Description
In the very near future, on the tiny island of Lanai, teens from very different worlds must find a way to survive when technology is destroyed.

Bea and Sam, Hawaiian kids isolated by a paranoid, alcoholic father, are thrown together with orphaned big-city pickpocket Nick when a disaster fries all technology. Aided by a mysterious `aumakua dragon that may or may not be Bea’s imaginary friend, the kids face fire, plane crashes, gangs, pit bulls, thieves, sharks, hunger, thirst and abuse in a coming-of-age that explores a post-technology world where only the strong and connected survive.

This was a great read a group of teens must work together to survive a whole range of adventures and catastrophes making them stronger and more connected. It is a well written book that pulls the reader in and takes them along all the way to the end page.

Such an interesting concept. Totally something I'd recommend to my students.

Island Fire is the first YA novel written by Toby Neal and her writing is mesmerizing; her character development is wonderfully fleshed out and the descriptive picture presented in her writing is so passionate, you can actually feel, smell and experience the story as you are reading.

Bea and her brother Sam live alone with their sometimes sober father. They are home alone when a natural disaster occurs that results in no electricity for the whole island of Lanai, Hawaii. Nick is sitting on a plane headed to Maui, Hawaii to live with his grandparents after the death of his mother and being in Foster Care for 2 years. These young people will come together under the most extreme circumstances and forge a bond that will save their lives.

The plot line is jammed full of hardship, family relationships, courage and the strength and will to survive. The relationships that are formed and rekindled lend to the struggle for survival that is felt throughout the story.

I appreciate that Toby Neal accurately displays the Hawaiian culture in all of her books and weaves together a story that deals with different cultural beliefs and customs. This always adds to the intensity and strength of her stories.

I hope that this is just the beginning of a series of books that follow these courageous characters to see what their future awaits.

ARC-Netgalley