Distress Signal

September 1, 2020
A class trip turns into a fight for survival when four sixth graders are lost in the Arizona wilderness. Lavender Blue-Morris has been looking forward to the wilderness science camp since kindergarten. For an astronomy and ham radio buff like Lavender, three days in the wild feel like a dream come true. When Lavender's best friend, Marisol, gets angry with her and pairs up with Rachelle, the class queen bee, for the bus ride instead of Lavender, who has to sit with John, it begins to look like this won't be the amazing trip she'd hoped for after all. Things go from bad to worse when a prank goes wrong and Lavender is responsible for getting herself, Marisol, Rachelle, and John hopelessly separated from the rest of the group. The unforgiving Arizona bush presents treacherous obstacles like a flash flood, wild animals, and dehydration. Hardest of all, the conflict between Lavender and Marisol--and struggles among the rest of the group--threatens to tear them apart when they need each other the most. The brisk pace, poignant descriptions of a changing friendship, and realistic handling of Lavender's growing self-awareness will keep readers riveted. Marisol is bilingual in English and Spanish, hinting at some diversity in the class, but physical descriptions are minimal, and most characters are assumed White. Perilous desert survival action and relatable BFF conflict combine for a fast-paced disaster read. (Thriller. 9-13)

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November 1, 2020

Gr 4-7-Lavender has been looking forward to the sixth grade field trip to Chiricahua National Park in Arizona. The class will go on hikes and stargaze with the newly purchased class telescope. Plus, she'll get three days of hanging out with her best friend, Marisol. However, nothing is going to plan; Marisol is ignoring her and spending time with mean girl Rachelle. When the class accidently goes off trail, Lavender decides to prank Rachelle so Marisol will see Rachelle's true colors. Then she hears a flash flood warning on her ham radio, and while the rest of her class escapes, Lavender, Rachelle, Marisol, and fellow student John get separated from the group. With no signal to call for help, limited water, and no maps, the students must work together to survive, while overcoming their friendship drama. The story is easy to read with a straightforward plot, and Lambert skillfully hooks readers with compelling chapter endings. The friend drama among the three girls is authentic for their ages, but some readers may find the meanness once they are in a survival situation, unrealistic. VERDICT Readers who enjoyed Rebecca Behrens's The Disaster Days or Watt Key's Deep Water will enjoy Lambert's blend of survival themes, focus on teamwork, and friendship drama in her fast-paced plot. Fans of Dusti Bowling's The Canyon's Edge will also find the similar wilderness and survival themes intriguing.-Kaetlyn Phillips, Yorkton, Sask.

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