid lot actually owes their lives to Ellery because without her quick thinking, they all would have perished in the plane crash. The Cronies, which is what Ellery and her small circle call them, would have certainly been dead mean girls. I wouldn’t have cried too hard about that, but there wouldn’t have been much of a story without them.
The story is told in first person from Ellery’s point of view, and it’s a brilliant move really. The reader sees and experiences everything as Ellery does, creating the necessary inner tension that’s needed in this tale. The fear, desperation and struggle to survive are felt on a visceral level, packing a real punch to the storytelling. However, Ellery’s vision softens it, too, making the harsh seem not so harsh. Ellery appreciates the simpler, more essential things in life; her perspective ground’s their reality and brings forth a compassion that’s needed. She balances the her good with The Cronies’ evil and helps to shift the unease and discord that takes place in the story.
The other important players in this story are Skye and Dawkes. Their backstories and personalities contribute perfectly to the story arc. Dawkes’ journal offers additional insight into the girls’ experience. Her keen observations provide readers with additional details about The Cronies, Ellery and Skye that they might not otherwise be privy. Over all, Dawkes’ input widens the scope of the narrative and makes the storytelling more compelling and interesting. It’s an unusual literary choice, but it works.
Final remarks…
If you are a fan of the tv drama series The Wilds or Survivor, then this modern-day female take on Lord of the Flies will surely delight you. It’s cover to cover, non-stop, intense action and I highly recommend it.
Strengths…
Gripping
Suspenseful
Well-written
Well-paced
Well-plotted
Great cast of characters
Fantastic story world
February 10, 2022
2.5/5
I'm sad to say that Girl Island was just not for me. This was a true let down because Mean Girls x Lord of the Flies? And Sapphic? What? I was SO down!
Girl Island follows a group of young (mostly wealthy and privileged) athletes on their yearly trip with their friendly, if meek, teacher. We follow both Ellery, an exceptional champion with a humble background, as she joins these students as the soon-to-be new kid at their school under a scholarship, and journal entries from Dawkes, the first girl to accept Ellery into the fold. When tragedy strikes and their plane collides into the sea, the group is forced to work together to stay alive—it just doesn't go over very well.
I want to say first that the writing itself had beautiful moments. You definitely could see and feel the setting, no matter how it changed. It was the emotional aspect that was severely lacking for me.
For wealthy, spoiled brat children they were all exceptionally calm about the entire process of crashing into the sea and having to learn how to survive on a desert island all on their own and manage to keep their injured teacher alive. The most conflict we had were the "mean girls" over-using the word "Dork" at Dawkes, who was a clear representation of Piggy, and who didn't have an ounce of nuance past that point.
The natural tension that would usually come in a situation where survival is key was just not there. They were all far too calm, far too assured of themselves for me to believe this was more than a blip on the vacation radar. Where we would have expected a descent into madness, we got a childish spat and a separation of two groups that felt like toddlers on the playground hoarding their favorite toys. It was hard to care about them, because there wasn't an emotional center to cling to. There was nothing to relate to in terms of character. They were just foils of vague character archetypes that didn't have hearts of their own.
I'm sure others will disagree, and that is fine. This was just simply not what I was expecting.
My thanks to Kate Castle for offering me an ARC of her book in exchange for my review.
I'm sad to say that Girl Island was just not for me. This was a true let down because Mean Girls x Lord of the Flies? And Sapphic? What? I was SO down!
Girl Island follows a group of young (mostly wealthy and privileged) athletes on their yearly trip with their friendly, if meek, teacher. We follow both Ellery, an exceptional champion with a humble background, as she joins these students as the soon-to-be new kid at their school under a scholarship, and journal entries from Dawkes, the first girl to accept Ellery into the fold. When tragedy strikes and their plane collides into the sea, the group is forced to work together to stay alive—it just doesn't go over very well.
I want to say first that the writing itself had beautiful moments. You definitely could see and feel the setting, no matter how it changed. It was the emotional aspect that was severely lacking for me.
For wealthy, spoiled brat children they were all exceptionally calm about the entire process of crashing into the sea and having to learn how to survive on a desert island all on their own and manage to keep their injured teacher alive. The most conflict we had were the "mean girls" over-using the word "Dork" at Dawkes, who was a clear representation of Piggy, and who didn't have an ounce of nuance past that point.
