46 pages • 1 hour read
Natasha PrestonThe Island
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
The Island is a novel about influencers and comments extensively on social media. In what ways can social media be positive, and in what ways can it be negative? How has social media affected the lives of Paisley and the other characters?
There is a sharp generational divide in the novel, and many of the older characters, including Paisley’s parents, do not understand Gen Z culture and the impact of social media. How do younger characters in the novel perceive their elders, and vice versa? How does the generational divide contribute to the novel’s meaning?
Jagged Island is a vivid setting and itself a symbol throughout the text. How, and to what effect, does Preston allude to other literary Gothic and thriller settings in The Island?
The Island is marketed as a YA thriller and is influenced by the mystery and thriller genres. How does Preston use typical tropes from these genres? In what ways does she subvert them?
How does Preston create an atmosphere of suspense throughout the novel? Choose three examples and use details from the novel to support your answer.
Choose two of the novel’s characters and analyze how they cope with fear. How does their characterization contribute to the plot?
While Paisley’s parents wish that she wasn’t interested in true crime, she feels that her hobby is important. What are her personal motivations for becoming drawn to true crime? In what ways does her experience as a crime blogger prepare her for survival on the island?
Paisley frequently comments throughout the novel about wealth and social class, especially when categorizing the differences between herself and some of the other characters, like Malcolm. Choose one of the characters: How does their relative wealth affect their upbringing and their characterization?
Harper’s betrayal is a major twist in the novel. Discuss her characterization. What made Paisley trust her initially, and why was she never considered a suspect? How does this twist relate to the novel’s themes of trust and deception?
The book ends on a cliffhanger when Robert pulls Paisley into the water. Why might Preston have chosen to end the novel in this way? What effect does this ending versus a more traditional mystery ending that neatly wraps up the plot?
