Given the praise for STAGS (MA Bennett's first YA novel I believe), The Island unfortunately seemed to lack the same level of momentum. MA Bennett's writing has a tendency to comment on private school mob mentality with similar themes to Lord of the Flies. This reappears in The Island where we are now given a chance to explore the motivations of an ostracized nerd for revenge. In her attempt at pointing out the misogyny and the entitlement of nerds nowadays, MA Bennett still chooses to give readers an ending that provides satisfaction to no one but the detestable MC. The anger she induces in readers may have been intentional as it leaves us with a lot to think about after we finish but for me personally it was unsatisfying and the pent up emotions from reading this goes nowhere.