The Raft

Author: S. A. Bodeen

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

The plane you are on just crashed, and you and a boy are the only survivors. The only things you have? A raft. Some flares. No food, except a bag of Skittles. And no fresh water. Robie’s plane crashes flying to her home from Honolulu and she has to fight for survival with Max, the only other survivor. As things get worse and worse, Robie begins to realize things about herself she never knew and will ultimately survive–-or perish in the middle of the ocean.

Even though The Raft is a pretty easy read, the ideas it presents would be better understood and thought over by readers in late middle school. Readers who have read and enjoyed other books, such as Hatchet, would like this book because of the survival plot.

Overall, The Raft was very good. However, the book was rather repetitive and very similar events continued to happen. In addition, it seemed as though some of Robie’s thoughts were too old for her, as though she was much older and wiser. And in other parts, her thoughts seemed to be coming from a five-year old. If the plot could have newer events and Robie could have more relevant thoughts for her age, this book would be amazing.