The natural tension that would usually come in a situation where survival is key was just not there. They were all far too calm, far too assured of themselves for me to believe this was more than a blip on the vacation radar. Where we would have expected a descent into madness, we got a childish spat and a separation of two groups that felt like toddlers on the playground hoarding their favorite toys. It was hard to care about them, because there wasn't an emotional center to cling to. There was nothing to relate to in terms of character. They were just foils of vague character archetypes that didn't have hearts of their own.
I'm sure others will disagree, and that is fine. This was just simply not what I was expecting.
My thanks to Kate Castle for offering me an ARC of her book in exchange for my review.
January 17, 2022
‘Girl Island’ is one of the best YA books I have read in a long time because I just couldn’t put it down!
I had become a bit disheartened by the YA genre recently so I was relieved to find that Castle writes such incredibly strong, standalone female characters. The concept of a plane crash onto a deserted island has obviously been used a lot throughout books and film so I was worried it wouldn’t keep a good pace for an entire novel. (I am happy to say I was so wrong!)
The plot has plenty of twists and shocks as the group of girls are left to their own devices on the island. The main character, Ellery acts as the outsider who quickly taps into the strange group dynamic and her history with one of the girls, gradually weaves into the story, exacerbating a divide between the group. Castle acknowledges her nod to ‘Lord of the Flies’ but this novel goes far beyond a dark story of survival.
‘Girl Island’ is a modern, captivating, twisty tale full of complicated female relationships. To be honest I feel the ending was a little abrupt but I’m hoping that maybe a small follow up might be in the future just because I’m really not ready to let go of these brilliant characters just yet. I really cannot recommend this book enough; I simply loved every page.
I had become a bit disheartened by the YA genre recently so I was relieved to find that Castle writes such incredibly strong, standalone female characters. The concept of a plane crash onto a deserted island has obviously been used a lot throughout books and film so I was worried it wouldn’t keep a good pace for an entire novel. (I am happy to say I was so wrong!)
The plot has plenty of twists and shocks as the group of girls are left to their own devices on the island. The main character, Ellery acts as the outsider who quickly taps into the strange group dynamic and her history with one of the girls, gradually weaves into the story, exacerbating a divide between the group. Castle acknowledges her nod to ‘Lord of the Flies’ but this novel goes far beyond a dark story of survival.
‘Girl Island’ is a modern, captivating, twisty tale full of complicated female relationships. To be honest I feel the ending was a little abrupt but I’m hoping that maybe a small follow up might be in the future just because I’m really not ready to let go of these brilliant characters just yet. I really cannot recommend this book enough; I simply loved every page.
February 24, 2022
High 4.5 stars. This is when I want more options. This book was a thrill and rush to read. One of the best YA sapphic fictions I’ve read.
I saw this book advertised as mean girls meets lord of the flies and boom! The most accurate description but there is so much more to it then that.
The set up of the main character (and the other characters as well) is fantastic, and as I moved through the story I recognised many of them.
There are so many delightful layers of this story and I really enjoyed the way a second POV is brought in throughout the main characters story.
There are moments where I couldn’t help myself from highlighting and making notes on the beauty of the scenery, the crackle between characters, and the way the author has used darkness and beauty to crash and sweep you away like the storms.
I saw this book advertised as mean girls meets lord of the flies and boom! The most accurate description but there is so much more to it then that.
The set up of the main character (and the other characters as well) is fantastic, and as I moved through the story I recognised many of them.
There are so many delightful layers of this story and I really enjoyed the way a second POV is brought in throughout the main characters story.
There are moments where I couldn’t help myself from highlighting and making notes on the beauty of the scenery, the crackle between characters, and the way the author has used darkness and beauty to crash and sweep you away like the storms.
December 12, 2025
Ah females. The fairer sex. Soft and emotional, so delicate. Wrong. This book has lingered on my tbr list far too long. I'm so happy I wandered down that list and landed on this. It's an excellent view of teenage girls surviving on an island after their plane crashed. It's like Yellowjackets meet Lord of the Flies. They are smart, vicious and above all else, dangerous. It's a YA book so it's a quick read. This is an exciting book with lots of action. Don't sleep on this excellent book.
