Jacquelyn Neal

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ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SURVIVAL-ADVENTURE LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS

During a backpacking trip, 10 young men between the ages of 13 and 15 ended a grueling day by sipping cocoa by the campfire and sharing ghost stories. In time, the conversation turned to school, and then to books read in school. With excitement, the adolescents recalled their favorite books: The Hatchet, Where the Red Fern Grows and others. Retelling portions of the stories, their enthusiasm grew. Soon all eyes were dancing, and faces smiling as if the boys were remembering the tales as if were their own personal experience. Yet, each young man setting by the campfire was very different from the next. One was an �A� student, already scouting out colleges. Another was still in Junior High, just exiting childhood. Another boy had just been kicked out of public school and after the backpacking trip, was leaving for military. These boys were so different. Not all of them enjoyed reading, but they all had enjoyed reading certain books. The types of books that all of the boys relived around the campfire had one thing in common: They were all stories about survival.

So are books about survival appropriate for young adults just because young adults enjoy them? This is partially true. If teenagers enjoy a story, they will keep reading and develop their reading skills. However, survival literature has a few more qualities, which make it a valuable genre for young adults. First, survival literature provides a necessary rite of passage. Teenagers are bridging the gap between childhood and adulthood. They are transitioning from being cared for to caring for themselves. Survival literature provides a safe place for youth to live out, or practice adult qualities such as self-reliance, perseverance, resourcefulness and taking responsibilities for ones� actions.

Similarly, teenagers can find an escape from the authority of parents and teachers and live in a world where self rules. They can try out being a self-governing adult within the safety of a book, rather than out in the world. This escape from authority figures is an escape from reality as well. Survival literature provides an exciting story by which young adults can escape from the monotony of their own day to day.

Books about survival are important because young adults love to read them, they provide a safe place to grow into the roles of adulthood and independence, and they provide a refreshing escape from the mundane aspects of daily life. This Annotated Bibliography provides a list of survival books, which are advocated by young adults. The purpose of the Bibliography is to provide a reading list for all young men and women who do no typically enjoy reading but do enjoy stories of adventure and survival. A brief summary of the book and some valuable aspects of the book accompany each title. Some annotations include a grade level for teachers looking for classroom ideas. The Bibliography corresponds with chapter six of Literature for Today�s Young Adults; however, the text does not specifically deal with survival. The text does deal with adventure, the broader genre in which survival literature lays.

Donelson, Kenneth.L, Nilsen, Alleen Pace. Literature for Today�s Young Adult. (2001) New York: Pearson Education.

� Aldrich, Bess Streeter. A Lantern in Her Hand. Mattituck: Aeonian, 1928.

Pioneering together on the Nebraska frontier during the late 1800�s, Abbie and Will Deal Abbie and Will Deal face drought, fire, and death. Giving an account of the daily struggle to survive on the prairie, this book describes Abbie�s perseverance and love for her family. It takes great strength for the couple to survive. Young adults who enjoy historical fiction and stories of triumph over life�s hardships will enjoy this novel.

Burnford, Sheila Every. The Incredible Journey. Boston: Little Brown, 1961.

Although this is about a cat, a bull terrier, and a Labrador retriever journeying across the Canadian Wilderness, young adults as old as ninth graders can appreciate the theme of friendship and perseverance. Published in the 1960�s, this book has stood the test of time.

Callahan, Steven. Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1986.

Steven Callahan tells the story of being hit in the middle of the night between the Canary Island and Antigua. Callahan believes it was a whale. After his sailboat sank, Callahan tells of his 76 days of drifting. He is the only man in history to survive in an inflatable raft for over a month alone at sea. The story is realistic and uplifting.

� Christie, Agatha. And Then There Were None. New York: Bantam Books, 1983, c1939.

This novel is a suspenseful murder mystery mingled with the threat of imminent death. As ten strangers meet on a deserted island, they share with each other their deepest, darkest secrets. The fight for survival begins when the strangers die one-by-one. This book is a clincher and a sure way to keep teens reading until the end of the book. Agatha Christie is an excellent author and young adults who enjoy this book can find many others by Christie as their thirst for mystery and suspense increases.

Duncan, Lois. I Know What You Did Last Summer. Boston: Little Brown, 1973. A

different kind of survival story, this book tells the story of four young adults who are pursued by a stranger seeking revenge. The teenagers are responsible for the hit-and-run death of a little boy and try to conceal their guilt while avoiding the mysterious person plotting revenge. This story is a suspenseful, mystery-survival story that is most appropriate for junior high and high school due to its accelerated vocabulary. The book contains lessons of friendship, honesty, and responsibility.

� George, Jean Craighead. Julie of the Wolves. New York: 1972.

A young Eskimo girl runs away from her village at age thirteen when forced to marry. The story of her survival and acceptance into a wolf pack is a great story for young adults feeling alienated by their community. Throughout the book, Julie is caught between the culture of her tribe and the wolf culture. When she is able to return to her village, Miyax must decide whether to remain with the wolf pack or with the village. This book would be great for a study on native and Alaskan cultures. The book is appropriate for grades 4 through 8 and is 170 pages.

� Hobbs, Will. Downriver. New York: Bantam Books, 1992.

