Stranded

October 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-In Braun's fast-paced survival story, a group of teens must fend for themselves and one another after a freak storm leaves them without their guide in the middle of the Boundary Waters, a large wilderness area in northern Minnesota. Emma had decided to take part in this trip as a means of escape from the guilt she feels over her sister's death. When she finds herself facing hunger, pain, wild animals, a potentially sociopathic teen, and the whims of treacherous Mother Nature, she begins to doubt her abilities to escape another dire situation. With each passing day, the teens realize the only way to be saved is to save themselves. The focus on survival and conflict with nature moves the story along at a breakneck pace but at the expense of maintaining believable, rounded characters. The characters' actions are sometimes random and seem thrown in simply to service the plot. Protagonist Emma is the only one with some substance and growth, while most others are bland cookie cutouts. "Bad boy" Isaac feels like a caricature and, while a jerk, never manages to feel as menacing as Mother Nature (although he does exude a creepy vibe). That said, teens interested in action may be able to overlook the characterization flaws. Reluctant readers will appreciate the straightforward storytelling. VERDICT Although the characters leave a lot to be desired, this title will appeal to action-enthused fans of survival stories.-Jenna Friebel, Deerfield Public Library, IL

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