Island Fire

April 13, 2015
After a mysterious energy pulse destroys all technology, several teens struggle to survive on the tiny Hawaiian island of Lanai. Bea and her 13-year-old younger brother, Sam, are used to fending for themselves, thanks to their controlling, alcoholic, and abusive father. Nick, a pickpocket from the mainland, is forced to learn a new set of skills after his plane crashes during the energy pulse. Together, the three cope with ambitious gangs, territorial tourists, and the breakdown of society. If they can cross the water to a neighboring island, they might find refuge with family, but every step is fraught with danger. Neal (the Lei Crime series) delivers a solid, entertaining story about survival during an apocalyptic situation, and she makes great use of her Hawaiian upbringing to bring the setting to life, injecting native mythology into the mix in the form of Bea’s dragonlike guardian spirit, Beosith. However, the pulse and its ramifications are never fully explained, leaving the plot somewhat underdeveloped. The real meat of the story lies in how the heroes utilize their resourcefulness and survival skills. Ages 12–up.