5 Books You Shouldn’t Read on the Plane

In the Unlikely Event, by Judy Blume
Blume’s latest novel, written for adults, is her first in over 15 years. Over the course of two months during the winter of 1951 –52, three planes crashed around Elizabeth, New Jersey (where Blume herself grew up). The novel uses these real-life tragedies as its backdrop, taking the reader back to the 1950s in stunning detail: the era’s technology, music, culture, and politics are all brought to vivid life. Written with all of Blume’s trademark warmth, In the Unlikely Event has already received significant critical praise.

Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen
This classic of young adult survival tales, written by the master of wilderness adventure and coming of age stories, follows 13-year-old Brian after the single-engine plane he’s taking to see his father crashes in the Canadian wilderness. He’s stranded alone for over a month, with nothing but the clothes on his back and—you got it—a hatchet given to him by his mother before the trip. A recipient of the Newbery Honor, Hatchet is a great book to give a young person in your life…just not right before they hop on a plane.

The Pilot’s Wife, by Anita Shreve
This beautiful, emotional story follows Kathryn Lyons after her pilot husband’s plane explodes off the Irish coast. Reeling from the loss, Kathryn is immediately bombarded by the public revelation of his secret life—a secret life that only grows more and more complex as the novel progresses. As she tries to unravel the deceit he left behind and come to terms with the truth, the reader is swept along on a passionate and startling journey. The Pilot’s Wife was an Oprah’s Book Club selection.

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Perhaps one of the most terrifying novels ever written, Lord of the Flies follows a group of young British boys marooned on an island after their plane crashes. The boys’ worst impulses quickly surface, and savagery, mayhem, and brutality abound. A cruel and vivid portrait of the most frightening parts of human nature, Lord of the Flies is essential reading, but under no circumstances should you do so on an airplane. Believe me, you don’t want to have that kind of behavior already in your head when the guy in front of you extends his seat-back all the way into your lap (or, worse, the kid behind you starts kicking you).

The Blasphemer, by Nigel Farndale
When zoologist Daniel Kennedy and Nancy, the woman he loves, are in a plane accident en route to the Galápagos Islands, Daniel chooses to save himself, pushing her out of the way. Although he returns to rescue her, the act continues to haunt both him and their relationship. The Blasphemer weaves in multiple tales from over the decades around this central plot, including the story of Daniel’s great-grandfather in WWI. A fierce, elegant novel that was widely praised upon its release.