“Dregs Island” by Dr. Bon Blossman and Zakk Myer

DREGS ISLAND

Dr. Bon Blossman and Zakk Myer
CreateSpace (2017)
ISBN 9780996524834
Reviewed by Evan Weldon (age 15) for Reader Views (7/17)

“Dregs Island” by Dr. Bon Blossman and Zakk Myer is about seventeen-year-old Alex Cardin who, while driving home one day, witnesses a fatal hit and run. Trying to be a Good Samaritan, Alex immediately calls the police with the license plate of the offending car. You can imagine his shock when he is the one arrested. The year is 2032, six years after President Gray’s Prison Reform act which allows for expedited trials and alters the prison system so that all felons are deported to prison islands. Alex Cardin quickly finds himself an innocent victim of the Prison Reform Act. His trial for the hit and run proceeds without time to even find a lawyer. False witness testimony is presented against him and he suddenly finds himself guilty of murder, sentenced to life imprisonment on Dregs Island.  Deposited on Dregs Island, Alex finds himself struggling to survive in its harsh environment of toxic animals and violent inhabitants. Will Alex be able to find allies and survive against those who wish to harm him? Read and find out!

My favorite character is Mia. When Alex is first stranded on the island, Mia quickly picks him out as innocent.  That is, imprisoned without cause, and attempts to assist him however possible.  She is one of the most believable characters and provides insight into the how the island works.

If you enjoy a good dystopia, this is the book for you. From a corrupted justice system and government, to brutal punishment methods, this book portrays a perfectly dismal future.  The characters are all original and very dynamic, often because they are psychotic! However, it sometimes feels like Alex Cardin is adapting too quickly. Alex goes from being a kid on a dangerous island to a powerful player in the island’s politics in only a few weeks.  These rapidly changing characters sometimes made book confusing and unbelievable, but did not take away from the entertainment.

All said, “Dregs Island” by Dr. Bon Blossman and Zakk Myer was a very enjoyable read and I hope to see more books in this series!