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halieghkai's review
3.0
As a superfan of Caribbean folklore and horror, being a Trinidadian native myself, I was excited to start this book.
Though my expectations were a bit too high, the pace and the concept of the story eased me into reading through the chapters. I enjoyed Serenity's pov a lot with her childlike wit and sarcasm, it's what made her a likable character. Her bravery and determination had me floored because the first thought I had was (in patios), "Twelve-year-old me woulda never travel on a boat by sheself!" That's terrifying! But my girl Serenity is built differently (not to mention, her ability to hear people's music!)
I also like that the author gave the douens a moral compass, good, evil, and complex that made them human-like instead of entirely supernatural.
There were times in the book that felt a bit dragged but doesn't deter the suspense build-up. The plot and character development of the antagonist was executed well enough to conclude it.
Overall, this book is a fun read for kids, especially those who enjoy reading Goosebumps. It was creepy and cute.
Though my expectations were a bit too high, the pace and the concept of the story eased me into reading through the chapters. I enjoyed Serenity's pov a lot with her childlike wit and sarcasm, it's what made her a likable character. Her bravery and determination had me floored because the first thought I had was (in patios), "Twelve-year-old me woulda never travel on a boat by sheself!" That's terrifying! But my girl Serenity is built differently (not to mention, her ability to hear people's music!)
I also like that the author gave the douens a moral compass, good, evil, and complex that made them human-like instead of entirely supernatural.
There were times in the book that felt a bit dragged but doesn't deter the suspense build-up. The plot and character development of the antagonist was executed well enough to conclude it.
Overall, this book is a fun read for kids, especially those who enjoy reading Goosebumps. It was creepy and cute.
mariahistryingtoread's review
3.0
Spoiler warning - Vaguely spoilery in general. I spoil something major at the end. You have been warned.
Nightmare Island has a cool premise that is not taken full advantage of.
There isn’t much to do on the Island once Serenity gets there. I feel like it sorely needed more activities or events to inject some tension or fun into the story. She's there for three or so days and it feels like one really long one instead because so much of it is just the same stuff over and over. Dr. Whisper sure is creepy, meditation ritual, those glitch kids sure are creepy, Peace has never acted like this before, my parents sure are acting strange, I wish I had my camera, repeated ad nauseum. I needed something that could have broken up the monotony.
I wish there had been an actual structure to the 'retreat'. I think a deviation is heightened more when compared to the standard. That is to say, if odd things starting happening when there were set class times or crafts or therapy or whatever, it would be more unsettling that everyone was ignoring it when it's so obviously veering off course from the established norm. More people would also have added to the eeriness or provided interesting dynamics to observe or play off of. Most of the people on the island are just one other family (5 people) and only one of the characters - Jacob, a boy Serenity befriends - is an actual character. The other 4 are props.
I think more things to do would have better highlighted Peace's transformation as well. Serenity talks about how he’s changed, but Peace isn’t well cemented as a character so it was very tell not show. I would have liked a little bit more time spent either before they arrived at the island or again, doing things at the island to give him time to be fleshed out. I would have felt more bothered by his change in demeanor if I knew firsthand what he was usually like.
There was a plot point about how Serenity felt set apart from her family that is never addressed. Her parents often make her feel like the loud weirdo messing up their perfect quiet, reserved trio. The book literally starts with her parents deriding her dreams of being a monster movie maker. Yet, the only time that comes up again is when she observes them laughing at one of her movies (or reading her script? I can’t remember the specific thing the two were looking at) and she’s suddenly all like ‘wow, they see me’. But, this means literally nothing. Her parents laughing at something she made one time does not translate to understanding why she values horror so much or respecting her hobby. They don’t apologize for always treating her like a nuisance nor does Serenity share how their behavior impacts her.
The big moment where the relationship is supposed to be fixed is when her mother chooses not to let her fall off a cliff in favor of ‘Perfect Peace’. Except that doesn’t fly because regardless of her specific feelings for Serenity, what kind of person would let a kid literally die? To Serenity this is the proof she needed that her parents cared about her. As the reader, I never doubted her parents cared about her; I only doubted they liked her. Saving her from the cliff does not alter that perspective. Not to mention her father has no similar defining moment.
