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Girl on a Plane
Jordan, 1970.
After a summer spent with her family, fifteen-year-old Anna is travelling back to her English boarding school alone. But her plane never makes it home.
Anna’s flight is hijacked by Palestinian guerillas. They land the plane in the Jordanian desert, switch off the engines and issue their demands. If these are not met within three days, they will blow up the plane, killing all the hostages.
The heat on board becomes unbearable; food and water supplies dwindle. Anna begins to face the possibility she may never see her family again.
Time is running out . . .
Based on true events, this is a story about ordinary people facing agonizing horror, of courage and resilience.
After a summer spent with her family, fifteen-year-old Anna is travelling back to her English boarding school alone. But her plane never makes it home.
Anna’s flight is hijacked by Palestinian guerillas. They land the plane in the Jordanian desert, switch off the engines and issue their demands. If these are not met within three days, they will blow up the plane, killing all the hostages.
The heat on board becomes unbearable; food and water supplies dwindle. Anna begins to face the possibility she may never see her family again.
Time is running out . . .
Based on true events, this is a story about ordinary people facing agonizing horror, of courage and resilience.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2015
93 people are currently reading
2479 people want to read
About the author
Miriam Moss
123 books22 followersMiriam is an award winning author of 75 children's books, both information books and fiction. Her fiction includes picture books, novelty books and poetry, and recently short stories for the adult market. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages.
Miriam has had wide experience of working creatively both with children in schools and libraries, and with adults. She offers lively, innovative large group performances, talks, interactive storytelling sessions, readings, seminars, creative writing and poetry workshops.
She was born in England but also grew up in Africa, The Middle East and China. She taught English for eight years in the UK and Kenya before becoming a writer. She now lives in East Sussex.
Miriam has had wide experience of working creatively both with children in schools and libraries, and with adults. She offers lively, innovative large group performances, talks, interactive storytelling sessions, readings, seminars, creative writing and poetry workshops.
She was born in England but also grew up in Africa, The Middle East and China. She taught English for eight years in the UK and Kenya before becoming a writer. She now lives in East Sussex.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
February 10, 2017
"Suddenly the intercom crackles overhead: 'Ladies and gentlemen, this is Captain Gregory speaking. I'm sorry to have to inform you that we've been hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine'.
There's murmuring, then silence. "
3.5 stars
I was originally attracted to this book because of the beautiful cover, but reading the synopsis was what really got me intrigued - Girl on a Plane is a story about a plane hijacking in 1970, and all events are based in the real life experience the author had when she was a teenager.
The story starts with Anna, a fifteen-year-old girl traveling back to England by herself, when her plane is hijacked by Palestinian guerrillas. Throughout the book we learn about her hardships during four days as hostage, such as the crazy heat in the desert, lack of food/water, Anna missing her family, bombs attached to the plane and her fear of the consequences if the British government doesn't agree to the terrorists' demands.
Overall I thought the story was very interesting and a super quick read. However, there could have been more character development - considering the situation that Anna was in, I was expecting to feel worried and sad (maybe also a bit angry), but that didn't happen.
Also, I'd have appreciated a more in-depth explanation of the historical facts. I just know the basics about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and I feel that understanding the situation in more details would have added so much to the story.
Not a flawless book, but unique and super interesting nevertheless. Also,
September 21, 2017
Although I did enjoy this book. It was interesting to read about, but I cannot say it was my personal favorite. I do find it interesting though how someone could live threw a hijack when they were 15.
March 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. While reading, I put myself in the position of the main character Anna. I think what happened to her is a real fear of anyone who flies on a plane. What took place in the book over the course of the 4 days she was trapped on a plane was terrifying and hopeless at times. This book made me think deeper about life and relationships while examining the thought of survival.
