Book review: Minecraft: The Island by Max Brooks
Greetings, mortals! This is Chickabird; welcome to my blog. Today I thought I’d review a book I have always loved: Minecraft: The Island by Max Brooks!
Information
Title: Minecraft: The Island
Author: Max Brooks
Series: Official Minecraft Novels #1
Note: The official Minecraft novels are counted as a series, but each book is written by a different author and set in a different universe, so each book can be read separate from the others.
Publication date: August 13, 2019
Summary:
Washed up on a beach, the lone castaway looks around the shore. Where am I? Who am I? And why is everything made of blocks? But there isn’t much time to soak up the sun. It’s getting dark, and there’s a strange new world to explore!
The top priority is finding food. The next is not becoming food. Because there are others out there on the island . . . like the horde of zombies that appears after nightfall. Crafting a way out of this mess is a challenge like no other. Who could build a home while running from exploding creepers, armed skeletons, and an unstoppable tide of hot lava? Especially with no help except for a few makeshift tools and sage advice from an unlikely friend: a cow.
In this world, the rules don’t always make sense, but courage and creativity go a long way. There are forests to explore, hidden underground tunnels to loot, and undead mobs to defeat. Only then will the secrets of the island be revealed.
Rating
9.5/10
Just for reference, I’d say Minecraft: The Island is about a 3rd-6th grade reading level. The lexile score is 790. However, this book can be enjoyed by elementary schoolers, middle schoolers, and even adults.
I absolutely loved this book. It is chock-full of adventure, humor, and suspense. One of the reasons I adore this book is because it has you rooting for the main character from beginning to end. The main character is deep within themself and has many external and internal struggles. I literally could not put this book down! It contains many positive messages and life lessons. It’s full of emotion and makes you want to read all the Minecraft novels.
Minecraft: The Island doesn’t have any unsafe content for children. Carrie Kingsley from Common Sense Media talks about positive messages in the novel: “planning, preparation, prioritization, practice, and perseverance are essential… There’s a strong message to protect the environment, manage anger, learn from mistakes, and think through decisions.”
The only drawback of this New York Times bestseller by Max Brooks is that it could be hard to understand for a non-Minecraft fan. It’s definitely more enjoyable with at least a basic knowledge of the video game.
Thanks for reading– now go check out Minecraft: The Island at your local library or bookstore!
Sources
Goodreads
Amazon
Minecraft Official Site
Common Sense Media
Minecraft Wiki (Fandom)
ThriftBooks