Description
Less than 48 hours after twelve-year-old Chris casts off on a trip to sail down the Alaskan coast with his uncle, their boat sinks. The only survivors are Chris and a boy named Frank, who hates Chris immediately. Chris and Frank have no radio, no flares, no food. Suddenly, they've got to find a way to forage, fish and scavenge supplies from the shore. Chris likes the company of a curious friendly raven more than he likes the prickly Frank. But the boys have to get along if they want to survive.
Because as the days get colder, and the salmon migration ends, survival will take more than sheer force of will. There in the wilderness of Kodiak, they discover a bond they didn't expect, and through it, the compassion and teamwork that might truly be the path to rescue.
Contributor Notes
Iain Lawrence grew up moving all over Canada with his family. He's worked in logging, fishing, and even as a forest fire fighter, before studying journalism in Vancouver and working at newspapers for ten years. Today, he lives in the Gulf Islands with his companion, Kristin, and their dog and cat. He is the author of fifteen books for young readers, including this one, and has received many accolades, including the Governor General's Award and the California Young Reader Medal. He invites you to visit him online at www.iainlawrence.com. The author lives in Gabriola Island, British Columbia.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 8 to 12
- Grade:
- 3 to 7
Awards
- , Snow Willow Award
- , Manitoba Young ReadersÂ’ Choice Award
- , Hackmatack ChildrenÂ’s Choice Book Award
- Winner, CBC Fan Choice Award
- Winner, Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize
- Short-listed, TD Canadian Children's Literature Award
- Short-listed, Bolen Books Children's Book Prize
Editorial Review
Selection – OLA Forest Teen Committee’s 2018 Summer Reading List
"Fans of Hatchet and Lord of the Flies will be drawn to this harrowing survival story from Lawrence . . . which offers psychological suspense and action in equal measure." --Publishers Weekly
"Unsettling and compelling, a gripping, evocative read." --Kirkus Reviews
"The novel won’t disappoint thrill seekers, but in between the action sequences, there are quieter moments of compassion and insight, which Lawrence delivers equally well." --Quill & Quire
"I started the book as a Lawrence fan and turned the final page even more impressed by Lawrence's well-refined skill as one of Canada's premier authors for young readers. . . . Recommended." --CM Magazine
PRAISE FOR The Wreckers:
"A fast-paced, atmospheric yarn that will have adventure buffs glued to their seats." - Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
PRAISE FOR Gemini Summer:
"This robust novel offers an affirming and hopeful look at a difficult subject." - School Library Journal
PRAISE FOR The Giant-Slayer:
"Distinctive, emotionally honest characters and consistently engrossing prose make this book a standout." - Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
PRAISE FOR The Winter Pony:
"Lawrence tells a most compelling tale." - Booklist
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Annotations
Surviving a Rescue or a Secret
I enjoy survival stories and have been impressed with the two previous books I've read by this author. The Skeleton Tree lived up to my expectations. Two young boys are sailing down the Alaskan coast with Jack, uncle to one of the boys when a storm hits and tragedy strikes ending with Jack drowning right before his nephew's eyes. The two boys end stranded on the coast of Alaska with a forest behind them and mountains close by. This is a survival story and theirs isn't as tough as some situations can be, but it is realistic. They've landed near a river during salmon season, they find a rough-made cabin that someone had prepared to be there for a while but obviously left in a hurry, and the elder boy is outdoorsy. But the boys know they won't make it through a winter, so they try to prepare. These boy's don't know each other either and therein lies a mystery. The nephew is twelve, the other 15. Frank, the teenager is mean, bossy, a know-it-all and the two never truly have a happy day together as they can't get along with his attitude hanging over everything, but why did Uncle Jack bring them both along. He was going to tell them something before the storm. And Chris is sure Frank knows the answers and maybe that is why he hates him. The dialogue is real between the teens, the situations are intense and one never knows whether rescue or revealing the secret is the ultimate goal of the plot. The ending leaves one pondering about the boys' future and I like that in a book; it helps to make the characters seem more real. Well-written, with a good pace, and a fast page-turner for me. Highly recommended for young teen boys. I must read more of this author.
