A page turner, to say the least. This book was astounding, profound, and heartbreaking. The themes of William Golding’s dark tale are sobering, but they are made all the more powerful in light of his host of characters: a rugged, scared, and foolish crowd of young boys.

The dialogue between these boys helped in carrying the narrative forward, and in a manner that was interesting and captivating, for it was not the boring chatter of adults, but the ignorant, funny, and petty discourse between children. The characters were developed nicely and believably. Although the story in and of itself is fictitious, and therefore could lend itself to being far-fetched, when reading “Lord of the Flies,” familiar phrases such as “the survival of the fittest,” and “boys will be boys” become all too true and all too ominous.

The story excellently portrays the faults within humanity—even “civilized” British boys—and how greed, desire for power, hatred, fear, and a will to survive all can serve to create within each man or woman, boy or girl, monstrous tendencies and bestial appetites. Golding’s work is not to be overlooked.