4 out of 4 stars
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Stranded in the Wild by Gary Rodriguez is a fast-paced and thrilling survival adventure. It is a perfect example of how one small move, one tiny misstep, can turn an exciting adventure into a life or death situation.
Camp Arrowhead is an adventure camp for thrill-seeking teens. The camp's main attraction is the epic canoe trip down the Salmon River, also known as The River of No Return because of its swift currents. The first night at camp is Fright Night. The campers gather around a large bonfire as a creepy, cloaked storyteller regales them with tales of disembodied spirits that lurk about the camp at night. The scariest tale of all is the one about a flesh-eating beast known as Vexel.
Vexel's legendary feeding grounds are only twenty-five miles down the river they plan to traverse by canoe the next morning. Historically, the stories of Vexel were as varied as the number of people relating them, as no one who had ever come face to face with the creature had lived to tell the tale. The only details long distance observers were able to agree upon were Vexel's enormous size, speed, and frightening appearance. Was Vexel real or only a creature of legend?
After a restless night's sleep, Savannah, Jade, Conner, and Rico find themselves teamed together for the canoe trip. Savannah and Jade had become fast friends after bonding over the way Jade's mother had literally dumped her out of the car and then sped away without even a wave goodbye, let alone a hug. Conner verbally bullied Savannah the first time he saw her, not realizing that she was friends with the girl he wanted to get to know. Conner and Rico found themselves as fast enemies after Connor showed himself to be a prejudiced bully towards Rico at the football game. Needless to say, their adult guide may have his hands full with this group of teenagers.
There were only a few small issues at the beginning of the excursion which got sorted out quickly. The canoe trip was going fairly well considering that only two of the teens barely knew what they were doing and the other two didn't have a clue. They were traversing the obstacles fairly well, until one of them becomes slightly distracted. The paddle hits a rock and the end flings up, flying around to knock their guide unconscious. Shortly after, they take the wrong turn and find themselves in one life-or-death situation after another. The suspense, danger, and excitement did not ease up for more than a few minutes at a time until reaching the end.
The character building was well done. Before the canoeing adventure, I had an understanding of the personalities of each protagonist. As the story progressed, the backgrounds and motivations of each one became clearer. By the end, I could feel the emotional bond between them. I have to admit to a little emotional bonding of my own.
These kids went through situations that would affect the type of people they would grow up to be, if they survived. I was impressed by the amount of inner strength and fortitude the author bestowed upon them, or maybe I should say that he helped them find those qualities that were already there. They struggled with each other, the wilderness that seemed to want to destroy them, and most importantly they struggled with their perceived personal weaknesses. They learned of forgiveness (giving and receiving), self-reflection, teamwork, and how to work through fear to find the courage they needed to face the seemingly impossible situations they were facing.
I like realism in my stories, and this one had plenty. My heart raced repeatedly at unexpected life-threatening situations. The only thing I had issue with was the idea of a reputable youth camp sending canoes of inexperienced teens to tackle such a dangerous whitewater excursion on their first time out, even adult camps don't do that. Even so, I found myself captivated.
I give Stranded In The Wild 4 out of 4 stars. The narrative flowed smoothly and had me in its grips from the beginning. There were only a few missing commas and one misspelled word which did not distract from the enjoyment of the read. I almost missed the misspelled word, as it was spelled phonetically.
I recommend this gripping tale to readers who enjoy wilderness survival adventures. I also recommend it to anyone facing a difficult situation who needs a little moral boost, as the story illustrates that difficulties can be overcome. This would make an excellent movie.
The book was written for young adults, but this older adult thoroughly enjoyed it. I would not recommend it for very young readers or anyone who is planning a trip to the wilderness for the first time. It could elevate apprehension for what should be a wonderful experience.
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Stranded In The Wild
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