On the positive side of the pillow, I really appreciated the mythos. I learned about douens when I read The Jumbies last year - another middle grade centering Carribbean folklore - so it's fun to return to the lore. Plus, it’s always nice to see books about other cultures get some much deserved shine; publishing continues to be abysmally white and US-centric in the narratives that are pushed. Despite being familiar with the concept of douens I was unable to figure out what was going on in totality. I was genuinely invested the entire time I was reading. Serenity was not given a lot by way of obstacles, nevertheless, what she did have she fought against admirably. I enjoyed seeing her rise to the occasion in the face of her parents’ lack of support.
(I wish there was a moment when they explicitly stated how they love her for it, but I digress.)
There is a twist at the end where Jacob is revealed to be the ringleader of the whole evil island. Dr. Whisper is his lackey. If Jacob was in charge this whole time, his actions don’t make any sense. Serenity has no secret knowledge, poses no risk to his plans, and spends most of the book not actually doing anything. He has memory erasing technology; her parents completely forget her towards the end. Why does he bother to befriend her or pretend to be a normal child at all? Why not simply lock her up or better yet, kill her? No one would know to miss her.
I finished Nightmare Island content enough though not altogether especially satisfied. It’s a fine book. A kid would have fun which is the real end goal here. In spite of that, I still maintain that some aspects needed tightening up.
Nightmare Island has a cool premise that is not taken full advantage of.
There isn’t much to do on the Island once Serenity gets there. I feel like it sorely needed more activities or events to inject some tension or fun into the story. She's there for three or so days and it feels like one really long one instead because so much of it is just the same stuff over and over. Dr. Whisper sure is creepy, meditation ritual, those glitch kids sure are creepy, Peace has never acted like this before, my parents sure are acting strange, I wish I had my camera, repeated ad nauseum. I needed something that could have broken up the monotony.
I wish there had been an actual structure to the 'retreat'. I think a deviation is heightened more when compared to the standard. That is to say, if odd things starting happening when there were set class times or crafts or therapy or whatever, it would be more unsettling that everyone was ignoring it when it's so obviously veering off course from the established norm. More people would also have added to the eeriness or provided interesting dynamics to observe or play off of. Most of the people on the island are just one other family (5 people) and only one of the characters - Jacob, a boy Serenity befriends - is an actual character. The other 4 are props.
I think more things to do would have better highlighted Peace's transformation as well. Serenity talks about how he’s changed, but Peace isn’t well cemented as a character so it was very tell not show. I would have liked a little bit more time spent either before they arrived at the island or again, doing things at the island to give him time to be fleshed out. I would have felt more bothered by his change in demeanor if I knew firsthand what he was usually like.
There was a plot point about how Serenity felt set apart from her family that is never addressed. Her parents often make her feel like the loud weirdo messing up their perfect quiet, reserved trio. The book literally starts with her parents deriding her dreams of being a monster movie maker. Yet, the only time that comes up again is when she observes them laughing at one of her movies (or reading her script? I can’t remember the specific thing the two were looking at) and she’s suddenly all like ‘wow, they see me’. But, this means literally nothing. Her parents laughing at something she made one time does not translate to understanding why she values horror so much or respecting her hobby. They don’t apologize for always treating her like a nuisance nor does Serenity share how their behavior impacts her.
The big moment where the relationship is supposed to be fixed is when her mother chooses not to let her fall off a cliff in favor of ‘Perfect Peace’. Except that doesn’t fly because regardless of her specific feelings for Serenity, what kind of person would let a kid literally die? To Serenity this is the proof she needed that her parents cared about her. As the reader, I never doubted her parents cared about her; I only doubted they liked her. Saving her from the cliff does not alter that perspective. Not to mention her father has no similar defining moment.
On the positive side of the pillow, I really appreciated the mythos. I learned about douens when I read The Jumbies last year - another middle grade centering Carribbean folklore - so it's fun to return to the lore. Plus, it’s always nice to see books about other cultures get some much deserved shine; publishing continues to be abysmally white and US-centric in the narratives that are pushed. Despite being familiar with the concept of douens I was unable to figure out what was going on in totality. I was genuinely invested the entire time I was reading. Serenity was not given a lot by way of obstacles, nevertheless, what she did have she fought against admirably. I enjoyed seeing her rise to the occasion in the face of her parents’ lack of support.
(I wish there was a moment when they explicitly stated how they love her for it, but I digress.)
