October 20, 2026 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Jack Seaver is headed to a science fair in upstate New York with classmates Amy, Harper, and twins Kevin and Calvin. Their teacher, Mrs. Bowditch, is driving the bus, but only five miles from school runs into rough weather and the bus slides off the road. The kids are okay, but Mrs. Bowditch has a head injury and is unconscious. The group tries to fix the bus, but Jack determines that the axel is broken, and there's no way to drive. They do check over the engine, and have to make sure that the tail pipe is clear of snow so that they don't succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning. With a snowstorm approaching and bitter cold temperatures outside, they have to do their best to assess their situation and plan for survival. Ms. Bowditch comes to briefly and tells them to run the engine only fifteen minutes every hour, as there are only about ten gallons of gas. Eventually, the twins (who are the tallest students) decide to talk to the school, but they don't do well. Jack, who is very short, decides that he has the best chance, as long as he has snowshoes.
Strengths: I am a sucker for any books dealing with huge amounts of snow, most likely because the Cleveland Super Bomb of 1978 happened at a pivotal moment in my middle school career! Johnson's Ice Dogs, Smith's Stranded, Courage's Snow Struck, Northrop's Trapped-- all good stuff! While I would rather be spending the snow storm in a cozy cabin, it is more exciting to be out snow shoeing through the snow, especially with a dog, Buck, who is very helpful to Jack. There are some exciting moments with a requisite bear attack, and there's even a moose sighting! A small cottage does aid in survival, and there is some mystery surrounding Buck. I enjoyed the use of technology as well as Jack's knowledge of weather, thanks to his science fair project!
Weaknesses: Not a fan of the cover, since Jack does at least know enough to cover his head and hands! This hand a LOT of really good details about surviving in a snowstorm, but was oddly didactic for a survival book. Jack knew a lot of things my 6th grade students would not, and relied heavily on the GPS on his watch. I don't think my students will notice this, but it made the writing feel a bit clunky. Also, why didn't Mrs. Bowditch check the weather before heading out? During the big storms back in January 2026, we knew for days that things were going to get bad!
What I really think: My students absolutely ADORE Philbrick's other survival books; I can't keep Wild Wave (probably my personal favorite), Wildfire, Wild River, on the shelves. They are just underr 200 pages, fast paced, and engaging. I will definitely order a copy of this. And look into getting a watch with GPS. And travel with power banks AT ALL TIMES.
Weaknesses: Not a fan of the cover, since Jack does at least know enough to cover his head and hands! This hand a LOT of really good details about surviving in a snowstorm, but was oddly didactic for a survival book. Jack knew a lot of things my 6th grade students would not, and relied heavily on the GPS on his watch. I don't think my students will notice this, but it made the writing feel a bit clunky. Also, why didn't Mrs. Bowditch check the weather before heading out? During the big storms back in January 2026, we knew for days that things were going to get bad!
What I really think: My students absolutely ADORE Philbrick's other survival books; I can't keep Wild Wave (probably my personal favorite), Wildfire, Wild River, on the shelves. They are just underr 200 pages, fast paced, and engaging. I will definitely order a copy of this. And look into getting a watch with GPS. And travel with power banks AT ALL TIMES.
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