May 2, 2023
“That’s how you used to make me feel, you know. All the time.”
“What?”
“Like I was sparkling in the sunshine.”
Me encantó Ellery como protagonista, pero me hubiese gustado leer un poco más sobre su relación con Skye.
¡Un libro perfecto para quiénes les gusta The Wilds!
“What?”
“Like I was sparkling in the sunshine.”
Me encantó Ellery como protagonista, pero me hubiese gustado leer un poco más sobre su relación con Skye.
¡Un libro perfecto para quiénes les gusta The Wilds!
May 29, 2025
Well... Non era o que me esperaba. Tal vez me fixen expectativas moi altas que non puido cumplir.
Ao final, The Wilds x Yellowjackets foi unha mentira que me metín eu mesma... Triste por iso.
Ao final, The Wilds x Yellowjackets foi unha mentira que me metín eu mesma... Triste por iso.
February 10, 2022
This book had the misfortune of being read not long after I had finished watching the first season of Yellowjackets--and it's quite clear which does the plane crash/stranded teenage girl trope better. There is something about these setups that is tantalizing and for anyone who read Lord of the Flies and asked "what if they were young girls instead of young boys" this would seem to be the perfect book. The problem I had is that it had absolutely no nuance. There are the brainless jock boys, the mean girls, the "weird" girl no one likes, and the outsider who doesn't call into any of those categories. No one strays from those roles, there is no growth of the character or arcs, and frankly beyond that surface description we don't really learn much about these characters as people.
If the plane crash genre is your thing, your best bets at fulfilling that need are on Showtime and the granddaddy OG, Lord of the Flies. Girl Island is a trite retread of old themes and does not bring any new take or exploration of humanity (or "toxic femininity") to the table.
If the plane crash genre is your thing, your best bets at fulfilling that need are on Showtime and the granddaddy OG, Lord of the Flies. Girl Island is a trite retread of old themes and does not bring any new take or exploration of humanity (or "toxic femininity") to the table.
March 5, 2022
Girl Island
Kate Castle
YA
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed reading this. It intrigued me from the very start and kept me engaged and captivated - it was fast paced and thrilling.
It becomes clear very quickly who the means girls are and they act exactly how you would expect them to.
I liked the gradual reveal of the past relationship between Ellery and Skye and how they knew each other. I also thought the switching between Ellery's POV and Dawker's journal was a nice touch.
I think it would've been good to have a POV from the boys too just to get an insight into what happened with them a bit more.
There wasn't too much detail given about the other characters involved and this could be developed more but overall I'm glad I read this and I think it will be a popular read.
Kate Castle
YA
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed reading this. It intrigued me from the very start and kept me engaged and captivated - it was fast paced and thrilling.
It becomes clear very quickly who the means girls are and they act exactly how you would expect them to.
I liked the gradual reveal of the past relationship between Ellery and Skye and how they knew each other. I also thought the switching between Ellery's POV and Dawker's journal was a nice touch.
I think it would've been good to have a POV from the boys too just to get an insight into what happened with them a bit more.
There wasn't too much detail given about the other characters involved and this could be developed more but overall I'm glad I read this and I think it will be a popular read.
December 28, 2021
The premise was interesting. Six girls are stranded on an island. How will they survive? And will they get to each other before the rescuers?
Ellery gets a scholarship to a prestigious school. On the way to school, she meets and befriends Dawkes and Skye. There are other girls too and some boys but no one makes any effort to come closer to Ellery.
By some freak accident, they all land on a deserted island. From then on, they know it is a race against time to survive.
This book was an exciting, quick read. The characters were well carved out and even in such a short time, made us care for them.
4.5 stars.
Ellery gets a scholarship to a prestigious school. On the way to school, she meets and befriends Dawkes and Skye. There are other girls too and some boys but no one makes any effort to come closer to Ellery.
By some freak accident, they all land on a deserted island. From then on, they know it is a race against time to survive.
This book was an exciting, quick read. The characters were well carved out and even in such a short time, made us care for them.
4.5 stars.
February 3, 2022
A gripping book that I read in 5 hours, it was that good.
