Pilot Down, Presumed Dead

by Marjorie Phleger

Steve Ferris makes a crash landing on a lonely beach when hurricane winds force his plane down. Days pass, and Steve cannot understand why he doesn't see any rescue planes. Gradually he realizes he is on an uncharted island; rescuers will not be able to locate him, and soon they will think he drowned in the storm. With skill and determination Steve fashions crude equipment for survival, and he discovers that he can live quite well off the land and from the ocean. But he must find a way to return to civilization.

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Marjorie Temple Phleger was born in August of 1907 and was from Glendale, California. She received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, where she and her future husband Fred Phleger met. They were married in 1933. She went on to receive a master’s degree in theater arts from Smith College in 1948.

Before she started writing, Marjorie Phleger taught drama at the Bishop School and later became public relations head of the La Valencia Hotel.

While working at the La Valencia, she met many actors and writers, including Clark Gable and Tennessee Williams. She was a columnist for both the San Diego Union and the La Jolla Light. She was also a founder of the original La Jolla Playhouse.

The Phlegers became acquainted with Ted Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’) and his wife Helen in the early 1950’s. Geisel encouraged the Phlegers to write and introduced them to the editors of Beginner Books at Random House. Her first novel was Pilot Down, Presumed Dead. Since its initial release, it continues to appear on hundreds of recommended reading lists and has been published under several different imprints.

She and her husband combined talents in 1966 with two other books, You Will Live Under the Sea and Off to the Races.

The Phlegers have two children, Charles F. ‘Rick’ Phleger and Audrey (Phleger) Levonas.

Marjorie Phleger died in February 1986 at the age of 78.

Reviews

[Jacob L · Rating 5 out of 5]

in 5th grade I saw this book in the library. it looked interesting so I picked it up and startec reading. when I was finished it almost made me cry. later, in 7th grade my school got new books and they had a table out for free books to take and i was curious... I looked down at the books, scanned the books and found this amazing book! instantly I grabbed it and was really happy I found this book!:)not to long ago I read this book again, now in 8th grade I am still in love with this book!

[Thirza Peevey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid, and it was a fairly formative book for me, not because the writing was excellent, but because the subject was different. This book put the protagonist in a different situation than I had seen, with different problems to solve that made me think in a different way. I have a real dread of being in a survival situation in an arid climate, but the protagonist in this book solves the problems of finding water and food in clever ways that I hadn't considered.

I'm not giving this book a four star from an adult perspective, but from the perspective of the ten year old I was when I read it.

[Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think is probably one of those books that if you read as a 10 year old you love with all your heart for the rest of your life. To an adult reading it for the first time it's a pretty simple story about a man that doesn't panic enough for being stranded on an island.

[Ann (Inky Labyrinth)]

The first and only chapter book I remember my father reading to me.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Adios Amigo" page 206 The last words Steve uttered to his companion Amigo. Steve Ferris crashes his small plane "the Cessna" on an uncharted island near Baja California. He is stuck and has no way of signalling his friends or family and has to survive on the island until A boat or plane finds him or he can find another way off the island. While he is there he learns to survive and also makes a friend. The major themes would probably be friendship and survival.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pilot Down, Presumed Dead is a pleasant but unexceptional foray into the wilderness survival genre, similar to Hatchet. It follows a Cessna pilot who tries to survive and return to civilization after crashing on an uninhabited island off the coast of Mexico.

While the story flowed fairly well, more introspection and self-discovery related to eternal truths would have enriched the experience. Although this was the "illustrated edition", that translated to simply including a representative photo at the beginning of each chapter. Pilot Down, Presumed Dead is more articulately and believably written than Hatchet, but not exceptional overall.

[Steve Lorey]

One of the first books that I ever read! ... At the library of St. Albert the Great, probably 2nd grade...?

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read is "Pilot Down Presumed Dead". It was written by Majarie Phleger. The setting of the book is a deserted island. Steve Ferris made a crash landing on a deserted island. He is stuck on the island with no way to signal his friend an family. An has to learn how to survive on the island until someone finds him or find away off. Steve finds a friend coyote an name it amigo that helps him find food water an hunt. The theme of the book is friendship an survival.

[Sydney E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was required to read this book in class and i never thought that i would be interested in it just judging it by the title. I was wrong, because this book is suspenseful and it isn't the type of book you can just finish one chapter and put down. If I had the time to read the whole book at one time then I would. You feel bad for the main characters Steve, but you also learn a little more about survival and how the situation he is in could happen to you. I recommend this book to anyone!

