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At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times by Larry Verstraete
More than 20 true stories of people forced to make difficult, split-second decisions in life-threatening situations!Danger, even death, may be imminent unless a key decision is made . . . and in desperate situations, that decision must be made in seconds! How do people decide on the best course of action? At the Edge recounts 22 stories of kids, men, and women who faced critical, life-threatening situations and made wrenching decisions during the Holocaust, the 2004 tsunami in Asia, Chernobyl, Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, Tiananmen Square and more.
Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Larry Verstraete
24 books25 followersAt nine years old, there were subtle signs that Larry Verstraete might be a writer some day. While thumbing through a toy catalog just before Christmas, he found, and then later received, the perfect gift - a small toy printing press. The summer after, Larry and a friend started an ambitious publishing project, aiming to become as he puts it, ‘rich and famous’ with the printing press.
Their goal was to publish and sell a newsletter filled with stories gathered around the neighborhood. For a week, the two would-be reporters spied on neighbors, filling notepads with facts and observations. But when they started setting the stories into type on the printing press, the project floundered. The work was too boring, too tedious, and they abandoned dreams of fame and wealth in favor of more enjoyable summer pastimes like swimming and biking.
That was Larry’s earliest foray into writing, and although that venture was a gob-smacking failure, the drive to write simmered below the surface for years. One day, older now with a science degree under his belt and a teaching career already well in hand, fate intervened. While waiting for a haircut in a salon, a magazine ad for a correspondence writing course caught his eye, rekindling his desire to write and be published. He clipped out the ad, enrolled in the course and as the saying goes ‘the rest is history’.
One of his first course assignments was to write a non-fiction article for children. He quickly latched on to a topic that fascinated him – accidental discoveries in science. By the end of the course, he’d written about 25 short stories, each telling about a breakthrough in science that owed much to a mistake, mishap, coincidence or spectacular blunder. That became his first Scholastic book – The Serendipity Effect (later re-issued under the title Accidental Discoveries: From Laughing Gas to Dynamite).
Since then, Larry has published 13 non-fiction books and 1 middle grade novel. The roots of his writing lie deep in his own personal experiences and his interests in science, history and true adventure. For Larry, ideas usually begin with an intriguing story, event or fact, something that triggers his curiosity. He and his wife are devoted travelers, and each trip offers fresh opportunities to discover new writing material. Becoming lost on a mountain hike in Colorado, for example, sparked the idea for Survivors:True Death-Defying Escapes, and visiting the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona – the place where Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto – eventually became C is for Compare in his book S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet.
Some key accomplishments of Larry’s career include:
•Two-time recipient of Ontario’s Silver Birch Award for Non-fiction (Survivors: True Death-Defying Escapes; At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times)
•Two-time recipient of the McNally Robinson Book of the Year for Young People Award (Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery; S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet)
•Awarded B.C.’s Red Cedar Award (Survivors: True Death-Defying Escapes)
•Nominated for the Norma Fleck Award (Accidental Discoveries: From Laughing Gas to Dynamite)
•Nominated for the New York Reading Association Charlotte Award & Alberta’s Rocky Mountain Award (Surviving the Hindenburg)
•Among other distinctions: Honor winner, 2014 Story Telling World Resource Awards (Surviving the Hindenburg); Runner-up, 2012 USA Best Book Awards, Children's Picture Book (Surviving the Hindenburg); Outstanding Science Trade Book of 2011 by the National Science Teachers Association and Children’s Book Council (S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet); Selected, 2001 Canadian Toy Testing Council, 25 Great Books, (Whose Bright Idea Was It?)
Their goal was to publish and sell a newsletter filled with stories gathered around the neighborhood. For a week, the two would-be reporters spied on neighbors, filling notepads with facts and observations. But when they started setting the stories into type on the printing press, the project floundered. The work was too boring, too tedious, and they abandoned dreams of fame and wealth in favor of more enjoyable summer pastimes like swimming and biking.
That was Larry’s earliest foray into writing, and although that venture was a gob-smacking failure, the drive to write simmered below the surface for years. One day, older now with a science degree under his belt and a teaching career already well in hand, fate intervened. While waiting for a haircut in a salon, a magazine ad for a correspondence writing course caught his eye, rekindling his desire to write and be published. He clipped out the ad, enrolled in the course and as the saying goes ‘the rest is history’.
One of his first course assignments was to write a non-fiction article for children. He quickly latched on to a topic that fascinated him – accidental discoveries in science. By the end of the course, he’d written about 25 short stories, each telling about a breakthrough in science that owed much to a mistake, mishap, coincidence or spectacular blunder. That became his first Scholastic book – The Serendipity Effect (later re-issued under the title Accidental Discoveries: From Laughing Gas to Dynamite).
