≫ [PDF] Phoenix Island John Dixon Books

Phoenix Island John Dixon Books

Download As PDF : Phoenix Island John Dixon Books

Phoenix Island John Dixon Books

Phoenix Island by John Dixon
Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books
Publication Date – January 21, 2014

The story that inspired CBS TV’s Intelligence. Phoenix Island was supposed to be a boot camp for troubled children. Carl Freeman, at 16 is a boxing champion. He’s also about to be sentenced by a judge … prison? It’s not his first time in front of the bench. He isn’t even sure how many times he’s been here before, but always for the same thing — defending someone from bullies. It gets him in trouble every time, but this time, it’s worse. No slap on the wrist. He’s going to a “terminal facility,” the toughest boot camp of them all: Phoenix Island. It’s a two-year sentence — or a life sentence. Sometimes, there’s a thin line between the two. When Carl realized Phoenix Island is actually a mercenary training camp designed to change orphans — kids with no attachments to the “outside world” — into deadly, conscienceless super soldiers, he decides to do whatever it takes to save the people he loves even at the cost of his own life.

The popular TV show Intelligence is based on this book. Since I’d never heard of or seen the show, I wasn’t swayed one way or the other. This is not the kind of book I usually read. Too much violence, too much intensity. Life is intense and I prefer my reading relaxing. But, I was intrigued and decided to give this one a go and I’m glad I did — mostly.

The book is much better than I expected. It just kept getting better from the beginning to the end, picking up speed and adding layers to the characters and the story. There are a lot of deaths and plenty of violence leading up to said deaths. And it’s not just physical violence. There is systematic torture, emotional and psychological abuse, starvation and bullying of the most horrible kind. You name it, it’s here. The audience for this book is supposed to young adults. Is this what we are giving our kids to read? Yikes.

There’s no sex at all, nor any rough language, but there is sufficient graphic violence for a dozen books. If I had read this when I was 16 , it would have given me nightmares for years. Parents and teachers might want to consider whether or not every kid is emotionally equipped to process graphic violence before recommending this book. I wouldn’t let my kid watch Pop-Eye cartoons because they were ugly and violent.

For those who can handle the imagery and still get a night’s sleep, it’s a gripping story. And a surprising one. Just when you think you know what is going to happen next, don’t stop reading. Something else will happen, something you probably didn’t see coming.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book — maybe its best part — is the presentation of evil as not entirely black versus white, but many shades of gray. That a person having the same character and personality might be worthy of kingship in one generation, but be incarcerated as a criminal in the next. That the same talents can be applied for good or evil, depending on circumstance, timing and luck. Good and evil are not absolutes, but are born (at least in part) from the popular attitudes of society at a given time and place.

If the general cruelty, ugliness and brutality of the story doesn’t bother you, you’re in for a good read. Taut and tense, the book starts off a bit slow and gathers momentum. Meet the giant spiders, the vicious pigs (human and four-legged), the bullies, the torturer, the power-mad-evil-genius, the baby assassins and don’t forget the hammerhead sharks. You may find your stomach heaving, but you won’t be bored.


Tags : Amazon.com: Phoenix Island (9781476738635): John Dixon: Books,John Dixon,Phoenix Island,Gallery Books,1476738637,Thrillers & Suspense,Boxing;Fiction.,Mercenary troops;Fiction.,Survival;Fiction.,Action & Adventure - General,American Mystery & Suspense Fiction,American Science Fiction And Fantasy,Boxing,Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),FICTION Action & Adventure,FICTION Science Fiction Action & Adventure,FICTION Science Fiction General,Family - Orphans & Foster Homes,Fiction,Mercenary troops,Science Fiction,Survival,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Thrillers & Suspense,Alex Rider; maze runner; Dashner; Horowitz; martial arts; Jason bourne; bram stoker award; G.I. Joe; hunger games; orphan; boxing; lord of the flies; kids for cash; Philly; boot camp; remote island; orphan stories; golden gloves; hot young adult; best young adult; hostage; josh holloway; tv shows from books; books made into tv; intelligence; CBS tv; GI Joe; wolverine; cool hand luke; boxing fiction; boxing books; six million dollar man; super soldier; supersolider; modified humans; augmented; philosopher kings; philosopher warriors

Phoenix Island John Dixon Books Reviews

In PHOENIX ISLAND, John Dixon creates a brutal world where boot camp and prison are twisted into an amalgam where there is no hope, justice, or mercy.

Carl is a wounded, haunted 16 year old boy with a good heart, and filled with a sense of justice and rightness—which is his strength and downfall. Even though Carl has a short temper and acts first without thinking, I liked him. Who doesn’t admire a person that stands up to bullies, no matter how the odds are stacked against him.

