The New York Times Book Review - John McMurtrie
Aronson is a fluid writer who doesn't resort to sensationalism to heighten the inherent drama of his stirring retelling…Without leaning too heavily on parallels to current politics, Aronson makes a valuable point that can benefit readers of any age—that crises can bring out selfless acts of courage from people all over the world, working together to help others in need, regardless of their backgrounds.
Booklist
Aronson takes readers beyond the headlines and into the action of this harrowing event. . . . The text quickly gains momentum as Aronson recounts some of the suspenseful life-or-death moments as divers brought each boy out one by one.
School Library Connection
Told in a breakneck chronological sequence, those familiar with the outcome of the story are still left breathless by the pace of the storytelling. . . . With respect paid to all countries that sent individuals to help problem-solve for the crisis, this will be a useful text in the classroom and a heart-pounding narrative nonfiction title for individual readers. Highly recommended.
Kirkus Reviews
* “Despite the concise narration, the gravity of the rescue is never dampened. Aronson is mindful in his descriptions of differences in cultures and takes care not to filter them through Western assumptions. He also includes a chapter openly describing gaps in his research and account due to key players' personal or political biases. . . . Solid writing preserves the natural rising suspense and astonishing details of this rescue.
BCCB
Aronson makes each nail-biting day feel immediate. . . . There’s more going on here than heroic rescue, though; there’s also serious attention paid to the “stateless” status of some of the boys, to Thai attitudes toward government, religion, and privacy that influenced subsequent media coverage, to comparison of the international response to the boys’ rescue and of the deadly, nearly concurrent failure of a Laotian dam not far away.
School Library Journal
Aronson makes the event feel new through his deeply detailed research and his ability to share pertinent information that news organizations may have ignored. . . . A thorough, engaging, and inspiring book.
Booklist
Aronson takes readers beyond the headlines and into the action of this harrowing event. . . . The text quickly gains momentum as Aronson recounts some of the suspenseful life-or-death moments as divers brought each boy out one by one.
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2019-01-28
Aronson sheds light on the intricate rescue of 12 soccer players and their coach who were stranded in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Thailand in June 2018.
Written efficiently as a time log, the narrative first explains that the Moo Pa, or Wild Boar, soccer team was composed of young boys with diverse ethnic and legal statuses in Thailand. The introduction of the team includes respectful explanations of the "stateless" or "undocumented" status of some of the players. Although they were exploring the Tham Luang cave during the dry season, unexpected rains trapped the boys in what quickly became one of the world's top five most dangerous caves when it flooded. Because of the difficult diving conditions, expert cave divers from around the world quickly assembled to offer aid. However, rising water, the boys' lack of diving skills, and forecasts of impending rain created dismal odds for a successful rescue. It took workers from several countries who momentarily dropped all barriers to pull off this incredible feat. Despite the concise narration, the gravity of the rescue is never dampened. Aronson is mindful in his descriptions of differences in cultures and takes care not to filter them through Western assumptions. He also includes a chapter openly describing gaps in his research and account due to key players' personal or political biases. A list of the people involved and their respective organizations are provided as well as photos, a detailed index, and bibliography.
Solid writing preserves the natural rising suspense and astonishing details of this rescue. (Nonfiction. 10-14)
