N4L 175: "All Thirteen" by Christina Soontornvat
SUMMARY Christina Soontornvat thrills readers of all ages with her 2021 Newbery Honor Book, All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team. Winner of numerous nonfiction awards, All Thirteen is a gripping page-turner. What begins as a simple afternoon adventure for teenage boys exploring a cave escalates into a global life-or-death mission to save a soccer team and their coach. Of Thai descent, Soontornvat happened to visit Thailand on the same day the boys were lost in the cave, and she returned to the U.S. the same day they were finally rescued. With the heart of a scientist and an author, she knew she needed to capture this compelling true story. In All Thirteen, Soontornvat combines science, culture, and real-life suspense to explain the complexities of the rescue operation while simultaneously sharing the emotional and mental struggles of the thirteen young people trapped underground. RULES FOR CAVE DIVING (developed by Sheck Exley in the 1970s) Always use a single, continuous guideline from the entrance of the cave throughout the dive. Always use the “Thirds Rule”: Use one-third of your air supply on the way in, use one-third on the way out, and save one-third in case you run into an emergency. Avoid deep diving in caves. Avoid panic by building up experience slowly and being prepared for emergencies. Carry at least three lights per diver. Use the safest possible scuba equipment. Avoid stirring up silt on the bottom. Practice emergency procedures with your partner before diving, and review them often. Always carry equipment for emergencies and know how to use it. Never let overconfidence allow you to think it’s OK to break any of these rules. QUOTES FROM SOONTORNVAT “For many of the people of northern Thailand, caves are particularly sacred places that deserve respect.” “Thailand’s tourism slogan is the ‘Land of Smiles,’ and visitors to the country often say that people here smile more than most. But in Thailand, smiling isn’t something you do solely to express happiness. Thai people may smile during an argument, or when they’ve just lost their wallet, or when they get into a fender bender. A smile is a way to make the people around you feel comfortable, to keep the situation cool, and to keep cool yourself.” “The lesson I wanted to share the most comes from Coach Ek and the boys, who—like their rescuers—defied impossible odds. They taught me that ‘impossible’ exists only in your mind. You are capable of so much more than you can even imagine.” BUY All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team (Newbery Honor Book) RECOMMENDATION Watch the moment the two British cave divers found the thirteen stranded young men, a YouTube video that immediately went viral. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit