Book Review: The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

"…[the] back and forth between danger and calm did a number on my nerves…"

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 2012
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 231
Series: no
Acquisition: I received a free ARC for review from the publisher

Summary:

Robie is an experienced traveler. She’s taken the flight from Honolulu to the Midway Atoll, a group of Pacific islands where her parents live, many times. When she has to get to Midway in a hurry after a visit with her aunt in Hawaii, she gets on the next cargo flight at the last minute. She knows the pilot, but on this flight, there’s a new co-pilot named Max. All systems are go until a storm hits during the flight. The only passenger, Robie doesn’t panic until the engine suddenly cuts out and Max shouts at her to put on a life jacket. They are over miles of Pacific Ocean. She sees Max struggle with a raft.

And then . . . she’s in the water. Fighting for her life. Max pulls her onto the raft, and that’s when the real terror begins. They have no water. Their only food is a bag of Skittles. There are sharks. There is an island. But there’s no sign of help on the way. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I feel the need to start this review by saying - if you have a fear of either flying or drowning...you might want to skip this book! A bit terrifying at times - I couldn't imagine going through what Robie did and still be left with my sanity intact.

The matter of fact way this story is told made it all the more real to me. Robie very much has to react quickly to her changing circumstances. She also has long stretches of time were she can do nothing but reflect. This back and forth between danger and calm did a number on my nerves.

I do have to say though, there is a bit of twist to this story and I had figured it out very early on. I don't know that it lessened my reading experience but it defiantly drove me into a 'hurry up and finish' mentality. For most of the book I felt like I was just waiting for the 'aha moment' but when it came it was a little disappointing because it wasn't very dramatic.

Final verdict:
I enjoyed The Raft and I'm pretty sure it's my first Bodeen book and I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another. A fantastic tale yes, but still a tale that could happen to just about anyone.

A bit predictable perhaps but that doesn't necessarily make it any less terrifying. A little slow placed maybe but a good thriller needs to be pulled apart slowly. The ending wasn't very startling but when it comes down to it, The Raft, for me at least, was about Robie. What she went through and how she reacted to unbelievable situations. She's a character I very much would like to meet, if she were a real person.

Overall Rating:

3.5 / 5 Stars

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