Adventure and Survival

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Compiled By Vicki Reutter -- School Library Journal, 05/01/2004

Undoubtedly, primitive man sat around the campfire sharing lessons of survival while telling tales of dangerous animals, ferocious storms, and other scourges of nature. We can well envision these early storytellers embellishing their escapades with waving arms and other exaggerated expressions, but these accounts effectively increased man's knowledge of the natural world. Modern readers, like our imagined listeners from times past, have long been captivated by real adventures. In fact, Herman Melville was inspired by the whale attack on the ill-fated Essex in 1820 when he created Moby-Dick. Later, while Ernest Shackelton's expedition to the Antarctic was becoming the ultimate survival epic, Jack London was looking for gold in the Klondike and sharing his tales about the adventure. His pragmatic view of man against nature is perhaps most powerful in To Build a Fire, the story of an unnamed Yukon man curled up in the snow against an unforgiving cold.

The elements that made this story a classic can be found in many titles for young adults. Adventure and survival stories flourish with authors like Gary Paulsen. Hatchet, his imaginative story of Brian, a teen stranded in the Canadian wilderness with little more than a tool, spawned several sequels as well as read-alikes. Paulsen's own survival experiences have been penned in Guts, which parallels Brian's ordeals in Hatchet, and again in Winterdance, an account of racing the Iditarod. Not surprisingly, adventure and survival titles are no longer gender specific, as young readers crave gutsy female protagonists like Dicey Tillerman of Cynthia Voigt's Homecoming and Emily, a more recent heroine who appears in Elizabeth Fama's Overboard. The books in this bibliography for middle and high school readers have heart-stopping action, but, more importantly, they present ordinary individuals facing perilous conditions that test their mettle. Limited to realistic environments, the selected titles help readers understand their place in the natural world and illustrate our species's amazing ability to pull through difficult situations using only the resources at hand.–Vicki Reutter

Fiction

BODETT, Tom. Williwaw! Knopf/Borzoi. 1999.

Gr 5-8 –When two siblings are left alone in their remote Alaskan home by their fisherman father, they irresponsibly drain the radio power supply by playing video games. A scheme to boat into town to correct this critical mistake before their father comes back turns disastrous when they are caught in a coastal storm. Bodett's down-home writing style neatly weaves suspense with factual information about fishing, boat safety, and self-sufficiency. A good choice for reluctant readers. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

COTTONWOOD, Joe. Quake! Scholastic. 1995.

Gr 5-8 –The California quake of 1989 inspired this realistic story of two teens who are baby-sitting when an earthquake devastates their suburban neighborhood. With a frightened younger brother in tow, the girls make their way to the shelter of their school, helping others along the way. The author successfully relays the sights and sounds of the quake's destruction with images of gaseous air, smoky blackouts, and crumbling earth.

FAMA, Elizabeth. Overboard. Cricket. 2002.

Gr 5-9 –An American teen nearly drowns in a ferry accident in Indonesia after running away from her "do-gooder" humanitarian parents. Alone and treading water in the shark-infested sea, she finds a frightened nine-year-old Muslim boy floating nearby. Emily teaches him skills she learned in lifesaving class and, in turn, finds courage and comfort in the quiet strength of his faith. A winning protagonist and a touchingly powerful plot make this a must-read.

GEORGE, Jean Craighead. Julie of the Wolves. HarperCollins. 1972.

Gr 6 Up –When an Eskimo girl runs away from an arranged marriage, she becomes lost on the tundra. Nurtured by wolves, she reexamines her cultural traditions. Childhood marriage and the subtle mention of attempted rape occur in this epic adventure, but readers will focus on Julie's relationship with her wolves, her will to survive, and the wealth of detail provided about tundra mammals and Inuit life. Audiobook available from Recorded Books.

HOBBS, Will. Far North. HarperCollins/Morrow. 1996.

Gr 5-9 –On a sightseeing stop in the Northwest Territory, a floatplane is swept over a waterfall as its three passengers watch from shore. Stranded are a Texan teen, his boarding-school roommate, and the roommate's great-uncle, Johnny Raven, a Dene Indian elder. Before he dies from the cold, Raven imparts valuable hunting and wilderness survival skills to the young men, and they overcome blizzards, predators, and starvation before reaching safety. Audiobook available from Recorded Books.

MYERS, Edward. Survival of the Fittest. Montemayor. 2000.

Gr 5-8 –The Peruvian rain forest provides the setting for two children and their older stepbrother who survive a plane crash on the way to visit their humanitarian doctor father. Insects, heat, piranhas, and sibling rivalry are all obstacles in the way of finding help in the lush wilderness. Action and suspense, fleshed out with factual environmental information, will add depth to the study of rain forests.

O'DELL, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. Houghton. 1960.

