In 1971, seventeen-year-old Juliane Koepcke became the sole survivor of a plane crash that disintegrated over the Peruvian rainforest. After falling two miles through the sky while still strapped to her seat, she awoke alone on the jungle floor with a broken collarbone and deep lacerations. Tod Olson recounts her eleven-day struggle for survival as she waded through crocodile-infested rivers and battled swarms of insects to find civilization. The narrative details how she used her father's biological teachings to identify edible vegetation and avoid predators while her wounds became infected with fly larvae.
Middle-grade readers interested in high-stakes survival and biological endurance will find this account informative. It appeals to those who enjoy learning about the physical limits of the human body and the specific dangers of the Amazonian ecosystem. Readers gain a technical understanding of jungle navigation, the mechanics of aviation disasters, and the psychological discipline required to manage trauma in isolation. The book provides a factual look at how preparation and observation can permit life in a hostile environment.
- Published
- 2018
- Language
- EN