This book is unique in that it is among the few survival stories with a female protagonist. Jessie, a girl sent to a wilderness program for delinquent teenagers by her father and stepmother who want to transform Jessie�s rebellious behavior. Jessie is accompanied by eight other troubled teenagers. Together, the teens take on the Colorado River after abandoning adult leader. They try to raft the dangerous white water in the Grand Canyon but in the end fight for survival with food shortages, injuries, fights and power struggles. Though the book has been called predictable, the characters make the book engaging. Book. Teenagers can learn about Jessie�s insecurities and struggles, which allows teenagers to reflect upon their own insecurities. Downriver is recommended for both junior and senior high school students.

� Mahmoody, Betty. Not Without My Daughter: a true story. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1987.

Trapped in Iran by her husband, a wife tells the story of being held captive for several months and finally escaping with her daughter. Based on a true story, this book is appropriate for grades 7 and up. While literature that exposes young adults to foreign cultures and areas of the globe, the idea of an Iranian captor may be sensitive due to the recent war in the Middle East and 9/11 terrorist act. Nevertheless, the suspenseful story can invite education conversation concerning the Middle East and its history, culture, wars, and much more.

� O'Brien, Robert C. Z for Zachariah. New York: Atheneum, 1975.

After a nuclear accident Ann Burden is the only one left alive in the world, so she thinks. A man arrives in her valley who turns out to be dangerous and Ann must escape and manage to survive without him.

� O'Dell, Scott. Black Star, Bright Dawn. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1988.

This book tells the story of a teenage Eskimo girl racing in the Iditarod. She faces a blinding snowstorm, an angry bull moose and freezing temperatures. The story is a great one of perseverance, courage, hope and drive.

O�Dell, Scott. This Island of the Blue Dolphins. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1960.

A young native girl is left behind on her people�s island to fish, ward off wild dogs, and find friendship during her fight for survival for 18 years. Appropriate for grades 6 and up, the book provides an excellent study of native peoples, ecology, and the history of Spanish colonization in California. This captivating tale of historical fiction is based on a true story. The read is quick, with short chapters packed with adventure.

� Paulsen, Gary. Dogsong. New York: Bradbury Press, 1985.

Based in an Alaskan Bush community, this book tells the story of Russell Suskit who is sent to live with a village elder named Oogruk. In an effort to remedy Russell�s depression, Oogruk sends Russel in to the wilderness to hunt and survive. This book is rich with native culture and images of Alaskan landscape. This book would be a good choice for studying native cultures and their traditions.� It is appropriate for grades 4-8 and is 177 pages.

� Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1987.

At the age of thirteen, Brian�s parents divorce. His mother gives him a Hatchet, which comes in handy after a plane crash leaves Brian in the Canadian wilderness. Brian learns to survive while simultaneously healing from his parent�s divorce. The book would be excellent for children learning about the wilderness or divorce. The story is 195 pages and is appropriate for grades 4-8.

Paulsen, Gary. The River. New York: Delacorte, 1991.

The River is a sequel to Paulsen�s Hatchet.

Appropriate for grades 5-12, The R tells the story of fifteen-year-old Brian who is asked by the government to tell them how he survived alone in the forest for 54 days. Brian returns to the forest with a government worker to tell his story. This book is a fun, quick read, for middle grades.

� Paulsen, Gary. Voyage of the Frog. New York: Dell, 1990, c1989.

David goes out in his sailboat to spread his uncle�s ashes into the water and is caught in a terrible storm. Alone on the boat, David must learn to survive. During his time alone, David deals with his feelings about life and his uncle. This book is good for young adults dealing with mourning and the frustration of the teenage years.

� Phipson, Joan.�Hit and Run New York: Atheneum, 1985.�

This is a great book for middle school children. A sixteen-year-old boy runs away into the Australian bush were he is pursued by the local Constable. In a turn of events, the boy and the Constable must rely on each other for survival. Throughout the book, the boy deals with feeling misunderstood and goes through the process of maturing. The book is 123 pages and is great for kids feeling like they have let their family or their community down.

Stervermer, Caroline. River Rats. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992.

This book takes place two decades after a flash has destroyed all of modern civilization. A group of orphans and Tomcat, the protagonist, take on the toxic Mississippi River in an old steamboat. The boat becomes a school for the orphans and when it is threatened by a storm, three students save the boat by taking it upriver. The boys use the boat to trade and eek out an existence. Danger and adventures saturates the pages of this book as the characters make important decisions, ban together in teamwork and fight for each other. This book is appropriate for grades 7-10.

Taylor, Theodore. The Cay. New York: Avon Press, 1969.

Philip and Timothy are shipwrecked on a small Pacific Island when a freighter is torpedoed by a German submarine during World War II. Initially Timothy, an old black man, cares for Philip, an adolescent white boy who is blind from the Shipwreck. Eventually, Philip learns to take care of himself. Philip learns courage, love, and companionship from Timothy. This book is great for sixth graders and above. The marine vocabulary invites lessons in marine ecology, history, and geography. It is an easy yet educational read about friendship and survival.

� Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1953.

A tried and true classic, Huckleberry Finn tells the story of a white boy and his black friend Jim trying to escape slavery. The two travel the Mississippi River and find danger, adventure and friendship. This book would be excellent for students learning about slavery, or classic literature. The book is 312 pages and is most appropriate for grades 4-12. However, readers of all ages will enjoy this classic. Readers should be cautioned that language offensive towards African Americans exists in the book as a demonstration of local dialect and slang. � � �