Pitched as Lord of the Flies meets Mean Girls, this book, I feel, goes beyond that and stands on its own feet.
A group of teenage athletes are stranded on a desert island after their plane crashed, and what unfolds is a slow descent into chaos and terror - teenage girls, without supervision, fending for themselves. And the mean girls are on the island too.
This was thoroughly gripping and exciting. You feel drawn to Ellery from the off, and the extra POV of Dawkes is great. You will be rooting for Ellery, Skye, and Dawkes throughout.
Pitched as Lord of the Flies meets Mean Girls, this book, I feel, goes beyond that and stands on its own feet.
A group of teenage athletes are stranded on a desert island after their plane crashed, and what unfolds is a slow descent into chaos and terror - teenage girls, without supervision, fending for themselves. And the mean girls are on the island too.
This was thoroughly gripping and exciting. You feel drawn to Ellery from the off, and the extra POV of Dawkes is great. You will be rooting for Ellery, Skye, and Dawkes throughout.
May 16, 2022
Good book
The story was great. You can feel the characters, but they need a little more excitement when the pilot has a heart attack and when they get to the island. I don't think I would just be sun bathing. Why didn't they use the flare gun that was mentioned. What happened to the Leatherman, yes the other girls had it but it was Ellery's father knife she would had asked for it when she seen the Cronies when they where rescued. Wish the story would have end with what happened to the other kids and maybe a little bit more regarding the main character unless there is going to be a second story
The story was great. You can feel the characters, but they need a little more excitement when the pilot has a heart attack and when they get to the island. I don't think I would just be sun bathing. Why didn't they use the flare gun that was mentioned. What happened to the Leatherman, yes the other girls had it but it was Ellery's father knife she would had asked for it when she seen the Cronies when they where rescued. Wish the story would have end with what happened to the other kids and maybe a little bit more regarding the main character unless there is going to be a second story
April 11, 2023
i was told to read it as a substitute for the show the wilds (rip) and i think that should be considered a crime. this book was so awful i found myself choking on my laughter. all of the characters read like 12 year olds purely due to the poor characterization and dialogue. the mean girls’ biggest comeback was “shut up, dork” and they sounded and acted like literal children up until the very end. this book really deserves one star, but it was so hilariously terrible that i almost enjoyed my reading experience so we’ll round it up to one and a half stars.
March 4, 2022
Wow! Great read, with a lot of things happening that had me gasping aloud! I just wish we'd learned the fate of the "mean girls."
June 7, 2022
what.... was the point of this book? like the plot made no sense
October 17, 2022
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Girl Island
Thank you to Kate Castle for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
With the loss of her father, Ellery is left to take care of the family farm alongside her brother and sometimes functional mother. When she earns an athletics scholarship to attend a private school, it's an opportunity she can’t pass up. But when the plane crashes on an island en route to the school, Ellery is stranded with a group of fellow students. And while some are convinced rescue is right around the corner, Ellery realizes it won’t be so easy. As days turn into weeks, tempers rise and the fight for survival will bring out the darkest parts of each student.
The dynamics between characters were phenomenally written. Readers will bond with certain characters throughout the story and grow to resent others. The variety of personalities propelled the story forward as the harsh reality of survival forced them each to contend with their strengths and weaknesses. And for some, realizing their limitations encouraged them to strike out at those who were more tuned to survival. Kate Castle created a blend of characters that will hook readers in and create a wonderful blend of emotional tension.
Ellery was able to read situations extremely well and pick up on personality traits that would cause trouble. While this gave her an advanced warning, she didn’t always know exactly what to do. When the power struggles began, and tension escalated, the drive to continue reading grew. Ellery was extremely level-headed, but as time passed readers could see the toll living on the island took on her and the other survivors. And knowing how her family still grieved the recent loss of her father, Ellery’s emotional response to her situation was amplified.
Girl Island is an intense blend of apprehension and suspense. The reader will never know what is lurking around the corner and what new challenges will arise. While the environment plays an integral part, the relationships between the characters will be the key to their overall state of mind and survival. This is a novel for those who enjoy a fast-paced survival tale with plenty of drama and harrowing experiences. I loved this novel!
