The Speed of Falling Objects

August 1, 2019
A timid girl with one eye must survive in the Amazon rainforest. Ever since losing her left eye at age 7, almost 17-year-old Danger Danielle Warren hasn't fit her first name. Preferring "Danny" but nicknamed "Pigeon" by her classmates for her lack of depth perception, she's collected a plethora of fears, including heights, snakes, blindness, and being a burden or embarrassment--especially to her fearless, estranged father, Cougar, who hosts a survivalist reality show. When he invites her to an episode set in the Peruvian rainforest featuring hot teen actor Gus Price as a guest star, Danny vows to regain Cougar's respect. But when their plane crashes, Danny's life depends on conquering her fears. Vivid descriptions of the rainforest's lush, unforgiving landscape, teeming with oppressive heat, poisonous creatures, and edible grubs, plunge readers into the brutally realistic action. But as Cougar and his crew keep the camera rolling, the exploration of human nature becomes paramount, and Danny learns a harsh truth about her father. Through Danny's reflective narration, the group's expository confessions, and Gus and Danny's lightly described romance, Fischer (When Elephants Fly, 2018, etc.) perceptively examines such issues as divorce, narcissism, parental expectations, and forgiveness. Characters' interactions largely ring true, as does Danny's hard-won metamorphosis from self-conscious to self-confident. Danny, Cougar, and Gus are white; one crew member is Japanese American, and another is cued as black. Part adventure, part coming-of-age novel, and altogether a page-turner. (Fiction. 13-18)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2019

Gr 8 Up-After a childhood accident that leaves Danger "Danny" Warren with one eye and ultimately an estranged father, she jumps at the chance when her famous survivalist dad, Cougar, invites her to appear on his show for her birthday. Even better, she'll be filming with heartthrob-of-the-moment Gus Price in the Amazon forest. Disaster strikes when a violent storm throws the crew's plane into uncharted wilds. Now, Danny has to rely on her instincts, inhibited by a past that made her fearful and indecisive, and a group of perfect strangers to survive the jungle. This is an adventure-survival novel driven by the clear and relevant theme of what happens when children realize their parents are only human. Mature Danny easily finds a home in the hearts of readers as she spends a significant amount of time with her father for the first time. Paired with a unique plot, Danny's story is a memorable one. Fischer throws an impressive amount of detail and knowledge of the natural and medical worlds into the rich setting while tracing character arcs that are both realistic and riveting. Through Danny, Fischer thoughtfully leads readers through growth and understanding in challenging physical and mental circumstances that are fascinating in their own right. A seemingly extraneous love story muddies an otherwise engrossing personal journey, but does conveniently help to move Danny's evolution. VERDICT For fans of Jessi Kirby's The Other Side of Lost and Danika Stone's Switchback, this is a shining star among young adult survivalist stories.-Abby Hargreaves, District of Columbia Public Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.