Monday, April 30, 2012

Review: The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

Release Date: August 21, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 231
Genre: YA Survival
Source: ARC
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook

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.

Robie is visiting her aunt in Hawaii when her aunt has to leave to Los Angeles for business. Robie begs to stay by herself and her aunt agrees on the condition that her friend checks in on her. Well her friend ends up being busy so Robie is left all alone. She is scared and is even grabbed by a crazy person on her way home from McDonalds onenight so Robie decides she wants to head home early after all and gets on the small cargo shipment heading to her small home island Midway. A storm hits and the engines die. They have to make an emergency landing and the co-pilot Max throws her out of the plane and they end up floating on a raft in the middle of the ocean.

This is a rather hard book for me to review because there is basically only one character the entire book and I didn't enjoy Robie too much. Max is injured and ends up sleeping basically the entire book. It is mostly just Robie freaking out and trying to survive. I enjoyed the book but didn't love it. Part of it may also just be that I'm a big fan of these types of books so I have read a lot of them and this one didn't really bring anything new to the table. I'm no survival expert myself, far far from it lol, but some of the things Robie did were beyond annoying and stupid to me. For example, she lit a flare before she even saw the plane and lit a smoke flare instead of a flame flare. I'm like really...can't you look carefully at the flare before you waste one of only a few. She does quite a few things like this throughout the story. Like also jumping into the water without closing her backpack!

Then the other thing I didn't really like I can't actually tell you about because it was a little twist to the story. It was an interesting twist and I admit I should have seen it coming but didn't. I was just annoyed by what was happening and then when the twist was revealed I was like oh that explains it but I just don't like that type of twist. I probably made you want to read the book just based on that now hehe but it is definitely still worth reading. It just wasn't the greatest survival story for me personally. It was a short and fast read and I did enjoy watching Robie survive through some pretty horrible things. She was strong at times but at other times I was just irritated with her. The story also had some really sad parts as well such as when Robie did finally get to know a little bit about Max. I was kind of disappointed with that part because I thought there would be some romance but there was none. But all in all I do love survival stories so I'm happy I read it.

I called out, "Is there anything worse than this?"
Max didn't answer for a moment.
Then, finally, he said, "Yes."
He didn't elaborate.
And I was glad. Because I didn't really want to know what could possibly be worse.

Rating: 3/5 Stars!



Please leave any thoughts or questions.
Do you like survival books?
Be sure to check back later for my reply.

29 comments:

  1. Hmm, I'll be reading this in a couple of months, so I was interested in your review. I haven't really read any survival novels besides Hatchet. And I hated Hatchet because I couldn't stand the writing style. But I think I'm still looking forward to this novel. Here's hoping I like it a little more than you did, ;)

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    1. I actually really liked Hatchet! LOL The writing style was a little difficult but I had a great teacher for the year I had to read it and he had a way of making everything interesting. It was also what began my love for survival books. I think you will enjoy it! It was good but just not everything I was hoping for. It might also be because I just read On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves and that book was really amazing. It raised my expectations of survival stories. I highly recommend it and it's only like $3 for kindle.

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  2. Oh, and I thought this one could be good. A little disappointed, gonna reevaluate this one for my TBR.

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    1. It was decent. I just had high hopes! But I hope you enjoy it! Maybe a library read not a buy read.

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  3. It's always really hard to write a review for a book when you don't like the main character! Robie sounds like a girl I'd probably make faces at too -- it always bothers me when heroines make not-so-smart decisions! It's okay if they're realistic, but sometimes common sense plays a big part in that kind of stuff :P And even though I'm a total romance-loving girl, I guess there's no need for any in a survival book. It's actually really refreshing that there isn't! :)

    Awesome honest review, Jen! It may not have blown you away, but it still sounds like a pretty cool survival book! I'll make sure to keep those things in mind when I pick this up ;) <3

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    1. I am a big romance girl to so I was kind of hoping/assuming there would be romance. I also really LOVED On The Island and it had a great romance. I think since I read that book so close to this book it made my expectations higher. But it's still a decent read. I hope you enjoy it.

