By Yan Martel
4 stars
Life of Pi is a fictional novel by Yann Martel, published September 11, 2001. This novel is about a boy named Piscine Molitor Patel who survives a shipwreck and is left stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with only a Bengal tiger as a companion. As you read, there are many themes that you will discover such as the “will to live.” 
Pi was always a joyous and spiritual child. He demonstrated his determination and perseverance when he established his new name, “Pi,” and stopped people from calling him names. As the story progresses, Pi remains hopeful and is still himself on the lifeboat. However, being stuck in the ocean for so long with a tiger can keep you the same for only so long. Slowly, Pi begins changing. The fear of a tiger forced Pi to toughen up and become serious. However, even under that newly formed tough exterior, Pi was still a kind soul.
As I read, the one message that stood out was, “Life will be difficult.” Life is full of challenges, whether in school, friends, or family. In my personal experience, I struggled with finding the right people to call friends and never felt I belonged. However, just like Pi, I persevered through my struggles and found the right people.
I believe that a weak point in this novel was the switching of POVs; it was confusing to read. In the beginning, the author was talking in first person, and then suddenly, it was Pi. One strength was that the author was able to convey Pi’s cultural background well.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this novel to others. It is a great read for those interested in adventure stories and realistic fiction. I rate this novel 8 out of 10 cupcakes.
Reviewed by Hannah
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