Thank you to Kate Castle for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
With the loss of her father, Ellery is left to take care of the family farm alongside her brother and sometimes functional mother. When she earns an athletics scholarship to attend a private school, it's an opportunity she can’t pass up. But when the plane crashes on an island en route to the school, Ellery is stranded with a group of fellow students. And while some are convinced rescue is right around the corner, Ellery realizes it won’t be so easy. As days turn into weeks, tempers rise and the fight for survival will bring out the darkest parts of each student.
The dynamics between characters were phenomenally written. Readers will bond with certain characters throughout the story and grow to resent others. The variety of personalities propelled the story forward as the harsh reality of survival forced them each to contend with their strengths and weaknesses. And for some, realizing their limitations encouraged them to strike out at those who were more tuned to survival. Kate Castle created a blend of characters that will hook readers in and create a wonderful blend of emotional tension.
Ellery was able to read situations extremely well and pick up on personality traits that would cause trouble. While this gave her an advanced warning, she didn’t always know exactly what to do. When the power struggles began, and tension escalated, the drive to continue reading grew. Ellery was extremely level-headed, but as time passed readers could see the toll living on the island took on her and the other survivors. And knowing how her family still grieved the recent loss of her father, Ellery’s emotional response to her situation was amplified.
Girl Island is an intense blend of apprehension and suspense. The reader will never know what is lurking around the corner and what new challenges will arise. While the environment plays an integral part, the relationships between the characters will be the key to their overall state of mind and survival. This is a novel for those who enjoy a fast-paced survival tale with plenty of drama and harrowing experiences. I loved this novel!
January 13, 2022
Girl Island is Kate Castle’s stand-alone dystopian style novel about a group of teenagers who get stranded on a desert island after a near-death plane crash. Where they were originally meant to be heading to a training camp, things have gone off the rails with the loss of the pilot. Now, these six girls and two boys must find a way to survive until help can find them. But things don’t take long to devolve as mean girl attitudes and demand for control threaten to make sure they don’t make it off that island alive.
Girl Island is the first book that I have read by Kate Castle, but I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Despite the fact that I’ve not read “Lord of the Flies” or watched “Mean Girls” I can safely say that Whitney is definitely a Regina. Whitney is deceitful and manipulative and craves control. Ellery, by comparison, is the complete opposite. Ellery has been through a lot in the past few months with the sudden loss of her father. She’s leaving behind her mother and younger brother to hold down the farm while she’s gone. So she has no idea that a brief trip is going to turn into something more dangerous and much longer than she had originally planned.
While this book is a lot like “Castaway” you get a bit of that dystopian twist as the characters struggle to survive on this island. Their teacher is sick, food isn’t easy to find or catch, and their supplies are limited. They must adapt, but working as a group seems to be out of the question. The author raises questions as to Ellery and Skye, but I like that these are answered in good time.
This book is packed with danger, twists, deceit, tragedy, and some romance as well. There are some things that are left open-ended at the end for the reader to make their own observations. If you enjoy YA fiction with a twist of dystopian elements then I highly recommend this book. I’m rating this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Girl Island is the first book that I have read by Kate Castle, but I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Despite the fact that I’ve not read “Lord of the Flies” or watched “Mean Girls” I can safely say that Whitney is definitely a Regina. Whitney is deceitful and manipulative and craves control. Ellery, by comparison, is the complete opposite. Ellery has been through a lot in the past few months with the sudden loss of her father. She’s leaving behind her mother and younger brother to hold down the farm while she’s gone. So she has no idea that a brief trip is going to turn into something more dangerous and much longer than she had originally planned.
While this book is a lot like “Castaway” you get a bit of that dystopian twist as the characters struggle to survive on this island. Their teacher is sick, food isn’t easy to find or catch, and their supplies are limited. They must adapt, but working as a group seems to be out of the question. The author raises questions as to Ellery and Skye, but I like that these are answered in good time.
This book is packed with danger, twists, deceit, tragedy, and some romance as well. There are some things that are left open-ended at the end for the reader to make their own observations. If you enjoy YA fiction with a twist of dystopian elements then I highly recommend this book. I’m rating this book 5 out of 5 stars.
