Hey I'm Alive

by Helen Klaben, Beth Day

Autobiography by a college girl who, with her pilot were rescued after 49 days in the frozen wilderness.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Reference, Survival

Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Morgan Giesbrecht]

Survival stories & memoirs aren’t go-to genres for me. But there was a special reason I picked this one up.

Back up to this past spring. One of my great-uncles whom I haven’t seen or talked to in over 15 years called me because he had read my book & loved it. I was touched of course, and as we chatted, we got to talking about books. Turns out he’s an avid bookworm himself. He asked if I’d be interested in reading Helen’s story—and who am I to say “no” to an 80+ year old bookworm who still hunts his trap line and reads in his cabin for three weeks at the time? I said I’d love to. So he mailed me his copy in the mail. Because you see, the book is out of print & his nearest book store where he discovers these hidden treasures is a 2 hour drive away.

Will I ever love survival stories? Probably not. And sure there was something theological conclusions I don’t agree with. But I can say it’s a miraculous story of survival, truly by the hand of God, and that’s what Helen discovered in the end.

It’ll be a story I remember because of my great-uncle. 💛

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, sweet, uplifting read about Helen Klaben's experience surviving a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness. She and her pilot, Ralph Flores, survived for 49 days despite some nasty-sounding injuries, temps close to 50 degrees below zero, and no survival supplies of any kind. I saw the movie version years ago but the book was completely different, largely because of the religious themes. Helen used this experience to completely rethink her relationship to life. At Ralph's urging she read his Bible all the way through while they were waiting for rescue and allowed it to change her thinking. She and Ralph Flores should stand as a model of the kind of cooperation and mutual support it takes to get through a tough situation like this. The fact that they never got ugly about their religious differences astounds me -- it was the elephant in the room all through their ordeal. The movie adaptation had Ed Asher and Sally Struthers snarling at each other; in reality, Helen and Ralph grew a lot from knowing each other and nobody ever screamed, as much as they might have liked to. Nice story with a super happy ending.

[Penney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at a used bookstore in 6th grade for 10 cents. My sister snorted at the title, calling it stupid. But this story stuck with me -- 2 strangers thrown together by tragedy, eating toothpaste for food, being mistaken for natives due to bundles of clothes, the days it took for the hospitals to scrub off body grime. A quick read that might terrify you enough to never fly in small planes.

[Abigail (Abbe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

truly amazing survival story. i found it by accident at the used book store.

[Haylee Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It's such a fascinating story and I really took some good points from it, like to not take things for granted (food, water, heat) and also it just made me want to be a better person in general (Helen spent a lot of time reading the Ten Commandments including to "love thy neighbor" and etc.) It also made me realize how trivial my problems are. I have food, water, a house and a family that loves me- I really have nothing to complain about.

The one thing I didn't like about the book is just that it made me feel kind of gluttonous and guilty. ha but maybe that's just me. It's just sometimes hard to read about people not having any food for 2 months and rationing toothpaste to save for a couple meals. Kind of makes you feel a little guilty and overly blessed don't you think? But other than that the book was great.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of survival set in the sixties!!! Kitsch, Triumph, and Love.........a qick read.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up a worn copy of this book at a local secondhand bookstore. I remember the story told in the book because of a 1975 Made-for-TV movie starring Sally truthers and Ed Asner. It is not a long book so I finished it in three days. As a matter of fact, I remember I almost read it back when I was in grade school in 1976 but passed on it.

"Hey, I'm Alive!" is Helen Klaben's recounting of a 49-day ordeal she experienced in 1963. Aided by writer, Beth Day Ms. Klaben tells the tale of being stranded in the Yukon wilderness in the winter of 1963. She began to write this while recuperating from digit amputations due to frostbite. her hospital bed recount of her and bush pilot, Ralph Flores' plane crash and survival is moving and riveting. Flores, a devout Spanish Mormon of 41 and Klaben, 21, a liberal and adventurer connected when she responded to a newspaper ad placed by Flores, 41. He needed someone to split the costs of flying down to San Francisco and she agreed to pay the $75 dollars. Their flight aboard Flores's Howard five-seater ended when engine trouble brought the plane down in the dense forest of the Yukon. While both Klaben and Flores were injured they helped each other and rationed what little food they had. During their time, Flores urged then cajoled Klaben to read the Bible for comfort and encouragement. This adamant conversion attempt finally wore down Klaben who rediscovered a faith in the one true God. She eventually converted to Christianity after their rescue. The book also focuses a light on the companionship, and reliance that developed between the toe. This tale of surb=vival and relying on each other and God was inspiring.

My only regret is that i wished it were a longer book but it was written for young adults. Still, there is a message of truth and inspiration in the pages of this short book. Reading this book made me want to rewatch the movie today.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the true story of an inexperienced pilot and his 21 year old female passenger who crash landed in the winter heading out from Alaska with an ultimate destination of California. While the pilot was strong and persevered after the accident, helping his passenger despite both being badly injured, it turned out he was uninsured as well as being unable to fly by instruments and flew into bad weather. It just seemed so irresponsible and unprofessional that doing everything he could to mitigate the situation and keep them alive until they might be rescued seems like the very least he could have done. He’s converted to Mormon from Catholicism and a lot of the book concerns him trying to convert Helen, who is Jewish. She spends a lot of the time reading the Bible, both out if interest and boredom. Ralph is of the opinion that if she will only accept Christ as her Lord and Savior, they will be rescued, like she’s keeping them from rescue by not denying her Jewish faith as he thinks she should.

I expected the book to focus on exactly how they survived for 49 days despite the cold and roughly 5 weeks with no food, that was what most readers would want to know about.

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars I went into this book with very low expectations. Helen was only 21 at the time, so very young, and I really only picked it up because I heard the story from a friend of Ralph Flores.
Helen wrote this book immediately after their rescue, without the benefit of time to over analyze and reflect, which I think provides a unique frame of reference not often seen in this type of memoir.
The story was fascinating, and dare I say inspiring. Their kindness towards each other was heartening. Yes, the reflections were from the viewpoint of a 21 year old, but keeping that perspective in mind while reading, this was a very good book.

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting true story of survival. The story wandered a little leaving odd gaps.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a the thoughtful account of Helen Klaben's experience in the Yukon in 1963 after the small plane in which she was the sole passenger , piloted by Ralph Flores crashed during a storm. During their 49 day ordeal Helen and Ralph had numerous discussions on the nature of God. Ralph, a Mormon, was very insistent that Helen, a Jew, accept Christ and become a Christian. With remarkable integrity she explores her own beliefs as she commits herself to reading the whole Bible as they wait hopefully to be rescued. Ralph, a quiet man of integrity treats her as a daughter as he works to procure first their survival and then their rescue. A surprising book- for its size and narrative simplicity it captures the heart of the human soul's quest for meaning.

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this little treasure from 1963. I stumbled upon it while doing inventory for the school library I work at. At first I couldn't get past the absolute self centeredness of Helen, but kept reminding myself she is very young. She sounded like most 21 yr olds who haven't been on their own yet. Through the book, or her experience, rather, she did mature rapidly and I am so glad she wrote this account of her and Ralph's survival. 49 days, let that sink in. Ralph is a hero. Quick, easy read!

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprisingly less interesting than expected. Had it on my list for a while but couldn't get ahold of it, so I finally bought it on Amazon. Turns out the book is just as much or more about musing on religion and reflecting on the past as it is about survival. Not surprisingly, the thoughts of a sheltered early 20s kid from the 1950s aren't very interesting or insightful. If you like survival/adventure books for the practical or problem solving aspects of the story, skip this.