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A review by samwescott
Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. I only gave it three stars because the writing style is only mediocre. The author has a tendency to gloss over convenient plot revelations and repeat phrases to the point of being irritating. This being said, I did not notice either of these habits when I read this book for the first time in 5th grade, which I think is closer to the intended audience than my present 20-something self.
What I loved so much about this story is the imaginative rendition of the mad scientist trope. I loved the Island of Dr, Moreau, which was the inspiration for this novel, but the reader experiences that novel as a spectator of the horrors. This book, though YA, takes the reader through the experiences of teenagers going through these changes in an intriguing way. The coping methods used by Semi and Miranda felt genuine. Their fear was palpable. It was a thrilling read, even all these years later.
Also! This is one of the YA sci-fi novels I have read that feature two women of color as the protagonists, which I really appreciated.
What I loved so much about this story is the imaginative rendition of the mad scientist trope. I loved the Island of Dr, Moreau, which was the inspiration for this novel, but the reader experiences that novel as a spectator of the horrors. This book, though YA, takes the reader through the experiences of teenagers going through these changes in an intriguing way. The coping methods used by Semi and Miranda felt genuine. Their fear was palpable. It was a thrilling read, even all these years later.
Also! This is one of the YA sci-fi novels I have read that feature two women of color as the protagonists, which I really appreciated.