January 3, 2022
This is my 1st Kate Castle book and OMG – loved it so much, that I read it in a day! Loved the characters and all their flaws! The premise of Mean Girls + Lord of the Flies + lost & found teenage f/f love = thrills, adventure & human spirit. The author sucks you in with some great character development that I think most girls/women can relate to, no matter which crowd you fit into. Ellery is the odd one out when she earns a scholarship to attend a prestigious school, thanks to her sporting abilities. Before she even gets to school, she has to attend a special training/bonding session with other athletes from this new school. All hell breaks loose when their overweight pilot has a heart attack and dies mid-flight. This is when the s%*t gets real, and the kids take control of the float plane and somewhat land it near a deserted island. Dawkes and Ellery create a bond before take-off and Ellery & Skye have a history you just can’t put your finger on why it all fell apart! Then there are the 2 boys, their teacher and the ‘it/mean girls’. Survival is key and things all start off rosy until it isn’t – when they realise that help isn’t coming as soon as they hoped; lines are drawn between the remaining 6 girls. This was a thrilling quick read that pulls you in, my only grievance is that the ending happened, and I was left not wanting the story to end just yet.
ARC received from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Highly recommend – totally enjoyed reading Girl Island and will be checking out more by Kate Castle.
ARC received from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Highly recommend – totally enjoyed reading Girl Island and will be checking out more by Kate Castle.
June 4, 2022
As someone who not only studied "Lord of the Flies" at school, but also someone who enjoyed it, I was instantly interested in "Girl Island" — there always was that debate about whether circumstances would be different had it been a group of girls. (I'm with Kate on this one — teenage girls can be savage!)
I really enjoyed this book!
We follow Ellery, who's suffering the loss of her father and about to embark on a trip before joining her new school. An outsider stranded on a deserted island with an old friend, a new friend, and your typical teen girl clique... you just know this isn't going to end well.
I loved Castle's little nods to "Lord of the Flies" — and everything else that was brought to the table. My only minor grievance (and it really is minor, which is why this was still a 5* for me personally) was that it wrapped up a little too quickly after the big thing happened — I'd have liked a little more of the action. But honestly, that's definitely more of a personal preference.
I also wanted more of Delia's notes — particularly regarding a certain night!
I found I couldn't put this down. The story and characters were believable and engaging, I never felt I was having to trudge through. The friendships formed were sweet, and I was definitely rooting for the romantic pairing. The writing style was fluid, never feeling clunky, taking you nicely from scene to scene — both past and present.
TW: death of a child/ minor
I really enjoyed this book!
We follow Ellery, who's suffering the loss of her father and about to embark on a trip before joining her new school. An outsider stranded on a deserted island with an old friend, a new friend, and your typical teen girl clique... you just know this isn't going to end well.
I loved Castle's little nods to "Lord of the Flies" — and everything else that was brought to the table. My only minor grievance (and it really is minor, which is why this was still a 5* for me personally) was that it wrapped up a little too quickly after the big thing happened — I'd have liked a little more of the action. But honestly, that's definitely more of a personal preference.
I also wanted more of Delia's notes — particularly regarding a certain night!
I found I couldn't put this down. The story and characters were believable and engaging, I never felt I was having to trudge through. The friendships formed were sweet, and I was definitely rooting for the romantic pairing. The writing style was fluid, never feeling clunky, taking you nicely from scene to scene — both past and present.
TW: death of a child/ minor
May 11, 2022
This book was such a dramatic read. I really enjoyed this story. It was full of twists and turns as well as a romance story! I was so shocked at the situation the characters were in, I wasn’t expecting anything that happened in the book.
This book is marketed as Mean Girls meets Lord of the Flies. I haven’t read Lord of the Flies (yet), but I can definitely see the Mean Girls aspect to the book. I was truly shocked at some of the events which took place in this book. Some would probably seem unrealistic to some but I can see how that would have happened being deserted on an island. It is scary to think about how far people would go. I don’t want to say too much about the plot because it would spoil it. All I would say is that I would recommend this book!!
The main character, Ellery, had a lot to deal with from the beginning of the book. She is starting a new school and the first time she meets her classmates is when they are waiting for the plane! This already puts her in an difficult position before the main part of the story begins. She does manage to make friends which is lovely to read about.