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I ever read as a kid that I didn't already know what was going to happen. I didn't have any recommendation for it from anyone. It was the first book where I had no expectations of it.

I really liked this book when I read it. And was thoroughly entertaining. The ending was satisfying and sad, and I probably will never forget it.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved this book in an easter basket one year when I was a kid. It is still one of my FAVORITES, and I have not been able to find my copy. Just a really entertaining read, I'd like to read it again

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in elementary school but I think I'd still get the same enjoyment reading it today. I have very fond memories of reading this and imagining how I would react in a similar situation.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

man, i loved this book when i was a kid. i loved reading about people having to "live off the land"--and it was also my favorite game to play in the backyard. by myself.

[Kolton Vilos · Rating 4 out of 5]

(*spoiler alert*) I liked the book because it made sure to explain everything that happened. the beginning it told us how the plane crashed and what he was thinking. When he crashed on the island he didn't gather supplies instead he just made a SOS in the sand for a plane to see. Later in the book he started building a crude shelter which i think is one of the first things he should've done. He finally decided to build a raft out of wood on the island and went out to sea. He used a string to steer but he lost it but luckily the wind pushed him to land. At the end of the book I didn't like because he abandoned the coyote and the author didn't make another chapter telling us how Steve Ferris's Parents reacted when they found out he was alive.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Steve gets stranded on an island of the cost of California.He has to find a way to get off and more importantly get off the island. It also talks about what he does on his island and also how he gets off. It doesn't say when it happens but I think it is in the spring or summer sometime in the past. My favorite quote from this book is on page 20 when the book says,"Lifting his wristwatch to his ear", I think this quote is funny because he is still concerned with the time. An example of figurative language is when he is talking to the coyote and telling him stuff.

[Isabel Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pilot down presumed dead is a pretty good book it is about a man named steve who is stuck in a storm and traped on an island and is tring to survive. One of my favorite quotes states¨i shall have to decide weather to take amigo back to san diego with me or leave him hear to fend for himself¨.One of the reading sign posts is a contrast and contradiction when he got heart he gave up. I would reccommend it.

[Cody Rivers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Pilot down, presumed dead by Marjrie Phleger.

The book setting is on a deserted island. Steven Farris the pilot had to make a crash landing on the island Steven is stuck. No way to call for help, no one to help him survive. Steven has to and dose learn how to survive on his own. My favorite part of the book is when she hits a shark with a wooden paddle. the them of the book is survival and how you react when you have to survive.

[Colton Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was a good book because Steve has to survive on a Island by San Diego, He has to make stuff to survive and so he can make smoke signals so people can see the smoke signals and he can be rescued but he isn't he has to build a raft to go to the bottom of the Peninsula so he can get picked up in a truck and go home.

[Jacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very inspiring it had a pretty inspiring theme the theme was that you can push through just about anything.My favorite quote was ¨ I am a sedimental fool,¨ it showed that you can still care even if you are stranded on an island I love that he tended for the coyote. And let him travel on the raft with him. I would recommend this book to just about anyone!!!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a book was read to my 5th grade class 50 years ago and was a favorite ! Thanks to the internet I was able to identify it by remembering only the pilot’s first name and that he crashed in the Baja area of Mexico. Since it has been so many years I couldn’t remember much of story so it was a fun to revisit it. It’s a great adventure story and has aged relatively well.

[John Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent adventure book. In the story a pilot is forced to crash land on a desolate island. He must find a way to get off the island whether it be getting rescued by a fisherman or rafting off the island. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes adventure books.

[Matt_M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a pilot who gets caught in a storm and crashes on an uncharted island off the Baja California coast. He then befriends a coyote and finds ways to survive. But when help doesn't come, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread this book from my collection of young adult books I had liked as a kid. Still think it's great for that age, so my four star rating is on that basis (and for nostalgia's sake). A great survival story with the right level of detail for that age group.

[Lindsay Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to the kids; they loved it. They didn't love the ending but all in all a good read.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book several times when I was a child. It stayed with me all my life. It came to mind and I decided to read it again as an adult.
Still a great read. Recommend for readers of all ages.

[Christopher Hine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Purple nonsense

I thought this book was a serious narrative in a real story. That said, I was in holiday so I ploughed on with it. It just got worse and worse!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Brenduh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting, little, fun read.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really awesome book!

[Amy Stabins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but hard not to compare it to ‘Hatchet’, which I think does the genre better.