Overboard: Survivor Diaries
Terry Lynn Johnson, Author
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Fiction, Jul. 4, 2017
Suitable for Ages: 7-12
Themes: Whale-Watching, Boat Capsizing, Cold-Water Survival, Survival Skills
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Travis and his family are on a whale-watching tour off the coast of Washington when disaster strikes. The boat capsizes, throwing everyone into the ice-cold, chaotic waves. Separated from their families and struggling to stay afloat, Travis and twelve-year-old Marina must navigate the freezing ocean water. It will take all of their grit and knowledge to survive.
Why I like this book:
Terry Lynn Johnson has penned a fast-paced adventure series for children about survival in extreme elements. Overboard is the first book in the series, with Avalanche!, Lost! and Dust Storm! to follow. Pen and ink drawings add to the drama at sea.
The plot is realistic, engaging and the tension palpable. Overboard focuses on Travis and Marina using skills they know after their site-seeing boat capsizes in icy waters and on shore until help arrives. What do you do first? How much time do you have before hypothermia sets in? How do you stay calm? What skills do you need most?
I predict this series will have huge kid-appeal because the element of danger and the universal need to know what to do if you are unexpectedly caught in a situation where your life depends upon what you know.
This is an inspiring and important survival series for kids and families to read together. It is also an excellent classroom book that belongs in every school library.
Resources: At the end of the book are U.S. Coast Guard-approved cold-water survival tips. Once you’ve read the book, Johnson has set up a survival game on her website. Make sure you play the game!
Terry Lynn Johnson, author of Ice Dogs, is a real-life survival expert. She is also the author of the Survivor Diaries Avalanche!, Lost! and Dust Storm! She has lived in northern Ontario, Canada, for more than forty years. She’s a conservation officer with seventeen years experience working in remote areas and cold-water environments, and has trained with the Canadian Coast Guard. Follow Terry on her website.
*The publisher provided me with an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Check other Middle Grade review links on author Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.
I know a few kids who will read nothing but non-fiction or fiction survival books. This new series should find many fans. The author has the perfect background to write these types of books. The cover alone says it all. Thanks for featuring. I’ll be sure to look for it.
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Yes, Terry Lynn Johnson is the perfect author for this survival series. I hope the entire series will be a hit with kids and their families. Very timely.
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This definitely will have kid-appeal. A good book to read and discuss as a family.
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I think that kids like to know facts about survival. Great to share with family members.
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Nice, I love survival stories.
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I enjoyed reading the first book in this series. Avalanche will also appeal for winter sports.
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I really like survival stories. I loved Ice Dogs. I will definitely be looking for this one. Thanks for the post.
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You are welcome! This is a great survival series for youth. I loved Ice Dogs too.
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Sounds exciting! Kids will love it!
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It is very detailed, is filled with action and tension.
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This book sounds really fun! I would love to read it. Thanks so much for the review!
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It’s a quick read, full of suspense and information! Great for family discussion.
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I really enjoyed Ice Dogs, so I’m happy to see more from this author! Betting this book has great tips for ‘kids’ of all ages.
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Yes, it does have a lot of survival tips for all ages. Fun to read together. Fast-paced.
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I loved adventure stories when I was a kid. This has a vintage feel to me, is that the case or not?
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Yes, it does have that appeal, but contemporary at the same time.
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This sounds like a good book – I can’t see kids not liking this! 🙂
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A lot of action, suspense and tips about survival. AVALANCHE is the second book and it really sounds amazing.
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