Siobhan Curham, acclaimed author of young adult novels like Dear Dylan and Finding Cherokee Brown has just released her first book in the Shipwrecked series.
Siobhan Curham, acclaimed author of young adult novels like Dear Dylan and Finding Cherokee Brown has just released her first book in the Shipwrecked series.
Shipwrecked By Siobhan Curham
Published by Electric Monkey
ISBN 978-1-4052-6457-0
Price: R130
Rating: 4/5
The story follows the life of young Grace Delaney, a dance student who is travelling with classmates to perform on a South Pacific cruise ship. The ship is hit by a freak storm, and they wash up on a desert island – or at least an island that they thought was deserted, until strange things start happening.
Critics have labelled it Gossip Girl meets Lost and “the newest guilty pleasure”. With such reviews in mind, I hoped this semi-clichéd genre would live up to expectations. I dreaded reading yet another desert island novel where things go wrong and I secretly prayed that I would be spared the rehearsed 'cries for help' and 'heroic feats of escape' that make over-exploited ideas even less enticing.
I was however, pleasantly surprised.
Curham’s characters have onion-like layers and her ability to address real teen issues like bullying, peer pressure to have sex and being part of the 'in-crowd' are refreshing.
Even the tried desert island motif took on new life through her relatable characters. The book starts off very slowly and threatens to lose you along the way, but the pending love affair between Grace and the sexy Costa Rican Boat captain, Cruz, keeps things interesting.
Throw in a vindictive voodoo queen and you have yourself an enthralling story.
The book is a definite must-read and the exciting build-up in the last few chapters will have you begging for more. I can’t wait for book number two.
