Underworld - Cathy MacPhail
Underworld - Cathy MacPhail
Five teenagers and their unconscious teacher are trapped below an island. Some tunnels lead out to the sea and some lead deeper down. Once you’ve made the choice you can’t rechoose. Working together would be the best idea, but this is a group of underprivileged teenagers they hate each other and there’s no chance they’ll stop to help anyone else as they battle to escape alive.
The themes in this book are friendship and cooperation. The intended audience of this book are ten to fourteen-year-olds because the characters are twelve and thirteen and the style of writing is directed at that age group. The story is driven by the characters need to get out of the caves and the possibility of something lurking in the dark.
The characters are what really make Underworld tick. Axel, who didn’t want to come on the island trip in the first place, is the group breakaway, always wanting to race ahead and do the stupidest things. Fiona who tells the story using her own, creative, view of “zonking” life, smokes, chews gum and hates all the others, much to the invisibility of “blubbering Angie” the Girl Guide. Angie annoys all the others, even perfect Zesh. The teachers pet, Zesh is the one who holds up Mr. Marks, the unconscious teacher. However, as a secret asthmatic, Zesh has trouble towing Mr. Marks himself. The strangest character of all, Liam is a popular guy, but best friend of madman Axel. Why doesn’t he just get a worth-it friend and get on with life?
This book’s genre could be relationships, adventure or supernatural because it incorporates all three. I don’t really like the combination though. The story of the characters trapped in the caves is enough, why add parts that, to me, spoil the book? Either you have a supernatural story or you have a story about normal people. I don't think they don’t work together, though this is a very good attempt.
The ending of Underworld is mysterious, and possibly needs a bit more added to explain it. Still, the story doesn’t ever really disappoint in action and is a decent read.
Heather