October 6, 2017
In the recent week, I read the book Girl On The Plane, by Miriam Moss. I saw it on the shelf and immediately drew my attention to it and I had to read it right away. Anna, a young fifteen year old girl was heading back to England for boarding school alone, after being home with her family over the summer. Anna gets on the plane thinking it was going to be a usual plane ride with no conflicts until a couple minutes passed when the the pilot speaks through the intercom. He tells everyone that the plane has been hijacked by Palestinian guerrillas. Anna's heart drops, and is worried sick. She can't get the question out of her head that, “will she ever see her family ever again?” Later, the Palestinian hijackers stop the plane at the Jordanian desert with the engines switched. It gets hotter and hotter. For Anna, there is light in the end of the tunnel. Reading about this true event is devastating. I think this book is a great book, for middle age readers and up. The author, Miriam Moss based this book off of her own life experience which caused her to write very well written words that made you feel like you were there! I definitely recommend this book to middle-aged readers that are interested in a sad story. I hope to find readers, reading this wonderful book in the future!
January 4, 2023
It is very interesting but near to the end you now what will happen at the end but totally recommend it's a really good read
January 24, 2025
Wow, this one is definitely a page-turner!
Great historical fiction about a plane that was hijacked in 1970, based on the author’s true experiences. Kudos to Miriam Moss for allowing herself to relive those terrifying days as a fifteen-year-old hostage, as she describes them in breathtaking detail.
Great historical fiction about a plane that was hijacked in 1970, based on the author’s true experiences. Kudos to Miriam Moss for allowing herself to relive those terrifying days as a fifteen-year-old hostage, as she describes them in breathtaking detail.
February 26, 2018
Written for someone else:
In this contemplative, fictionalized memoir, Moss writes about her experience as a passenger cum hostage on a hijacked airplane when she was fifteen years old. After a couple of short chapters introducing her family and circumstances (British, military, stationed on Bahrain), Moss puts us on the plane. She paints a picture of what it was like to be restricted onto that vessel -- with very little food, water, or comforts -- for several days, grounded in the hot Jordanian desert. Moss writes in the Postscript and Q&A at the end that she doesn’t remember many of the people or details of the experience, hence the fictionalized nature of this telling. The atmosphere on the airplane is uncomfortable and stressful, boring and psychologically traumatizing at the same time. The hijackers came from Palestine, and their motivations in taking over the plane are discussed, but the focus is on Moss, and what she was thinking and feeling. The story not only covers her time on the plane itself, but also some of what happened immediately afterwards, which extends the book farther than many authors might choose to go, even before the back matter. Many aspects of life in 1970 are included, such as alcohol usage and underage smoking, and gendered behavior conforms to the era. Recommended for thoughtful readers in middle and high school, but do not promote this book as an action adventure.
Written for GR:
The meta of this book is the main reason I'm into it.
If it was a fully fictional account out of someone's brain, I'd probably move on, but the fact that this author is also the protagonist IRL really sells it for me. I picked it up hoping it would be actiony, figuring a Title that seemed modeled off of The Girl on the Train would certainly belie some similarity in literary vibe of the book inside, particularly when combined with the subject heading "hijacking." I was surprised to discover that I should have paid more attention to the vibe of the graphic design of the cover. This is not a fast-paced book, and it took me a few weeks to finish it.
Some of the content caused me some concern as well. Although I'm sure it's historically accurate, there's a section on page 56 that seemed unnecessarily gendered, as well as a lot of smoking (both adult and underage). Granted, it was a very stressful situation, and I totally believe that the alcohol and cigarettes did flow.
I was also pulled in by the promise of a military kid, and this is a pretty minimal element, more told than shown.
The epilogue, btw, is totally from the perspective of the past-middle-age adult, reflecting on the experience of going back to the location where the hijacking took place.
There are also chapters which take us to the parental perspective, which didn't feel true to the YAness of the book.
I really liked, tho, that she shows us (without even really telling us) the psychological trauma of the experience, including some of the recovery.
When all is said and done, tho, I liked it. I think I'll booktalk it to middle schoolers, and just make sure to address the setting and author of the book in a very clear way.
--
Edit to add:
This ended up being one of the runaway hits of my 2018 middle school booktalk lineup.
I took parts of chapter 25, and focused on the feelings Anna's having on the plane, then ended with a suspenseful line from page 127.