Since then, Larry has published 13 non-fiction books and 1 middle grade novel. The roots of his writing lie deep in his own personal experiences and his interests in science, history and true adventure. For Larry, ideas usually begin with an intriguing story, event or fact, something that triggers his curiosity. He and his wife are devoted travelers, and each trip offers fresh opportunities to discover new writing material. Becoming lost on a mountain hike in Colorado, for example, sparked the idea for Survivors:True Death-Defying Escapes, and visiting the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona – the place where Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto – eventually became C is for Compare in his book S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet.
Some key accomplishments of Larry’s career include:
•Two-time recipient of Ontario’s Silver Birch Award for Non-fiction (Survivors: True Death-Defying Escapes; At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times)
•Two-time recipient of the McNally Robinson Book of the Year for Young People Award (Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery; S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet)
•Awarded B.C.’s Red Cedar Award (Survivors: True Death-Defying Escapes)
•Nominated for the Norma Fleck Award (Accidental Discoveries: From Laughing Gas to Dynamite)
•Nominated for the New York Reading Association Charlotte Award & Alberta’s Rocky Mountain Award (Surviving the Hindenburg)
•Among other distinctions: Honor winner, 2014 Story Telling World Resource Awards (Surviving the Hindenburg); Runner-up, 2012 USA Best Book Awards, Children's Picture Book (Surviving the Hindenburg); Outstanding Science Trade Book of 2011 by the National Science Teachers Association and Children’s Book Council (S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet); Selected, 2001 Canadian Toy Testing Council, 25 Great Books, (Whose Bright Idea Was It?)
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 13, 2009
This is one of the most exciting and thought-provoking books I’ve read this year. At The Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times is a compilation of true accounts of people caught in critical life-or-death situations, their courageous or heart-wrenching decisions, and how they faced them.
Once I read the first story, I was hooked. I continued reading story after amazing story of survival, heroism, and escape. To quote the author, “When we read about great deeds, about acts of courage, determination and compassion, a little of the story rubs off on us.” How true. Young readers will surely be inspired and motivated to think twice when making certain choices as they remember the stories of those who fought for justice, even at great cost, or those who worked together against impossible odds to help others.
I particularly like the way the stories are written. They are short, concise and with just the right element of suspense. Although some of the accounts tell of horrific situations, the stories do not shock with explicit descriptions. I learned new facts through this book because some of the stories were about historic events. This is the perfect book for the inquisitive reader who loves to read real-life stories of dangerous adventures, heroism, and survival.
Once I read the first story, I was hooked. I continued reading story after amazing story of survival, heroism, and escape. To quote the author, “When we read about great deeds, about acts of courage, determination and compassion, a little of the story rubs off on us.” How true. Young readers will surely be inspired and motivated to think twice when making certain choices as they remember the stories of those who fought for justice, even at great cost, or those who worked together against impossible odds to help others.
I particularly like the way the stories are written. They are short, concise and with just the right element of suspense. Although some of the accounts tell of horrific situations, the stories do not shock with explicit descriptions. I learned new facts through this book because some of the stories were about historic events. This is the perfect book for the inquisitive reader who loves to read real-life stories of dangerous adventures, heroism, and survival.
December 2, 2018
At the Edge is a book that will leave you stunned about what people will do in life or death situations. This book will tell you stories about what people will do to save themselves and others. In At the Edge, the book is filled with stories of heroes who have saved people at out of the blue and have risked their own lives to save other people who were in distress. I found the stories exciting.
May 18, 2020
As an adult reading a teen/children's book:
I enjoyed it. Even having read versions of several of the stories, they were well written, enjoyable and quick to finish tales. Some were short newspaper-article style stories, while others covered several pages.
Pre-teens and teens in search of a bit of adventure should enjoy this book (as well as adults in search of a quick read).
I enjoyed it. Even having read versions of several of the stories, they were well written, enjoyable and quick to finish tales. Some were short newspaper-article style stories, while others covered several pages.
Pre-teens and teens in search of a bit of adventure should enjoy this book (as well as adults in search of a quick read).
April 7, 2023
Stories of people facing hardship including some of several pages and others that are snippets.
October 25, 2012
At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times: Daring Acts in Desperate Times
by Larry Verstraete
192 pages
Life and death situations, critical decisions and split-second choices--these are the stories in At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times.The disasters are the Halifax Explosion, Chernobyl, Hurricane Katrina and more. The terror situations range from a polar bear attack to civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Tank Man of Tiananmen Square, a Polish underground worker who saved hundreds of Jewish children and Paul Rusesabagina are among the fighters against injustice. Readers will be intrigued with every story-from the railway dispatcher who stopped just before the Halifax Explosion to send a warning message to stop an incoming train and the six-year-old who kept his brother and five other children together after Hurricane Katrina to the Everest climbers who turned back to rescue a fellow climber and the New Yorker who jumped onto the subway tracks to save a young man. Interspersed among the chapters are short, newsy items about other children and adults who have faced tough decisions.
