Book Review: 'All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team' by Christina Soontornvat

✰✰✰✰ In 2018 the world was captivated by the amazing rescue of twelve young boys and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand. The members of the Wild Boar soccer team often liked to go on adventures together after practice. One day the boys and their coach decided to go caving. What started out as an adventure, turned into a nightmare as they quickly found themselves trapped in a cave with floodwaters rapidly rising all around them. There was no way out. All the boys and their coach could do was huddle together on a patch of land in complete darkness and wait.

As news of the missing boys spread, experts from all over the world arrived to help with the rescue. But this would be no ordinary rescue. Even trained divers struggled against the muddy waters and strong currents. With time running out, it would take the coordination of many people with different areas of expertise to orchestrate this harrowing rescue. Some even doubted a rescue could be possible. With time running out, and the rainy season just arriving, the rescuers had no choice but to proceed as quickly as possible. You won't be able to stop turning the pages as this rescue against time unfolds.

The Bottom Line: In this suspenseful, detailed account of this rescue, Soontornvat also includes abundant information about Thailand's culture, religion, and politics. Maps, photographs, and other interesting facts supplement the text to help illustrate the complexity of this rescue effort. Suggested reading for middle grade science class and anyone interested in rescue or survival stories. [Note: Full-color photographs not seen in the ARC.]

Details: All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat. Advanced reading copy published by Candlewick in 2020. 288 p. ISBN: 978-1-5362-0945-7 [Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.]

Book Review: 'Highest Duty' by Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger

✰✰✰✰½ Ten years ago, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his crew took off on a routine flight that quickly turned into every pilot’s worst nightmare. Although pilots train for emergencies, the chances of that happening are slim. Against all odds, Sully and his copilot successfully landed their disabled airplane on the frigid waters of the Hudson River and saved all 155 aboard. The extraordinary tale of the “Miracle on the Hudson” is one of courage, skill, and luck. It is also a story of survival and inspiration that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Bottom Line: This is a very quick read filled with nuggets of wisdom that will inspire you. Captain Sullenberger takes the reader behind the scenes as he recounts the biggest flying challenge of his life and what led him to that point.  Highly recommended for anyone interested in a career in aviation. This is a fascinating look into how a pilot trains for the worst. Also, recommended for fans of aviation history, survival, and inspiration.

Book Club Notes: Most of the members in our group both read the book and watched the movie, Sully. Our preference was for the book. Although I enjoyed the action of the movie, others thought there was too much drama. We supplemented our discussion by listening to the actual cockpit recording and by discussing some movie trivia. One member commented that this was one of the best books she had recently read. Another said she was so happy to read it. As a group we felt that we got to know the man behind the public image, the whole person, better. We also had a chance to reflect on his family as well. This book was a little repetitive, but not too technical. It’s a very easy read that provides insight into what it takes to be a pilot. On a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, the group gave it an average rating of 4.5!

Finally, here are some of the questions I created for our discussion:

Introduction: 

*Did you know about this story before reading the book or watching the movie? 

*Did you have any preconceived ideas about this story? What did the flight represent to you? To the country? 

*Did you watch the incident on TV? What are some of the images that made an impression on you? 

Biographical Questions: 

*What influence were his parents on his education? 

*Money didn’t motivate his dad. His dad thought of being with his family as his priority; work was secondary. He was content with less money if he could spend more time with his family. Discuss priorities. Have they changed over the years?

*What qualities do you think Mr. Cook saw in the young Sully to make him decide to take him on as a student? 

*Discuss Sully’s relationship with his wife. 

Career/Education Questions: 

*Discuss the qualities of a good leader. Lorrie says that part of what makes Sully a good pilot is his attention to detail. 74 What qualities must a good pilot have? 

*Sully discovered his passion for flying at 5 & turned it into a career. Did you have the good fortune to follow your passion? 

*How did Sully's training in the Air Force prepare him for Flight 1549? 

Airline Industry Questions: 

*Do you feel safe flying? Have you thought about the risks when you fly? 

*Discuss the airline industry culture. Sully studies safety. He believes that “…we can make a company culture, government, or community safer by encouraging people to report their own mistakes & safety deficiencies.” 24 

*Many airlines have outsourced maintenance & component work, sometimes to overseas. Is this reliable? If every choice the airline industry makes is based solely on cost, what are the consequences for safety? 

*Most passengers today select carriers by price, so airlines are under intense pressure to offer competitive fares. P. 40 How does this affect safety? 

Other Questions: 

*The author discusses optimism vs. realism. What is the difference? Which are you? 

*Are there any stories in this book that stood out? 

*Discuss the “bystander effect.”  

*Discuss the Hopi Indian Poem on p. 180  

*The author is not comfortable being called a hero. Define hero. Is Sully a hero?  

