Book Review: Trapped (Shipwreck Island #3) by S.A. Bodeen

It's up to Sarah Robinson to save her shipwrecked family from a time-traveling "curator" of souls and a treasure-hunting criminal in Book 3 of the Shipwreck Island series.

Sarah Robinson and her family are shipwrecked on a remote and mysterious island. Their food is scarce and there's no sign of rescue. They have seen strange creatures, rescued a mysterious girl, and found The Curator, who has captured Sarah's father and stepbrother to use in a bizarre time-travel experiment. And then the only man who knows about the island comes back--he's looking for buried treasure and won't leave without it, even if it means leaving the Robinsons stranded. Sarah knows an important key to finding the treasure, but will she keep it a secret?

Book Quote

Marco stepped a few feet away from the boy, until he was next to Sarah. “And why should I trust you?”
“I don’t lie,” said the boy.
Sarah scowled. “No, you just take innocent people and animals and turn them into … into … Popsicles!”

My Thoughts

For those who have read my previous reviews on this series…

If you haven’t go on down below and click through and read them – I’ll wait

… you’ll know that though I don’t typically read or enjoy a lot of Middle Grade…Shipwreck Island is one series that I do enjoy and recommend.

Sadly, although Trapped, book 3 in the series was solid, I didn’t love it. Bodeen’s normally compelling writing and pacing just seemed a bit off to me. I didn’t feel as compelled to power through this book until the end…although I did finish reading it in one afternoon…I felt that it could have had a bit more action and less repetitive discussion.

We did finally get some of the answers to the island’s mysteries in Trapped. Though, I have mixed feelings about whether I’m happy about the direction the series is taking. And an anticipated threat resurfaced which leaves us fearing for our shipwrecked family at the conclusion of this volume.

I was surprised by the cliffhanger ending as I’d assumed this was only a trilogy and can only hope and assume that a 4th volume with be forthcoming. The more I think about that , the happier I am as I’m sure that Bodeen will step it up in the series finale and end on a higher note.