The author made this book so intriguing to read, I wasn’t sure what else was going to happen! Such an amazing imagination to produce this book. I highly recommend this book, it was a really good book.
This book is marketed as Mean Girls meets Lord of the Flies. I haven’t read Lord of the Flies (yet), but I can definitely see the Mean Girls aspect to the book. I was truly shocked at some of the events which took place in this book. Some would probably seem unrealistic to some but I can see how that would have happened being deserted on an island. It is scary to think about how far people would go. I don’t want to say too much about the plot because it would spoil it. All I would say is that I would recommend this book!!
The main character, Ellery, had a lot to deal with from the beginning of the book. She is starting a new school and the first time she meets her classmates is when they are waiting for the plane! This already puts her in an difficult position before the main part of the story begins. She does manage to make friends which is lovely to read about.
The author made this book so intriguing to read, I wasn’t sure what else was going to happen! Such an amazing imagination to produce this book. I highly recommend this book, it was a really good book.
December 24, 2021
This is the second book I have read by Kate Castle. The book details the mmarooning of a group of teenage girls on an island and what affects them as they spend a great deal of time alone.
Ellery is the main character along with Skye and Dawkes. Their sea plane crased and they survived along with their teacher. They were left alone on a deserted island and the six girls had to get together to survive.
There were different personalities and they divided into 2 groups. The plot details what happened on this island and how the girls tried to survive.
Ellery is a strong personality but needs Skye qand Dawkes tyo survive. This is a veremotional book and a great read. Along the lines of Lord of the Flies but with teenage girls.
I received this book from the autyhor in exchange for an honesy revie. I would recommed this book for adventure and thriller lovers.
Ellery is the main character along with Skye and Dawkes. Their sea plane crased and they survived along with their teacher. They were left alone on a deserted island and the six girls had to get together to survive.
There were different personalities and they divided into 2 groups. The plot details what happened on this island and how the girls tried to survive.
Ellery is a strong personality but needs Skye qand Dawkes tyo survive. This is a veremotional book and a great read. Along the lines of Lord of the Flies but with teenage girls.
I received this book from the autyhor in exchange for an honesy revie. I would recommed this book for adventure and thriller lovers.
February 9, 2022
This is a fairly short book, and I wish it had been a little longer. I think the ending could be expanded some. I really wanted to know more about the aftermath.
It struck me odd that there's very little panic after the crash. Honestly, I'd expect some hysterics and tears from teenagers, but everyone seemed almost too calm. They organized quickly, got fire, food and water without too much of a struggle. I guess I prefer things a little more grim?
And then it's only a couple of weeks until murder is on the table? That seemed to happen so fast, especially considering they weren't starving to death.
And I still want to know why no one thought to use the flares?
It struck me odd that there's very little panic after the crash. Honestly, I'd expect some hysterics and tears from teenagers, but everyone seemed almost too calm. They organized quickly, got fire, food and water without too much of a struggle. I guess I prefer things a little more grim?
And then it's only a couple of weeks until murder is on the table? That seemed to happen so fast, especially considering they weren't starving to death.
And I still want to know why no one thought to use the flares?
January 11, 2022
this book was intensely wonderful
The writing the characters THE STORY LINE all of it was phenomenal.
This story really is lord of the flies meets mean girls with a lgbtq friendly side story going on in the mist of everything else.
This author explains her characters in such a way that makes you relate to them, fall in love with them or absolutely despise them. This book was a roller coaster of emotions and a page turner I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next!
The writing the characters THE STORY LINE all of it was phenomenal.
This story really is lord of the flies meets mean girls with a lgbtq friendly side story going on in the mist of everything else.
This author explains her characters in such a way that makes you relate to them, fall in love with them or absolutely despise them. This book was a roller coaster of emotions and a page turner I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next!
December 28, 2021
This was a thoroughly enjoyable adventure. It's fast-paced, exciting and totally absorbing. I read it pretty much in one sitting. I loved Ellery, Skye and Dawkes and I appreciated how the author drew each of the main characters - each one representing an element - and how they reacted with each other on the island. There are girls in this story that all girls/women will either identify with or remember from school! The central romance was lovely, too. Highly recommended.
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