Gr 5-8 –Based on the life of a real Chumash Indian girl abandoned on an island off the coast of California in the 1800s, this story describes how Karana was self-sustaining for 18 years before rescue. O'Dell details how she made clothing from animal skins, constructed weapons to fend off wild dogs, and dried fish to augment her food supply. This remarkable heroine continues to inspire readers and teach them about Native American lore. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

PARKINSON, Curtis. Storm-blast. Tundra. 2003.

Gr 5-8 –A relaxing Caribbean family vacation goes terribly awry when two siblings and their cousin are stranded in a rubber dinghy as a storm looms. Danger escalates and the bickering trio must unite to fend off sharks, strong currents, and dehydration. Factual information on sailing technique and terminology add authenticity.

PAULSEN, Gary. Hatchet. S & S/Atheneum. 1987.

Gr 5-8 –This model survival story of a plane crash in a lake strands 15-year-old Brian alone in the Canadian wilderness for 54 days. Emotional wounds are healed as he struggles to overcome hunger, wild animals, and a tornado. Paulsen's visual writing style and attention to detail are drawn from his own experience and affinity for the woods. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

PAULSEN, Gary. Brian's Hunt. Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. 2003.

Gr 5-8 –Brian's longing for the Canadian wilderness takes him back to a Cree camp that he once visited in Brian's Winter (Delacorte, 1996), and he finds it has been ravaged by a man-eating bear. His need to avenge the deaths of his friends sends him hunting for the killer, and, instead, he becomes the hunted. Paulsen takes a different tone than in previous stories featuring Brian as he warns readers about the arrogance of thinking that humans are unlikely prey for wild animals. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

PETERSEN, P. J. Rising Water. S & S. 2002.

Gr 6 Up –A sister and brother who work for an animal-rescue agency are called into action when a levee breaks, flooding the town. Friction between the siblings and a sullen juvenile offender in their charge adds tension when they are separated and stranded from their boat. As the teens make their way through increasingly challenging situations, readers will also gain insight into efforts used by workers to rescue animals in emergency situations.

VOIGT, Cynthia. Homecoming. S & S/Atheneum. 1981.

Gr 5-9 –Four children abandoned at a shopping mall by their mother is a compelling premise that gave birth to several sequels about the Tillerman family. To avoid foster care, Dicey walks her homeless younger siblings across the state in search of their great-aunt. Forced to sleep in city parks and abandoned buildings, these children are memorable for the remarkable strength of their bond. Audiobook available from Recorded Books.

Nonfiction

ARMSTRONG, Jennifer. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. Crown. 1998.

Gr 6 Up –This is a highly engaging account of Ernest Shackleton's bravery and leadership after his ship Endurance was crushed in the Antarctic ice in 1914. Armstrong's text reflects the hearty optimism, good humor, and resourcefulness that led to the survival of all 28 men after being stranded for 22 months. Excerpts from crew members' diaries and ghostly black-and-white photos of the ice-laden ship are included. Audiobook available from Audio Bookshelf.

O'GRADY, Scott & Michael French. Basher Five-Two: The True Story of F-16 Pilot Captain Scott O'Grady. Doubleday. 1997.

Gr 5-8 –O'Grady's clear voice speaks directly to middle-grade readers, focusing on details they relish. The author describes how his plane was shot down, how his ejection seat catapulted him into the sky and, later, how he ate ants and leaves to curb his hunger. He credits skills he learned as a Cub Scout for his survival in hostile Bosnian territory for six days. A self-effacing account of an "ordinary boy" turned hero.

PAULSEN, Gary. Guts. Delacorte. 2001.

Gr 5 Up –Paulsen's actual experiences with plane crashes, a crazy moose, blizzards, a heart attack, eating eyeballs, and more are recounted here. These incidents are typically understated and humorous and will help students formulate their own cache of survival knowledge of the outdoors. An instructive chapter on wilderness cooking is packed with detail.

PHILBRICK, Nathaniel. Revenge of the Whale. Putnam. 2002.

Gr 5 Up –In 1820, the whaleship Essex was rammed and sunk by an angry whale. Twenty crew members endured three months in leaky lifeboats, but only five survived. In this abridged version of its adult counterpart, In the Heart of the Sea (Viking, 2000), Philbrick recounts gory details of cannibalism and execution that were pieced together from a cabin boy's diary made public in 1984. Enhanced by photos, drawings, and maps.

Fiction

COLE, Brock. The Goats. Farrar. 1987.

Gr 8-10 –As a practical joke, two outcasts are blindfolded and stranded on an island by their summer campmates. Stripped of clothes and their dignity, Howie and Laura overcome their initial humiliation to test their resourcefulness and discover an inner strength and maturity that is lacking in the adults around them. Audiobook available from Recorded Books.

LONDON, Jack. To Build a Fire and Other Stories. Bantam. 1982.

