Part of Middle School, book 6
First published 2014
Rafe returns to Hills Village Middle School after a difficult summer, only to discover he might be held back a year. His only escape route is proving himself during a mandatory outdoor survival program. The experience throws him into white-water rafting, rock climbing, and dealing with overzealous camp counselors. Rafe must work alongside other struggling students as they all prepare for the ultimate challenge: surviving alone in the wilderness. The outdoor program tests more than his physical abilities. It forces him to confront his insecurities and discover what he's truly capable of. Through dangerous rapids and steep cliff faces, Rafe learns that cooperation and perseverance matter more than he realized. The question becomes whether he can make it through the ordeal without falling apart. Even if he survives, will the experience change him from the uncertain kid he's always been? This adventure combines laugh-out-loud moments with genuine heart as Rafe discovers his own courage.
Genres: fiction, adventure, coming-of-age, school-stories, contemporary, middle-grade
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Hills Village Middle School
Period: 21st-century
288 pages · Hardcover · jimmy patterson