Sole Survivor is a fast-paced, emotional middle grade survival story perfect for fans of Hatchet or the I Survived series. Told through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy who survives a real-life plane crash, it dives deep not just into survival, but also into grief, guilt, and healing after tragedy.

I loved how engaging and intense the story was, but I gave it 3.5 stars because the heavy use of surfing, skiing, and climbing language made it hard at times to picture what was happening—especially for readers unfamiliar with those sports. It’s a powerful coming-of-age story, best suited for kids around 9–13, but sensitive readers should know it deals with death, divorce, and survivor’s guilt.

Overall, a gripping and emotional read, even if a little tricky to follow in parts!

Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC! This book was riveting! Even without knowledge of scaling a mountain, i felt as if I was right there during his survival.

This is so wild that this is a true story! I was on pins and needles the entire time and it was amazing to have it told from the person who survived