It was really fun to act my way through, you could hear a pin drop when I got to the end.
Then, you let them know it's a true story. Mic drop.
Awesome booktalk.
In this contemplative, fictionalized memoir, Moss writes about her experience as a passenger cum hostage on a hijacked airplane when she was fifteen years old. After a couple of short chapters introducing her family and circumstances (British, military, stationed on Bahrain), Moss puts us on the plane. She paints a picture of what it was like to be restricted onto that vessel -- with very little food, water, or comforts -- for several days, grounded in the hot Jordanian desert. Moss writes in the Postscript and Q&A at the end that she doesn’t remember many of the people or details of the experience, hence the fictionalized nature of this telling. The atmosphere on the airplane is uncomfortable and stressful, boring and psychologically traumatizing at the same time. The hijackers came from Palestine, and their motivations in taking over the plane are discussed, but the focus is on Moss, and what she was thinking and feeling. The story not only covers her time on the plane itself, but also some of what happened immediately afterwards, which extends the book farther than many authors might choose to go, even before the back matter. Many aspects of life in 1970 are included, such as alcohol usage and underage smoking, and gendered behavior conforms to the era. Recommended for thoughtful readers in middle and high school, but do not promote this book as an action adventure.
Written for GR:
The meta of this book is the main reason I'm into it.
If it was a fully fictional account out of someone's brain, I'd probably move on, but the fact that this author is also the protagonist IRL really sells it for me. I picked it up hoping it would be actiony, figuring a Title that seemed modeled off of The Girl on the Train would certainly belie some similarity in literary vibe of the book inside, particularly when combined with the subject heading "hijacking." I was surprised to discover that I should have paid more attention to the vibe of the graphic design of the cover. This is not a fast-paced book, and it took me a few weeks to finish it.
Some of the content caused me some concern as well. Although I'm sure it's historically accurate, there's a section on page 56 that seemed unnecessarily gendered, as well as a lot of smoking (both adult and underage). Granted, it was a very stressful situation, and I totally believe that the alcohol and cigarettes did flow.
I was also pulled in by the promise of a military kid, and this is a pretty minimal element, more told than shown.
The epilogue, btw, is totally from the perspective of the past-middle-age adult, reflecting on the experience of going back to the location where the hijacking took place.
There are also chapters which take us to the parental perspective, which didn't feel true to the YAness of the book.
I really liked, tho, that she shows us (without even really telling us) the psychological trauma of the experience, including some of the recovery.
When all is said and done, tho, I liked it. I think I'll booktalk it to middle schoolers, and just make sure to address the setting and author of the book in a very clear way.
--
Edit to add:
This ended up being one of the runaway hits of my 2018 middle school booktalk lineup.
I took parts of chapter 25, and focused on the feelings Anna's having on the plane, then ended with a suspenseful line from page 127.
It was really fun to act my way through, you could hear a pin drop when I got to the end.
Then, you let them know it's a true story. Mic drop.
Awesome booktalk.
April 5, 2016
Based on the author's real-life experience, this is a terrifying prospect - being passenger on a plane taken over by terrorists.
An element of danger is taken away by the fact that, of course, the author lived to tell the tale, but it is still a tense story at times.
Anna, 15 and on her way back to her English boarding school, has left her family in Bahrain to fly solo, and after joking about planes being taken hostage, finds herself in that exact nightmare of a situation.
The prospects of a terrifying psychological battle with captors, of threats, negotiation, shootings... never really materialised. The story focused much more on the boredom, shortages and stifling heat of a desert prison plane. After the initial terror of being taken hostage, Anna and her fellow captives are taken in the plane to await negotiations in the desert, and the long process of sitting still and letting others decide their fate begins.
I did enjoy the read, but it did feel as though more could have happened (even if this is actually a true account of the situation). The ending felt a little rushed as the situation 'ends' (I won't spoil it by saying how). After reading Nick Lake's Hostage Three, about a teenager similarly taken but on a boat, a comparable relationship with a terrorist petered out to nothing and the tension here dissipated without much satisfaction.
