Sole Survivor
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2025 · Est. 4.5 hour read

Sole Survivor

A boy battles nature and his fears after a plane crash in a snowstorm.

3.6/5 Goodreads · 175 ratings
272 pages· 39,371 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
$19.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Eleven-year-old Norman faces his greatest challenge when a plane crash leaves him stranded in the snowy San Gabriel Mountains. With his father gone, Norman must navigate grief and survival, deciding whether to wait for rescue or brave the icy descent alone. Each step could mean life or death in this gripping tale of courage and resilience.

From the publisher

“Sole Survivor is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride right from page one. A real-life Hatchet for a new generation. You gotta read it to believe it!” –Alan Gratz, New York Times-bestselling author of Refugee and Heroes “Inspirational, propulsive, and unforgettable. This one leaves a mark.” –Lamar Giles, author of The Getaway and Ruin RoadThis riveting true story from two New York Times-bestselling authors chronicles how a California sixth grader survived a deadly mountainside plane crash during a snowstorm. Eleven-year-old Norman Ollestad is no stranger to extreme situations. Whether it’s surfing big swells off Topanga Beach or skiing in a blizzard, he has braved one adrenaline-rush adventure after another, pushed by his thrill-seeking father to realize that “anything’s possible.” And with Dad by his side, sometimes Norman believes him. That motto is put to the ultimate test when the small plane Norman and his dad are aboard is engulfed by a snowstorm and crashes in the San Gabriel Mountains–with deadly consequences. Struggling in and out of lucidity, haunted by the voices and memories from difficult moments in his past, Norman must decide what to do while trapped eight thousand feet above sea level, facing dangers unlike any he has encountered before. Inspired by the harrowing true childhood experience of author Norman Ollestad, this astonishing, action-packed story, co-written with Brendan Kiely, is about fear, survival, and the complicated forces–and people–that shape us. Fast-paced and unputdownable, Sole Survivor is the perfect read for fans of Dusti Bowling’s The Canyon’s Edge, Megan E. Freeman’s Alone, and the I Survived series.

At a glance
Format
Hardcover
Pages
272
Words
39,371
Reading age
10–14
Audience
Middle Grade
Themes & topics
Books about overcoming fearBooks about survivalBooks about father-son relationshipsBooks about courageBooks about family
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The fine print

Book details

Publication
Published
October 28, 2025
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780374392611

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