I think that this book is ok. I didnt like this book so much. The book is strange. The stories are not so descriptive. I think the book should be more descriptive and longer. I would recommend this book to 10 and up because there are some tragic accidents and violence in this book.At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times: Daring Acts in Desperate TimesLarry Verstraete
by Larry Verstraete
192 pages
Life and death situations, critical decisions and split-second choices--these are the stories in At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times.The disasters are the Halifax Explosion, Chernobyl, Hurricane Katrina and more. The terror situations range from a polar bear attack to civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Tank Man of Tiananmen Square, a Polish underground worker who saved hundreds of Jewish children and Paul Rusesabagina are among the fighters against injustice. Readers will be intrigued with every story-from the railway dispatcher who stopped just before the Halifax Explosion to send a warning message to stop an incoming train and the six-year-old who kept his brother and five other children together after Hurricane Katrina to the Everest climbers who turned back to rescue a fellow climber and the New Yorker who jumped onto the subway tracks to save a young man. Interspersed among the chapters are short, newsy items about other children and adults who have faced tough decisions.
I think that this book is ok. I didnt like this book so much. The book is strange. The stories are not so descriptive. I think the book should be more descriptive and longer. I would recommend this book to 10 and up because there are some tragic accidents and violence in this book.At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times: Daring Acts in Desperate TimesLarry Verstraete
January 15, 2013
185 pages
In the book At The Edge Daring Acts In Desperate Times is made up of many short stories. Some about at the edge of death and some about at the edge of injustice. Some of the short stories take place in the middle of a fight or war. Others take place at dangerous mountain climbs. One of the short stories is about a group of guys who trained for a climb up mount Everest. This heavy training was needed to prepare the men for the most dangerous part of the everest climb was the Danger Zone. The Danger Zone was the last section of the the treck going up to the peak. It was the zone with the least amount of oxygen. When the group was in the danger zone they found another hiker who was alone and badly frost bitten. The group made a big decision to instead of leave the lonely hiker and finish their journey they decided to stay with the hiker and help him down the mountain. But a few months later the group did return and they did finish the climb.
If I was a of the group I would have very different emotional feelings. One i would feel so bad for the lonely hiker and two I would be very mad that we didn't get to finish our climb. I would also be wanting to do something quick because we could be all at risk do to the freezing temperatures and low oxygen. I think choosing to help the climber was the right decision because if they didn't help him after hi group abandoned him they would feel so guilty that finishing the climb would not feel as good as it should. That is how I would feel. if my group chose to leave the man to die I would probably abandon my group and help the man down to safety. Overall this book was a really good book. It really keeps you wanting to read more because you never know what you are going to read next..
In the book At The Edge Daring Acts In Desperate Times is made up of many short stories. Some about at the edge of death and some about at the edge of injustice. Some of the short stories take place in the middle of a fight or war. Others take place at dangerous mountain climbs. One of the short stories is about a group of guys who trained for a climb up mount Everest. This heavy training was needed to prepare the men for the most dangerous part of the everest climb was the Danger Zone. The Danger Zone was the last section of the the treck going up to the peak. It was the zone with the least amount of oxygen. When the group was in the danger zone they found another hiker who was alone and badly frost bitten. The group made a big decision to instead of leave the lonely hiker and finish their journey they decided to stay with the hiker and help him down the mountain. But a few months later the group did return and they did finish the climb.
If I was a of the group I would have very different emotional feelings. One i would feel so bad for the lonely hiker and two I would be very mad that we didn't get to finish our climb. I would also be wanting to do something quick because we could be all at risk do to the freezing temperatures and low oxygen. I think choosing to help the climber was the right decision because if they didn't help him after hi group abandoned him they would feel so guilty that finishing the climb would not feel as good as it should. That is how I would feel. if my group chose to leave the man to die I would probably abandon my group and help the man down to safety. Overall this book was a really good book. It really keeps you wanting to read more because you never know what you are going to read next..
January 9, 2014
At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times by Larry Verstraete is a good book on many thrilling stories of random people around the world who had done daring acts to save something or someone. This decisions were very daring and hard to commit which made the book great. Many short stories from all around the world are included in this book. It talks about natural disasters and what some people did to save others. There is a great amount of stories and the author is not bias about what kind of stories were in the book.
There were many stories in the book which made it a good thing but at the same time a bad thing as well. Personally, I believe that many stories in one book does not work well compared to other books where one complete story is written. The transitions are to quick and they leave you clueless and wanting to know more about what happened. Though this does not happen in the book much, I believe it would be better if there were less stories in the book and the ones that were there would be expressed longer to know more about what happened.