Gr 9 Up –Twelve of the 25 tales included in this collection take place in the brutal Yukon climate. Known as "The Klondike Stories," they illustrate the animal instincts necessary for human survival. In the title story, often considered London's masterpiece, a tenderfoot succumbs to the cold when he fails to heed his dog's reluctance to journey beyond the safety of a fire in below-zero temperatures. Often naive and egocentric, London's characters ultimately learn they cannot dominate nature.

MARTEL, Yann. Life of Pi. Harcourt. 2002.

Adult/High School –Bound for his family's new home in Canada, Pi, the son of a Hindu zookeeper, is shipwrecked in the Indian Ocean and stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger for 227 days. So believable is Pi's storytelling that readers will be mesmerized by the outlandish and distasteful details of survival. Throughout this fanciful tale, the author winks at readers' gullibility and charms them with humorous anecdotes of religious pundits and Indian life.

MAZER, Harry. Snowbound. Delacorte. 1973.

Gr 8-10 –Mazer's familiarity with snowy northern New York State inspired the story of Tony and Cindy, a rebellious teen and a hitchhiker who find themselves stranded for several days in a remote area of highway in a blinding snowstorm. The dilemma of finding survival strategies in a place many of us feel comfortable–our car–is very appealing.

MIKAELSEN, Ben. Touching Spirit Bear. HarperCollins. 2001.

Gr 7-10 –The Native American form of "Circle Justice" transforms a bully who has beaten a classmate. Placed alone on an island as punishment, Cole meets his match in the form of a legendary white bear. Raw and gritty survival strategies are engrossing, but more affecting is the cultural conditioning and healing process the hero undergoes as he connects to the land and water. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

ROTTMAN, S. L. Rough Waters. Peachtree. 1998.

Gr 8-10 –Orphaned brothers are reluctantly taken in by an uncle who works in the whitewater rafting business. Hurt and angry teens combine with inexperience and dangerous rapids to create a recipe for disaster. Exciting river action is matched by character development and the emotional mending of this burgeoning new family.

Nonfiction

ALEXANDER, Caroline. The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition. Knopf. 1998.

Adult/High School –A National Geographic travel author offers a mature portrait of modern exploration's selfless and beloved Irish captain. This lengthier account shines for its personalization of each crew member and the well-written account of the miraculous 800-mile journey Shackleton made from his stranded ship to get help for his men. Photos preserved from the 19-month epic ordeal are extraordinary.

JUNGER, Sebastian. The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men against the Sea. Norton. 1997.

Adult/High School –Junger imagines the last moments of the crew of the sword boat Andrea Gail during the 1991 "nor'easter of the century" and explains the meteorological factors that climaxed to create this rogue storm. In journalistic style, he interviews family members, fishermen, and rescue workers in the close-knit Gloucester community that mourned the loss of their own. Audiobook available from Recorded Books.

KRAKAUER, Jon. Into Thin Air. Villard. 1997.

Adult/High School –Krakauer's journalistic prowess shines in his firsthand account of the Everest expedition in which a rogue storm caused him to collapse, frozen, under 70-knot winds, and killed five of his fellow climbers. He balances a view of ego-driven mountaineers, underappreciated Sherpa guides, and inexperienced amateurs with the desire to reach beyond one's human limitations. Audiobook available from Books on Tape.

MARTIN, Jesse. Lionheart: A Journey of the Human Spirit. Allen & Unwin. 2002.

Gr 8 Up –Jesse Martin, a 17-year-old Australian teen, set a world record when he sailed alone around the world in his boat, the Lionheart. Unassisted by fossil fuels or any additional supplies, he remained on the boat for a year. Jesse's honest and imperfect prose describes his regret about dropping out of school, the loneliness and dangers of being at sea, and the triumph of accomplishment and self-discovery.

PAULSEN, Gary. Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod. Harcourt. 1994.

Gr 8 Up –Paulsen's memoir, a more "adult" version of Woodsong (S & S, 1990), is a humorous and poignant account of running dogs in the 17-day Iditarod. Short vignettes center on pratfalls such as tangled dogs, wrong turns, and moose attacks. This brief but spirited narrative provides insight into the care and feeding of these canine athletes.

PFETZER, Mark & Jack Galvin. Within Reach: My Everest Story. Dutton. 1998.

Gr 7 Up –Less tragic than Into Thin Air, this is the story of a 16-year-old who was climbing Everest on another part of the mountain during the same time as Krakauer's ill-fated team. Pfetzer has bragging rights for breaking an altitude record for his age group, and he chronicles his summit attempts from planning stages to execution, conveying all that is awesome and exhilarating about climbing the ultimate peak.

PHILBRICK, Nathaniel. In the Heart of the Sea. Viking. 2000.

Adult/High School –The shipwreck that was the inspiration for Herman Melville's Moby-Dick is recounted in this tragic account of the whaleship Essex. This adult version (see Revenge of the Whale above) includes more details of whaling economics in the 1800s and of the horrific attack that put the surviving crew members into lifeboats for three months. Extensive notes and black-and-white photos are included. Audiobook available from Books on Tape.