It's still a great idea for a story, with a lot to discuss about how the hostages cope, how the staff manage their charges, why the terrorists are doing what they are doing, but it felt a little anti-climactic.
The parts of the story that looked at how the group cope with very little food and water is quite a scary section, and the descriptions of the desert air, whipping storms and cloying heat are excellent.
One for ages 11-15 (no violence other than the initial threat as the plane is taken), good for class discussions.
An element of danger is taken away by the fact that, of course, the author lived to tell the tale, but it is still a tense story at times.
Anna, 15 and on her way back to her English boarding school, has left her family in Bahrain to fly solo, and after joking about planes being taken hostage, finds herself in that exact nightmare of a situation.
The prospects of a terrifying psychological battle with captors, of threats, negotiation, shootings... never really materialised. The story focused much more on the boredom, shortages and stifling heat of a desert prison plane. After the initial terror of being taken hostage, Anna and her fellow captives are taken in the plane to await negotiations in the desert, and the long process of sitting still and letting others decide their fate begins.
I did enjoy the read, but it did feel as though more could have happened (even if this is actually a true account of the situation). The ending felt a little rushed as the situation 'ends' (I won't spoil it by saying how). After reading Nick Lake's Hostage Three, about a teenager similarly taken but on a boat, a comparable relationship with a terrorist petered out to nothing and the tension here dissipated without much satisfaction.
It's still a great idea for a story, with a lot to discuss about how the hostages cope, how the staff manage their charges, why the terrorists are doing what they are doing, but it felt a little anti-climactic.
The parts of the story that looked at how the group cope with very little food and water is quite a scary section, and the descriptions of the desert air, whipping storms and cloying heat are excellent.
One for ages 11-15 (no violence other than the initial threat as the plane is taken), good for class discussions.
December 10, 2017
"This day might be my last."
This is an incredibly unique story - about a young girl who is flying back to boarding school and her plane in hijacked and lands in the Jordan dessert. There are few novels that tackle this topic, especially YA. It's a survival story but it also is about experiencing horrors as a young 15 year old girl and how she combats the panic and fear and who she is strong for.
I especially appreciate that this is based on a true story of the author. It was incredibly brave of her to write it. I really appreciated David and Tim but also Anna's observations of the adults on the plane - the way they cracked and how they let panic seep out into their interactions with other hostages and the hijackers. I also appreciated the perspective of a 15 year old and she tried to understand why they would hijack her plane and what their reasoning was.
But I did like the horrible Lady Mac (as they nicknamed her). She was this horrible reality that hung over their heads. This is a well crafted story of survival and inner strength. I'm so glad I read it.
This is an incredibly unique story - about a young girl who is flying back to boarding school and her plane in hijacked and lands in the Jordan dessert. There are few novels that tackle this topic, especially YA. It's a survival story but it also is about experiencing horrors as a young 15 year old girl and how she combats the panic and fear and who she is strong for.
I especially appreciate that this is based on a true story of the author. It was incredibly brave of her to write it. I really appreciated David and Tim but also Anna's observations of the adults on the plane - the way they cracked and how they let panic seep out into their interactions with other hostages and the hijackers. I also appreciated the perspective of a 15 year old and she tried to understand why they would hijack her plane and what their reasoning was.
But I did like the horrible Lady Mac (as they nicknamed her). She was this horrible reality that hung over their heads. This is a well crafted story of survival and inner strength. I'm so glad I read it.
February 21, 2017
2.5 stars. This was certainly a decent book, it just... didn't have much going on aside from the plane?
The writing style is another downside. Everything is narrated, rather than actually shown. The girl sits in the plane for three days. We don't see that, but it happened! This makes it much harder to empathize with the character's situation.
Aside from that, this book doesn't have much going for it. The main character seems to be the “universally relatable” type, with no real character work. Her character work was incredibly halfhearted.
This book in general just didn't seem to have much going on aside from the plane. Not recommended.
