Review Detail

Reader reviewed by FlooCrookshanks

I remember nabbing this book from school because it looked interesting but my English class weren't studying it. I read it in one night, it was that compelling!

As the title of my review suggests, I didn't like the ending much. The author built up the suspense so fantasically and it seemed to be gearing towards a dramatic ending, but to me it seemed to sort of... fizzle out. Just my opinion though, obviously; I know many who have enjoyed the entire book thoroughly.

Anyway, a group of schoolboys find themselves stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere when their plane crashes. Immediately one of the oldest boys, Ralph, is established as the leader of the group and he wisely has everyone gathering food, constructing shelters, and building fires.

Soon many of the boys become bored and restless with this 'work', and decide they would rather play and hunt for wild boar than try to catch fish and keep the fires going. Despite Ralph's attempts to get everyone to work together, another of the older boys, Jack, convinces most of the boys to rebel against Ralph and eventually they split, forming two groups.

Jack's group become wild and obsessed with hunting while Ralph's group is tranquil and logical. Eventually though, Ralph's group dwindles to only a couple of boys and Jack's group get more and more out of control. The friction between the two boys Jack and Ralph escalates, resulting in horrendous (and shocking) consequences.

Rather than using typical monsters and villains as the catalyst for the story, the author uses the animosity of the boys themselves. The idea of ordinary people - young boys, no less - being capable of becoming so ferocious really is a frightful concept.

You can't start reading this book and NOT want to know what happens to the boys in the end. Despite the ending, this book deserves nothing less than a rating of five.