There is a twist at the end where Jacob is revealed to be the ringleader of the whole evil island. Dr. Whisper is his lackey. If Jacob was in charge this whole time, his actions don’t make any sense. Serenity has no secret knowledge, poses no risk to his plans, and spends most of the book not actually doing anything. He has memory erasing technology; her parents completely forget her towards the end. Why does he bother to befriend her or pretend to be a normal child at all? Why not simply lock her up or better yet, kill her? No one would know to miss her.
I finished Nightmare Island content enough though not altogether especially satisfied. It’s a fine book. A kid would have fun which is the real end goal here. In spite of that, I still maintain that some aspects needed tightening up.
themoonlightreader's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
thenovellife's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
bookofcinz's review
4.0
Pore raising, what an adventure!
Shakirah Bourne knows how to write a book filled with adventure, storytelling while keeping you on the edge of your seat.
In Nightmare Island we meet Serenity who is the opposite of her name. It is one thing her parents talk to her about, keeping the volume down. Her brother Peace is the perfect child, doesn’t act up, aimable and their parents is constantly telling her to be like him.
Serenity loves music, and creating horror movies, she loves it so much she spends a lot of time telling her brother, Peace horror stories. Peace, doesn’t have the same reaction and finds himself unable to sleep during the night because he keeps having nightmares. With Peace unable to sleep, the parents are constantly up with him, and they decided to take him for “treatment” on Duppy Island. Serenity has never heard of this place and worries that her parents are making a very bad decision.
With some planning and tricks, Serenity steals onto the island to meet douens, magical butterflies, evil genius doctor, her parents being forgetful and island where there is no night. Serenity realizes the treatment her brother undergoing may change him into a douen! How can she stop this from happening?
One thing about Sharikah Bourne, she is going to make chills run through me with her writing. I know I am an adult but I could not read this book at night. I thoroughly enjoyed being in the world of Serenity and Peace and even being on Duppy Island! This is the perfect read for anyone who is adventurous, who grew up reading Anansi stories or love folktales. What an adventure, I cannot wait to read what Bourne writes next.
Shakirah Bourne knows how to write a book filled with adventure, storytelling while keeping you on the edge of your seat.
In Nightmare Island we meet Serenity who is the opposite of her name. It is one thing her parents talk to her about, keeping the volume down. Her brother Peace is the perfect child, doesn’t act up, aimable and their parents is constantly telling her to be like him.
Serenity loves music, and creating horror movies, she loves it so much she spends a lot of time telling her brother, Peace horror stories. Peace, doesn’t have the same reaction and finds himself unable to sleep during the night because he keeps having nightmares. With Peace unable to sleep, the parents are constantly up with him, and they decided to take him for “treatment” on Duppy Island. Serenity has never heard of this place and worries that her parents are making a very bad decision.
With some planning and tricks, Serenity steals onto the island to meet douens, magical butterflies, evil genius doctor, her parents being forgetful and island where there is no night. Serenity realizes the treatment her brother undergoing may change him into a douen! How can she stop this from happening?
One thing about Sharikah Bourne, she is going to make chills run through me with her writing. I know I am an adult but I could not read this book at night. I thoroughly enjoyed being in the world of Serenity and Peace and even being on Duppy Island! This is the perfect read for anyone who is adventurous, who grew up reading Anansi stories or love folktales. What an adventure, I cannot wait to read what Bourne writes next.
ashleybee_reading's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ruminations_reverie's review
2.0
Well that was a little disappointing. Quick and to the point. The premise was good and the descriptive horror writing was fantastic, but the story and characters just didn't do it for me. There were some pretty big plot holes and, though I know you have to suspend belief for a lot of middlegrade books, this one threw logic out the window and some points.
Overall, I think some could consider this great for the age-appropriate audience, but overall there was not a lot to love and there are books that execute on the morals and life lessons the book is trying to get across much better. The strong point here is the Caribbean folklore about Douens, but even there it just didn't hit a home-run.
Overall, I think some could consider this great for the age-appropriate audience, but overall there was not a lot to love and there are books that execute on the morals and life lessons the book is trying to get across much better. The strong point here is the Caribbean folklore about Douens, but even there it just didn't hit a home-run.
crazybookishcool's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
xangemthelibrarian's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Perfect. 🤌