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  4. Good review! I had been very interested in this and had it on my wishlist..looks like I'll wait on while on this one!


    Brianne @ http://memoriesovertakingme.blogspot.com/

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    1. Wasn't the most exciting book but it's worth a read if you have time.

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  5. I hadn't heard of this book before, so I was very interested in your review. I generally like survival stories, but when the main character doesn't use their head and does annoying stuff, I get a bit impatient. I'm going to reserve judgement on this book, and wait until I read a few more reviews before deciding whether to read it or not.

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    1. Yes I love survival stories but I was also getting impatient with the main characters actions. It's worth a read but just not everything I was hoping for.

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  6. I was so curious about this book when I first heard about it and the synopsis sounded like it would be a really interesting read. Plus, I thought the cover was really cool. I just recently read another mixed review about it too, so I'm kind of on the fence about it. I'll have to think about this one.

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    1. I also read some mixed reviews before I read it. I figured I would still enjoy it since it is a survival story. I did like it but I ended up having a lot of the same issues as other people. I kind of wish more people were on the raft with her and then maybe it would have been a little more exciting. Hope you enjoy it.

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  7. I was really on the fence about this book. It sounds a little like Cast Away, which I loved, without the vollyball best friend. But then it also seems a bit predictable that the MC get stuck with the new pilot - a guy she doesn't know. So I was really interested to see what you thought of the book.

    Reading your thoughts helped push me off the fence and send me flying onto the other side - where I shall stay until I read it!

    Thanks!!

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    1. I was a bit on the fence but always have to give a survival book a try. I maybe had a bit too high of expectations. It is an okay read so I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it, it just wasn't what I was hoping for. Can't wait to hear your thoughts when you do read it.

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  8. This book sounds pretty unique and I'm glad you overall liked it but I don't think I'll read it actually because that doesn't sound like something I'd enjoy :( .. Thanks for the review Jennifer, you've helped me decide whether I should read this one or not. =)

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    1. Glad I could help and thanks for stopping by! If you are not a big survival book type person then this probably won't be for you.

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  9. Even though I will read this book, Robie sounds really stupid and the fact she is the character that is present the most sounds kinda boring. :D Thanks!

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    1. Yeah I think I would have like the book a lot better if Robie wasn't the main character or if she was different. It's still worth a read and hope you enjoy it!

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  10. I love survival type stories and still plan to check this one out of the library to read. I love reading reviews like this so that I know if its worth the purchase or not. Hmm no romance on an island, well that stinks! You would think the "new guy" would be brought to the story for a romance on an island.
    Rebecca Parsons

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    1. Yup the library is wonderful! You can still give books a try without being mad at yourself for spending money on something you didn't enjoy. I know I thought the guy would end up being a romance but no. You'll see the how and why. It was annoying but the survival part was still interesting. A decent read and I hope you enjoy it.

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  11. I hadn't heard of this book before. this is not exactly my cup of tea but it still sounds like a pretty cool survival book

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    1. It was a decent survival book. I would also recommend On The Island by Travey Garvis Graves. It had more romance which I liked. Thanks for visiting!

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  12. I saw this book on Netgally but wasn't sure if I should read it. No romance you say? hmmm not such a good start for me >.< maybe I'll read it sometime, though that unexpected yet annoying twist makes me want to read it. Pronto O.O

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    1. Nope, absolutely NO romance! I forget how much I need that until it is completely gone. I am curious as to what you will think of the twist. We must discuss it after you read it.

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  13. Well Jennifer when said no romance that did it for me. Got to have romance lol! I'm so glad I didn't get this book from Netgalley! Thanks for the great review and heads up on the no romance :)

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    1. I know I really need a romance too! It doesn't have to be the bigger part of the storyline but I need something! But nothing in this one. Robie all alone surviving. Thanks for visiting and glad I could help!

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  14. Yay!!!! Thanks for linking. You know that I heart you, right?
    And how did you put that cool thumbnail photo on your link???

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    1. Yes I know everyone hearts me cause I'm awesome ;-) I heard you too!
      The linky thing asked for an image so I added one off my blog.
      Try adding a link and you should be able to see what I mean.

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