A review by booklvrkat
Drowning by T.J. Newman

challenging hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

“The life of a child is about firsts. The life of a parent is about lasts.” 
 
Flight 1421 ditches, (Ditching is a controlled emergency landing on the water surface in an aircraft not designed for the purpose, a very rare occurrence.) into the ocean near the Hawaiian Islands and while people are escaping the plane one of the engines bursts into flames. Wind, waves, fuel spillage and flames produce highly dangerous moments for the rescue helicopters and boats that are picking up the escaped passengers. Unfortunately, when the engine burst, a dozen passengers were trapped inside. Air pockets are keeping the trapped passengers, two young girls, and elderly couple, and several adults struggling to maintain calm, breathing and wondering if they are going to live or die. As the chapters unfold, we hear the stories of the trapped passengers, and the people who are trying to rescue them, one of which is the wife and mother of two passengers. 
 
Hooked. For a fast read I was held rapt with intensity, and my emotional state for these passengers was spiraling. I liked that the chapters were short, fast, and filled with information that kept my attention engaged. The details that the author introduced regarding a plane in danger, the apparatus, and all of the rescue teams that are called on during a water crash were vivid to this reader’s imagination. Maybe due to the recent devastation in Maui this story was alive, from the call out from the US Coast Guard to any available boat in the area, to the people watching the crash/rescue on television. 
 
CW: Plane Crash, Drowning 
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