Shipwreck!

June 1, 2009
Gr 5-9-Fans of "Survivor" will cheer for this hi/lo series. In "Blizzard"!, Owen and Gray, two teen community-service volunteers, become stranded on the highway en route to their awards dinner. Struggling through deep snow, they must use their combined knowledge (and will) to stay alive until rescue comes. In "Shipwreck"!, Skylar, Gabby, and Miles survive the sinking of a whale-watching boat only to find themselves stranded on an inflatable raft in the middle of the ocean. The teens endure blistering sun, storm swells, and a shark attack before being rescued. The realistically portrayed teens in both books don't exhibit unreasonable amounts of survival knowledge, which makes the story (and tension) believable. Mangalike black-and-white cartoons highlight key scenes and create interest. The oversize font and plenty of white space surrounding the short, engaging paragraphs make these books perfect for older struggling readers. A brief glossary, a true-life survival story, discussion questions, and writing prompts round out the books."H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL"

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