The Book Magnet: LOST AND FOUND BLOG TOUR: The Island

My lovely cousin, Georgia, over at Teen Book Hoots recommended me to one of her blogger friends, Michelle Toy of Tales of Yesterday, who invited me to take part in the Lost and Found Blog Tour. I am delighted to post my review of The Island by Olivia Levez as part of the virtual tour, but there's also an actual tour - find out if it's coming to a location near you at the end of my post.

Title: The Island

Author: Olivia Levez

Release Date: 3^rd March 2016

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: Rock the Boat
Format: Paperback

‘There were friends once, but they melted away. Things are different now I am a MONSTER’

Frances is alone. Cast away on a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, she has to find water, food and shelter. But survival is hard. Especially when she is haunted by memories of the things that she did before, the things that made her a monster. Pushed to the limit in extreme conditions, she battles to come to terms with her past, and find a future worth fighting for.

This is a gripping and thought-provoking story about one girl’s journey to become the person she believes she can be.

What did I think?

I don't read a great deal of YA novels but there was something so very appealing about The Island, with the added benefit of an embossed cover that entices you to trace the waves as you're reading. I absolutely raced through The Island in two days as I simply couldn't put it down...in fact I am still stroking the calming cover at every opportunity!

Frances is a very troubled teen and we are introduced to her as she sits on a plane destined for an Indonesian island. Frances has been signed up to a pilot scheme by TeamSkill that takes young offenders to a remote desert island to teach them team building and life skills. Of course, this is a book about a castaway so it's no surprise that the flight does not go according to plan and Frances finds herself floating out to sea in an inflatable lifeboat...alone. When she hits land she has to fend for herself and, as we gradually learn about her family life, we find that this is something she is quite used to doing.

Fran is from a single parent family and lives with her mum, Cassie, and her little brother, Johnny, who she affectionately calls Monkey. Fran is carer for both Johnny and her mum and when she writes stories at school her teacher alerts social services that Johnny is not being brought up in a safe environment. The resulting visit from social services has a cataclysmic effect that leads to Fran ending up on this desert island trying to crack could-be nuts to quench her thirst. Then we realise she's not alone...

I loved the way this was written; in very short chapters and quite poetic at times. With each turn of page we are given the opportunity to step into Fran's bra-shoes (loved that) and live each day with her. As with any period of solitude, she frequently looks inside herself and sees only a monster, so I wondered what she had done that was so bad. Yes, she has committed a crime but, looking at all of the events leading up to this, I really felt a deep empathy for her. As each day passed, I likened Fran to a could-be nut; hard on the outside but once you crack her shell there is a soft sweetness inside.

The Island is a beautiful, emotive and thought-provoking read; it is quite unique in style with such clever diction that gives us an insight into Fran's feelings and emotions, sometimes by using just one word. I do have to mention that it has a dot dot dot ending which some readers may find unsatisfying, but I was so completely absorbed in the story that my imagination was happy to run away with me. Olivia Levez has written a superb debut and I was completely captivated.

I received this book from the publisher, Rock the Boat, in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

About the author

Olivia Levez lives in Worcestershire, where she divides her time between teaching and writing. The Island is Olivia’s debut novel and her second book will publish in spring 2017. She writes mainly in her caravan in West Wales, where the coast was inspiration for the desert island in her book. She loves dogs, real ale and yoga.

Website: http://writeforrealw4r.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/livilev

About The Lost and Found Tour

What?

5 YA SCBWI debut authors get together for a UK tour.

Who?

Olivia Levez (The Island), Patrice Lawrence (Orangeboy), Kathryn Evans (More of Me), Sue Wallman (Lying About Last Summer), Eugene Lambert (The Sign of One)

Where?

Birmingham Waterstones for the launch event chaired by Chelley Toy!

When?

Saturday, 1st October, 2-4pm

Join us for a discussion of identity, loss, and the darkness inside; of self-discovery, friendship, and hope for a better tomorrow as part of the #LostandFound Book Tour.

Unflinching, clever and honest, our five authors explore what it means to grow up when the cards seem to be constantly stacked against you.

Don't miss your chance to meet these amazing authors, ask questions, and get your books signed.

Book your tickets here: https://www.waterstones.com/events/lostandfound-with-kathryn-evans-eugene-lambert-patrice-lawrence-olivia-levez-and-sue-wallman/birmingham

When?	Where?
Sat 1st Oct, 2pm	Birmingham Waterstones
Thurs 6th Oct, 6pm	London Islington Waterstones
Sat 26th Nov	Guildford Waterstones
Thurs 1st Dec	Liverpool Waterstones
Sunday 22^nd January	Hampshire Libraries, Petersfield
Sat 4th March	Glasgow Waterstones