Narrator Vikas Adam recounts a real-life drama that took place in Thailand in 2018. Twelve members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach go cave exploring in the Tham Luang cave complex and find themselves trapped when rains flood the passages behind them. Adam conveys the increasing unlikelihood of rescue as days pass before Thai Navy SEALS and an international contingent of experts find the boys and then must come up with a way to bring them out without accidentally drowning them. The complexity of the extractions cannot be overstated, and Adam ably expresses both the tragedy and triumph of the event. Supplemental material—which includes background details, suggestions for further reading, and information about Thailand—offers listeners more on this fascinating story. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Aronson is a fluid writer who doesn't resort to sensationalism to heighten the inherent drama of his stirring retelling…Without leaning too heavily on parallels to current politics, Aronson makes a valuable point that can benefit readers of any age—that crises can bring out selfless acts of courage from people all over the world, working together to help others in need, regardless of their backgrounds.

Aronson makes each nail-biting day feel immediate. . . . There’s more going on here than heroic rescue, though; there’s also serious attention paid to the “stateless” status of some of the boys, to Thai attitudes toward government, religion, and privacy that influenced subsequent media coverage, to comparison of the international response to the boys’ rescue and of the deadly, nearly concurrent failure of a Laotian dam not far away.

Told in a breakneck chronological sequence, those familiar with the outcome of the story are still left breathless by the pace of the storytelling. . . . With respect paid to all countries that sent individuals to help problem-solve for the crisis, this will be a useful text in the classroom and a heart-pounding narrative nonfiction title for individual readers. Highly recommended.

Aronson takes readers beyond the headlines and into the action of this harrowing event. . . . The text quickly gains momentum as Aronson recounts some of the suspenseful life-or-death moments as divers brought each boy out one by one.

Aronson takes readers beyond the headlines and into the action of this harrowing event. . . . The text quickly gains momentum as Aronson recounts some of the suspenseful life-or-death moments as divers brought each boy out one by one.

03/01/2019

Gr 6 Up—The story of the young Thai soccer players trapped in a cave for several days is one that gripped the world. Aronson makes the event feel new through his deeply detailed research and his ability to share pertinent information that news organizations may have ignored. The tale is told chronologically, and a "cast of characters" is given at the beginning. Those unaware of this event will be rewarded with a well-researched look at everyone involved, from those trapped to the many who came to help. Beyond bare facts, Aronson gives insight into Thai culture, including information about the "stateless," and focuses on the community built internationally to save those in need. A section titled "How I Researched and Wrote this Book" details how the author relied on the expertise of others, and dovetails nicely with observations of how the interrelationships among countries made the rescue possible. A commentary on media depiction and partial truths is especially resonant and highlights the importance of news literacy. In addition, the back matter is thorough and comprehensive, filled with notes and further reading and viewing. The full-color photos and black-and-white illustrations complement the narrative and give faces to those depicted. VERDICT A thorough, engaging, and inspiring book.—Kristyn Dorfman, The Nightingale-Bamford School, New York City

Narrator Vikas Adam recounts a real-life drama that took place in Thailand in 2018. Twelve members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach go cave exploring in the Tham Luang cave complex and find themselves trapped when rains flood the passages behind them. Adam conveys the increasing unlikelihood of rescue as days pass before Thai Navy SEALS and an international contingent of experts find the boys and then must come up with a way to bring them out without accidentally drowning them. The complexity of the extractions cannot be overstated, and Adam ably expresses both the tragedy and triumph of the event. Supplemental material—which includes background details, suggestions for further reading, and information about Thailand—offers listeners more on this fascinating story. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

★ 2019-01-28

Aronson sheds light on the intricate rescue of 12 soccer players and their coach who were stranded in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Thailand in June 2018.

Written efficiently as a time log, the narrative first explains that the Moo Pa, or Wild Boar, soccer team was composed of young boys with diverse ethnic and legal statuses in Thailand. The introduction of the team includes respectful explanations of the "stateless" or "undocumented" status of some of the players. Although they were exploring the Tham Luang cave during the dry season, unexpected rains trapped the boys in what quickly became one of the world's top five most dangerous caves when it flooded. Because of the difficult diving conditions, expert cave divers from around the world quickly assembled to offer aid. However, rising water, the boys' lack of diving skills, and forecasts of impending rain created dismal odds for a successful rescue. It took workers from several countries who momentarily dropped all barriers to pull off this incredible feat. Despite the concise narration, the gravity of the rescue is never dampened. Aronson is mindful in his descriptions of differences in cultures and takes care not to filter them through Western assumptions. He also includes a chapter openly describing gaps in his research and account due to key players' personal or political biases. A list of the people involved and their respective organizations are provided as well as photos, a detailed index, and bibliography.

Solid writing preserves the natural rising suspense and astonishing details of this rescue. (Nonfiction. 10-14)