There was a lot I liked about this book. First there is there is the mystery of Phoenix Island and what it’s true purpose is. Carl’s backstory about his parents was heartrending and Dixon did a wonderful job conveying that. There’s a touch of romance giving Carl a little hope and something possibly to look forward to. Then there’s his first fight at the boot camp which gripped me. I didn't even realize I was holding my breath until it was over. I was impressed how Dixon wrote fight scenes, they were realistic, brutal, and you really couldn’t tell if Carl would win them.

PHOENIX ISLAND is a well plotted thriller that delves into self discovery and the coming of age a young man who is searching for his purpose in life. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to the sequel.
Synopsis Carl, a young troubled teen who has been found guilty of another assault charge is sent off to a military style boot camp called Phoenix Island. His need to punish bullies has finally landed him in this hell. These drill instructors seem to use any means necessary to get these cadets to change their delinquent ways. As the weeks go by on the island the cadets learn that there may be more going on here than just helping troubled teens. They realize that the "Old Man" is building an army at any means necessary, beatings, severe punishment, even murder. Carl must figure out a way to save his friends and himself and escape the island before he too is killed.

My Review Two words - Page turner. This author has a way of writing scenes so vivid you actually feel like you are there. There is a fight scene between Carl and Parker that I started reading before work one morning and I was so involved in the story I was late to work. Literally could not put the book down. I heard there was a review where a woman actually gagged reading one of the scenes, yes there were bugs involved but how well does a scene need to be written that it makes someone actually gag? To me that is fantastic writing.

Somehow before the book was even released to the public the idea behind the book was picked up by CBS for a TV show called Intelligence. While I have only seen the first episode of the show these two storied are only slightly related, they are quite different from each other. It's a shame because I think the book would make a better movie than just just using the concept of the chip implant as the show uses. I'm looking at you Ridley Scott to make some moves here...

I have had the pleasure of conversing with John over email and Facebook the last few weeks and look forward to one day meeting him in person. He is currently working on the sequel to Phoenix Island now called Devil's Pocket. You can bet that I will add that book to the top of my "to read" pile. I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

My rating 9
Pages 320
Author website [...]
Phoenix Island by John Dixon
Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books
Publication Date – January 21, 2014

The story that inspired CBS TV’s Intelligence. Phoenix Island was supposed to be a boot camp for troubled children. Carl Freeman, at 16 is a boxing champion. He’s also about to be sentenced by a judge … prison? It’s not his first time in front of the bench. He isn’t even sure how many times he’s been here before, but always for the same thing — defending someone from bullies. It gets him in trouble every time, but this time, it’s worse. No slap on the wrist. He’s going to a “terminal facility,” the toughest boot camp of them all Phoenix Island. It’s a two-year sentence — or a life sentence. Sometimes, there’s a thin line between the two. When Carl realized Phoenix Island is actually a mercenary training camp designed to change orphans — kids with no attachments to the “outside world” — into deadly, conscienceless super soldiers, he decides to do whatever it takes to save the people he loves even at the cost of his own life.

The popular TV show Intelligence is based on this book. Since I’d never heard of or seen the show, I wasn’t swayed one way or the other. This is not the kind of book I usually read. Too much violence, too much intensity. Life is intense and I prefer my reading relaxing. But, I was intrigued and decided to give this one a go and I’m glad I did — mostly.

The book is much better than I expected. It just kept getting better from the beginning to the end, picking up speed and adding layers to the characters and the story. There are a lot of deaths and plenty of violence leading up to said deaths. And it’s not just physical violence. There is systematic torture, emotional and psychological abuse, starvation and bullying of the most horrible kind. You name it, it’s here. The audience for this book is supposed to young adults. Is this what we are giving our kids to read? Yikes.

There’s no sex at all, nor any rough language, but there is sufficient graphic violence for a dozen books. If I had read this when I was 16 , it would have given me nightmares for years. Parents and teachers might want to consider whether or not every kid is emotionally equipped to process graphic violence before recommending this book. I wouldn’t let my kid watch Pop-Eye cartoons because they were ugly and violent.

For those who can handle the imagery and still get a night’s sleep, it’s a gripping story. And a surprising one. Just when you think you know what is going to happen next, don’t stop reading. Something else will happen, something you probably didn’t see coming.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book — maybe its best part — is the presentation of evil as not entirely black versus white, but many shades of gray. That a person having the same character and personality might be worthy of kingship in one generation, but be incarcerated as a criminal in the next. That the same talents can be applied for good or evil, depending on circumstance, timing and luck. Good and evil are not absolutes, but are born (at least in part) from the popular attitudes of society at a given time and place.

If the general cruelty, ugliness and brutality of the story doesn’t bother you, you’re in for a good read. Taut and tense, the book starts off a bit slow and gathers momentum. Meet the giant spiders, the vicious pigs (human and four-legged), the bullies, the torturer, the power-mad-evil-genius, the baby assassins and don’t forget the hammerhead sharks. You may find your stomach heaving, but you won’t be bored.