*For those who both read the book and saw the film, which did you prefer? Why? 

*Rate the book from 1 – 5. What are the books’ strengths and weaknesses? Would you recommend this book to readers who don’t read nonfiction? Why?

Details: Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters by Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III with Jeffrey Zaslow. Paperback published by William Morrow in 2009. 340 p. ISBN: 978-0-06-192469-9 

Book Review: 'The Lost Property Office (Section 13)' by James R. Hannibal

✰✰✰✰½ Jack Buckles has arrived in London with his mom and sister to search for his missing dad. It seems that their father has disappeared without a trace, so when his little sister Sadie thinks she has caught a glimpse of his coat, she takes off after him. Jack, in turn, takes off after her. When he finally catches up, he finds himself at the Lost Property Office.

As he fills out the appropriate paperwork, Jack learns that things are not always what they seem. His dad is actually a Tracker and has been kidnapped by the mysterious and dangerous Clockmaker. If Jack wants to save his father, he and Gwen, an apprentice clerk with the Ministry of Trackers, must recover what is known as the Ember. There’s not much to go on, but Jack does possess a magical ability to read clues on objects. As Gwen helps him hone his skills, Jack must learn to trust himself. Working as a team, Jack and Gwen follow the clues of a mystery dating back to the Great Fire of 1666. With family secrets and twists and turns, this is one mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Bottom Line: This fast-paced read will appeal to the middle grade set. With lots of action, adventure, and just a hint of the supernatural, this debut series is fun for all. Enthusiastically recommended for kids in grades 5 – 7 and libraries.

Details: The Lost Property Office (Section 13) by James R. Hannibal. Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2016. 400 p. ISBN: 978-1481467094

Book Review: 'The Red Bandanna' by Tom Rinaldi

✰✰✰✰✰ What would you do if you knew this was the last hour of your life? Where would you be? Who would you hug? On 9/11/2001, two planes flew into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Many people had to make a decision: Wait for help or try to escape? Every second counted.

Years earlier on a Sunday morning before church, a father gave his young son two handkerchiefs: a white one for his suit pocket for show, and a red one for his back pocket for the blow. As the child grew up, he became an athlete, a volunteer firefighter, and a college graduate. He even landed a coveted job on the 104th floor of the South tower of the World Trade Center. Throughout it all, he dreamed of becoming a firefighter. And throughout it all, he kept a red bandanna in his back pocket.

When the twin towers fell, the young man was nowhere to be found. No one knew what had happened to him. His family searched for months. Just when they thought they might never find him, stories began to surface about a mysterious young man. Through the smoke, flames, injuries, and panic, survivors remembered a young man with a red bandanna. These survivors said that they only lived because of him.

No one knew his name. No one knew who he was, but this young man, identified by a simple piece of red cloth, chose to help rather than flee. He could have gotten out and saved himself, but instead he guided these strangers to safety. Not once, but twice.

This is the story about how a red bandanna became a symbol of courage. This is the story of one young man who ran towards danger. He was simply doing what he felt was right. On that fateful day his dream of becoming a firefighter came true. He never made it out, but he lives on in the people he saved.

In the last hour of his life, twenty-four year old Welles Crowther made the fearless decision to help others. What would you do?

The Bottom Line: This was the best book I read last year. I highly recommend it to everyone. It would be a great pick for high schools and colleges. Also, book clubs will want to consider this inspirational biography.

Details: The Red Bandanna: A Life, A Choice, A Legacy by Tom Rinaldi. Hardcover published by Penguin Press in 2016. 224 p. ISBN: 978-1-59420-677-1

Book Review: 'Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat' by Caroline Burau

✰✰✰ Have you ever wondered about who is on the other end of the line when you dial 911? What does it take to be the calm in the storm when faced with emergencies? Author Caroline Burau answers these questions and more as she tells it like it is by sharing stories of life in the hot seat. On a daily basis, emergency dispatchers across the country alternate between periods of boredom and chaotic activity. As first responders, dispatchers must be prepared to handle anything from reports of theft to multiple car accidents to horrific shootings to delivering a baby.

While all jobs have challenges, life as an emergency dispatcher can require sacrifice and perseverance, grit and assertiveness. The call centers are open 24/7, including holidays, and shifts can vary. Burau discuss the challenges of learning a new job while raising a daughter as well. She is also very candid about her previous drug addiction and how that influenced her desire to help people.

Readers will feel as if they are along for the ride as they experience the highs and lows of a job that few people think about, but depend upon when they are in trouble. 

  

The Bottom Line: Burau’s book is a fast-paced look at the complex job of being an emergency dispatcher. As a former journalist, Burau’s writing is brutally honest, easy to read, and sometimes humorous. The anecdotes provide an inside look at what it’s like to be in the hot seat with lives depending on you. Recommended for anyone considering a career in law enforcement and rescue work. 

  

Book Club Notes: As a group we had lots to say about this book. Some of us really enjoyed it, while others really didn't. Nonetheless, everyone had an opinion. We agreed that this is a tough job, and not everyone is suited for the pressures of being an emergency dispatcher. Most of us have used the service with varying experiences. Getting to read about emergencies from a first person perspective was interesting. The chapters were mostly short and easy to read. However, a few of us didn't like the choppy writing style. Burau talks a lot about the frustration of not getting to know the end of people's stories, and we agreed. We wanted to know the ends of the stories as well. Finally, we all learned the importance of knowing where you are at all times.

On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being the highest), members rated the book from 2 - 4 with an average of 3. Recommended for book clubs looking for a short, yet engaging, read. There was plenty to discuss within the pages of this book.

  

This book did not include a discussion guide. Thus, I took the time to come up with questions to provide structure for our discussion. Since these questions might be useful to other groups, I have included them below. The questions are divided into categories which suited our group. 

For the reader:  

• Before reading this book, did you have any understanding of what being a dispatcher is like? Did you think it would be easy? How have your impressions changed?
• All of the calls are different. Would that kind of work appeal to you? Why or why not? 
• Imagine you are in the “hot seat.” How would you deal with it?
• Was there a story from the book that made an impression on you?
• Were there any parts of the book that made you stop reading?
• This is basically a book about helping people. Does anyone have a job helping people? What does it mean to you to be able to help others?
• Have you ever called 911? Please share your experience.

About Burau: 

• Burau shares her past about being a drug addicted teen. How did this influence her decision to become a dispatcher?
• How did becoming a mother and a dispatcher at the same time affect the author? In each role she worries: “What if I make a mistake & someone gets hurt?”  Plus, the 2 roles continually step on each other. 71
• She wonders: “Maybe parenting is something you’re either good at or you’re just not.” 73      Are parenting skills something you are born with or something you learn?
• She says,  “I was also haunted by the idea that what you did or didn’t do in high school would absolutely shape who you became in adulthood.” 20                Do you agree?
• Her brother was hyperactive. That was his word. Growing up Burau didn’t know how to define herself. She didn’t have a word. 19     Which word would you choose to describe her? How would you define yourself growing up? And now?
• Burau wants this job to be her calling. 35       Discuss what it means to have a calling. 

About the Job: 

• Do you consider dispatchers to be first responders?
• What are some of the qualities that would make someone a good dispatcher?
• By taking the call, she becomes involved. Discuss the emotional toll of being involved.
• Discuss almost never getting to know the end of the story. P. 114
• Discuss NO debriefing opportunities for the dispatchers.
• Discuss the complexity of the job: multiple screens, giving first aid, gathering information, dispatching, etc
• How does new technology change the job? (This book was written in 2006.) Also, consider there are fewer land lines and more cell phones now. How does this complicate the job?
• What do you think of regional dispatch centers compared to local?
  
• Discuss her relationships with the other dispatchers.
• Discuss Kristen. The other dispatchers fear her. The cops, who depend on her, respect her. Kristen has been there 30+ years. “I wonder if it was a conscious decision on her part, or just a slow, steady slipping away of the years. 107            Do you think the author misjudged Kristen? Have you ever misjudged anyone?
• Discuss the personal sacrifices of working this type of job. For example, the challenges of raising a child while on shift duty.
• Do SASGs or Wannabes help or hurt the police?
• Talk about EMD (emergency medical dispatch).
• Burau notes that on the job: “Not only is there no way to make everyone happy, it’s nearly impossible to make anyone happy.” 150     Is this true in other situations as well?

Other Questions: 

• She asks, “Why are we so hesitant to act on anyone’s behalf but our own?” 149 And if you knew something was happening in your neighborhood, would you call home? 85
• Discuss why domestics are the most dangerous calls they take. 142
• She notes: Sometimes “victims of mid- to low-level crimes are more irritable than victims of high-level or violent crime. They have had more time to think about how badly they’ve been wronged.  They don’t get enough validation from anyone around them about how badly they’ve been wronged.” 192                            Do you agree?
• One day someone makes light of death. It bothers the author. 124 Would it bother you?
• She is dismayed that “…sometimes I find myself taking a certain tone with people that I know I would hate if I were on the other end of it.” 153        Has this happened to you? On either end? How did you deal with it?
• Discuss the writing style.
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the book.
• Rate the book from 1 – 5 and share why you did or didn’t enjoy it. 

Details: Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat by Caroline Burau. Paperback published by Borealis Books in 2006. 206 p. ISBN: 978-0-87351-602-0