It's a tragedy

Don't worry that's not a spoiler.  With a title like Flight #116 is Down all you have to do is look at the cover and know it's a tragedy.  While there is a lot of sadness in Caroline B. Cooney's novel it isn't all gloom and doom.

Patrick is a junior EMT who is longing for more excitement than his sleepy small town can offer.  Heidi is the daughter of wealthy and successful parents who seem to excel at everything.  Heidi, on the other hand, can't find anything she's good at.  When the 747 crashes in Heidi's backyard, Patrick gets more excitement than he ever could have dreamed.

I said it wasn't all doom and gloom, but Cooney does not shy away from the horror of the accident.  Modern readers can't help but have flashbacks to 9/11.  My students are too young to remember that day.  I wonder if the imagery in Flight #116 is Down  would hit them in the same way.

Cooney does an excellent job of balancing the horror of the crash with the bravery of the rescue workers all while weaving in background information on Patrick and Heidi.  While not my favorite Reading Olympic's book. it was definitely worth reading.  Students who are fans of action novels and realistic fiction will probably like this book.


Rescuing...that's kids stuff