MIDDLE GRADE FICTION : Wild Blizzard by Rodman Philbrick (Available October 20, 2026)
ABOUT THE BOOK
A WILD adventure from Rodman Philbrick, author of Wildfire, Wild River, andWild Wave. When Jack's bus slides off the road in the middle of a blizzard, it's up to him to go for help through the raging storm. It's kids vs. nature in an edge-of-your seat read! Jack and his friends are on the school bus driving back from a science fair, when a bomb cyclone hits. Out of nowhere, blinding snow fills the sky, and a powerful wind starts to shake the bus.Moments later, the bus swerves off the road, crashing into the trees, and leaving their teacher unconscious at the wheel. With minimal resources, limited fuel, the blizzard only getting worse, and the bus getting colder every minute, the kids will have to figure out how to get to safety before they freeze to death.Jack volunteers to head out into the snowy woods to make the long trek back to school . . . but what's that strange sound he hears in the trees?Will Jack's resourcefulness and determination-and the unexpected help of a wild dog- be enough to get them home alive? This is a gripping survival story from the Newbery Honor author of Wildfire and Wild River.
REVIEW
This tightly packed adventure finds 6th grader, Jack, and his four friends stranded in a blizzard. On their way home from the regional science fair with their teacher, Mrs. Bowditch, the storm strikes as a bomb cyclone leading to the bus crashing. Mrs. Bowditch ends up with a severe head injury and the kids must take care of her and themselves. With their science knowledge, especially Jack's weather background, the kids recognize the danger they face. After attempts to keep the bus's heater running fail, the kids determine to send someone for help. With a pair of patched together snowshoes, Jack volunteers. His small size and hiking and camping experience make him the best choice. He quickly ends up in trouble when he gets caught in an avalanche. A dog pulls him from the snow. With the help of the dog he quickly names Buck (after the dog in The Call of the Wild by Jack London), Jack just might make it to the school five miles down the road. But as conditions worsen, the two seek shelter in a nearby vacation cottage, but a black bear interferes with their plans. Can Jack and Buck find their way to help or will their efforts not be enough to counter the dangers they encounter?
Philbrick's written another exciting adventure for young adventure or survival fans. The tension grows from the first page as Jack and his classmates face a difficult situation. The arrival of the dog proves to be key in helping Jack survive the storm despite the dog's clear difficulty with enclosed spaces. Jack's small size (under five feet) provides both challenges and advantages in terms of staying on top of the snow in the rigged snowshoes (built from pieces of the student's science projects). His camping skills and weather knowledge prove to be valuable in Jack's struggle to survive. This story will keep young survival fans turning the pages to see how things turn out. An exciting addition to Philbrick's series of survival stories for middle grade readers. Recommended.
Comments
Post a Comment