This book is in fact a non-fiction book and tells about true stories of the past making it more thrilling and interesting, while at the same time it works as a fiction book in telling the stories which also makes the book better. Some small black and white images are added to the end of some chapters to show something in detail though they are practically pointless because they not easy to comprehend. Overall this is a good book to read if you are into thriller books and like reading about heart pounding moments of a story. This book is made for younger people but is a great book to read no matter your age!
There were many stories in the book which made it a good thing but at the same time a bad thing as well. Personally, I believe that many stories in one book does not work well compared to other books where one complete story is written. The transitions are to quick and they leave you clueless and wanting to know more about what happened. Though this does not happen in the book much, I believe it would be better if there were less stories in the book and the ones that were there would be expressed longer to know more about what happened.
This book is in fact a non-fiction book and tells about true stories of the past making it more thrilling and interesting, while at the same time it works as a fiction book in telling the stories which also makes the book better. Some small black and white images are added to the end of some chapters to show something in detail though they are practically pointless because they not easy to comprehend. Overall this is a good book to read if you are into thriller books and like reading about heart pounding moments of a story. This book is made for younger people but is a great book to read no matter your age!
September 2, 2012
4 stars for this great collection of non-fiction essays about real life heroes, some who saved their own lives and some who saved others. This was a concise, well written and well rounded collection of essays. The true stories spanned from the 1800's through current times (to about 2001) and were very, very interesting. As a fairly well informed adult, there were quite a few in there whom I had never heard of, including a Soviet Army officer whose cool head and smart thinking apparently saved the world from a nuclear WW3. (I didn't feel so bad when Chaz hadn't heard of him either!)
I think this book would probably appeal to and be most appropriate for about grades 5 - 12. That's a pretty wide range, but I think it has broad appeal and is entertaining enough that it might even appeal to some who are reluctant to read.
Kudos to the author for such an entertaining and informative non-fiction selection in the MG/YA genre!
I think this book would probably appeal to and be most appropriate for about grades 5 - 12. That's a pretty wide range, but I think it has broad appeal and is entertaining enough that it might even appeal to some who are reluctant to read.
Kudos to the author for such an entertaining and informative non-fiction selection in the MG/YA genre!
May 1, 2013
A collection of true stories of people facing life or death decisions.
It was well written with an interesting selection of stories including ones involving disasters, injustice, terror and instances of impossible survival made possible. Many of the stories led me to do extra research just so I could learn more details.
Two East German families secretly build a hot air balloon so that they can escape to the West. A woman caught in the tsunami must let go of one of her children in swirling waters in order to give them all the best chance at survival, the Halifax explosion, an Everest climb and rescue, a kidnapping, a polar bear attack. All the stories are varied enough that there is sure to be something to interest everyone. The last story in the book is Terry Fox.
This is the kind of book that makes me like people again.
April 4, 2016
This is an exciting non-fiction comprised of small chapters profiling different acts of courage under duress. The author, Larry Verstraete, chooses to categorize the people under different sections, from disaster, to acting under injustice, to bravery in the face of terror. The people profiled are a diverse group of ages, races, nationalities, and throughout the past decades. I think it would be a good read for a high school student, since the AR book level is 6.8, but I also think an advanced middle school reader could read it. I would even suggest trying it for a struggling reader in middle school by suggesting a few stories from the book that might be more easily understood. A teacher could choose to read a story or two as a non-fiction read aloud, which is what I am going to try.
November 20, 2011
I'm an Elementary school Media Specialist and this is the perfect book for read-alouds. The best part is that it is non-fiction and kids can really empathize with the people in the stories. I read the Flight 93 story to my 5th graders and to my great surprise, they clapped when it was finished (it was that good). These stories are deeply inspiring and help students to develop an understanding of heroism and integrity in addition to practicing critical thinking skills. My students and I can't wait to read Verstraete's other books, Survivors!: True Death Defying Escapes and Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery
December 22, 2015
All children are fascinated by breathtaking stories of wrestle and challenge that bring forth heroic choices.
As parents, we too are fascinated- and this is book is an excellent example with over twenty stories that can kindle inspiration and a meaningful conversation between children and parents on the values, deeds and choices people made in the most difficult of situations.
I enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes inspirational reads.
As parents, we too are fascinated- and this is book is an excellent example with over twenty stories that can kindle inspiration and a meaningful conversation between children and parents on the values, deeds and choices people made in the most difficult of situations.
I enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes inspirational reads.
January 12, 2017
I think that this book is a ver good compilation of short stories for readers of all ages. It is very inspirational and makes the reader want to act themselves. The people in the book truly showed their bravery and courage when making these tough decisions.
March 24, 2014
I agree that thy made the right decisions to save the world
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May 9, 2019i think i should be able to read it bye
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews