After a summer spent with her family, fifteen-year-old Anna is travelling back to her English boarding school alone. But her plane never makes it home. Anna’s flight is hijacked by Palestinian guerillas. They land the plane in the Jordanian desert, switch off the engines and issue their demands. If these are not met within three days, they will blow up the plane, killing all the hostages. The heat on board becomes unbearable; food and water supplies dwindle. Anna begins to face the possibility she may never see her family again. Time is running out.
This story is based on true events experienced by the author. Yes, she changed a few names and added a few interesting characters but for the most part, everything here actually happened (at least, according to the author's note). It's kind of hard criticizing someone's story, but I just wasn't in love with this one. I expected to feel the main character's fear and desperation. Mainly, I just felt hungry because the character kept talking about food. I do get that because the people on the plane were being starved and so all they could think about was the food they craved. So I started craving it. The author also did a great job of describing the heat of the desert so I could feel that.
But I never really got a sense that she was afraid. I mean, yeah there was some fear, especially since there were guys with guns. But all the people on the plane were being optimistic. They were all talking and reading and even sleeping. And sometimes, there was a little laughter. Anne has conversations with the two boys in her row. One of them is a young boy named Tim, who has a pet terrapin (a turtle). Tim is adorable and he is your typical little boy who thinks he's immortal and isn't really that scared. Tim brought some levity to Ann's experience on the plane, but again, that levity just added to the fact that no one really seemed scared. I guess even though people were afraid of the guys with guns, no one REALLY thought they were going to die. Anne even starts up a conversation one of the terrorists and it seems like she starts to empathize with him a little bit. I didn't realize until the end of the book (reading the author's note) that the author was the main character, so I had no idea how this story would pan out. I went into this story blind and I expected some suspense about whether the terrorists would blow the plane up, but I never felt that. So that lack of suspense and lack of urgency took away from the enjoyment of the book. It just felt predictable.
Buy/Borrow/Skip: Skip this one.
It's disappointing to hear the unrealistic account of her first hand experience. The lack of fear from the passengers implied no one really knows the brevity (and gravity) of the situation they're in.
ReplyDeleteVery true Joy. It just felt way too lighthearted considering everything. And the kid didn't help matters either. Kids think they are invincible anyway and this one was no different. It's hard to feel concerned when no one really thinks they are going to die.
DeleteYeah, I understand how reviewing a book based on someone's experiences is awkward. BUT, it is a book based on her experiences. So reviewing it is about the reading experience and what's written, not her or her experience.
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm trying to say is you're right to review it and did a good job, it's just about the book.
I'm sorry it was disappointing. Even if the people were in denial or optimistic, the suspense and fear can be built and atmospheric. I know there are examples of this that I've read, but I can't think of them right now :/
Thanks so much Brooke! That is what I try to do: review the reading experience and how things are portrayed. The actual story is awful and I can't imagine what it would feel like to go through something like that. I just wish all that fear would have been transferred onto the page.
DeleteOh wow, this is hard. I would feel like you, not really wanting to criticize someone's actual experience but... I also wouldn't really want to read about a plane hijacking where no one seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation either! I almost requested this one, and now I am pretty glad I didn't. Great review, as always, and I am sorry this one didn't work for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shannon! I think the actual story is awful, but I think the author could have done a better job. It's weird to think that the real characters who went through this just didn't feel any fear or anything. I am glad I could warn you off this one. You should feel very glad you didn't request it.
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