The writing style is another downside. Everything is narrated, rather than actually shown. The girl sits in the plane for three days. We don't see that, but it happened! This makes it much harder to empathize with the character's situation.
Aside from that, this book doesn't have much going for it. The main character seems to be the “universally relatable” type, with no real character work. Her character work was incredibly halfhearted.
This book in general just didn't seem to have much going on aside from the plane. Not recommended.
October 1, 2019
Girl on a Plane is a very intriguing book. It is about a 15-year-old girl, named Anna. Anna is flying back to her boarding school after the summer. While Anna and her friends have talked about hijacks before, none of them thought that it would actually happen to one of them. On her way to London, Anna's plane is hijacked by the PFLP, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The reader follows Anna through the days she is on the plane. She has barely any food and water, no bathrooms and no electricity. In the book, I would've liked to hear more about the actual hijackers. We know that they are not a terrorist group but they are fighting for the freedom of their country. I wanted to know more about their purpose and why they were hijacking planes as a way to fight for their freedom. Overall, it was a good book with an interesting storyline, as this was based on a true story. The author's story in particular.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2018
Girl on a Plane was a great book based on a true story. This was about a girl named Anna who was hijacked by Palestinians to get their freedom. Anna, with multiple other people are on a plane with no food, water, or hope for days dealing with the fear of death constantly. The reason why I took 1 star off from being a five star was because I felt as if it was carried on too much and got boring at a few points in the book. I recommend this amazing book to everyone.
April 6, 2016
Based on true events from the Middle East in the 1970s, a plane carrying Anna back to school in England is hijacked by Palestinians who are desperate to draw international attention to their plight. The plane is one of 3 which is held captive at a deserted Syrian airfield, loaded with explosives and ready to be blown up at any minute if demands aren't met. I'd imagine it is difficult to convey the sense of heat, hunger/thirst and boredom, not to mention the fear, of those 4 days as hostages and it is done reasonably well, but I didn't feel the tension of the situation as much as I'd expected, maybe because of the character's 'stiff upper lip'! I'm sure many teens will enjoy this novel - it is very good at summarising the historical context so a lack of background knowledge shouldn't be a disadvantage.
December 13, 2019
If one takes this book as pure fiction then it isn't that good, frankly. I had a hard time enjoying taking it as pure fiction. But when I altered my view to taking this book as one would take movies based on true events, it was wonderful! The details were perfect, the plot exactly as life would put it, all of it wonderful. I felt bad for each person, felt emotion for all the events. Felt the hijackers pain and the hostages fury. The hostages fear and the hijackers hatred. God help us all. God bless those poor people, hostage and hijacker a like. And God help Lady Macbeth too.
September 21, 2017
I thought a novel about an airplane hijacking would be riveting, but it wasn't.
March 17, 2023
This book is based upon the author's own experience with the Dawson's Field Hijackings in the 1970s when she was 15 years old. This is a fictionalized not *exact* accounting, which she explains at the end of the book. She did borrow some description from people she met but didn't know there names. This book really makes one think about hijackings not only from the victims viewpoint but also why people become desperate enough to be willing to endanger and/or kill others as a political statement. The psychological trauma that is caused by such events is also touched upon. One also learns how sometimes media is inconsiderate of a person's trauma while chasing a story. This book is really thought provoking and makes you consider things from multiple view points.
Anna's family has been living in the Middle East for some time since her Dad is currently working there. There always moving around and due to that she is sent abroad to a boarding school in England while her family will take a separate flight. The family is getting ready to move once again but it's time for her to get on a plane and head to school. Unfortunately for Anna her plane is hijacked by a refugee group that has felt ignored and dehumanized for too long. The plane is redirected into the desert with no additional water or food for the passengers. Anna must try to keep sane under scary circumstances knowing very well that all their lives may be forfeit if the hijackers demands are not met. Some bonds are made and she sees both the good and bad in people both from her fellow passengers and the hijackers, which causes her some confusion, making her come to the realization is that they were all human beings trying to survive but using different methods.
Anna's family has been living in the Middle East for some time since her Dad is currently working there. There always moving around and due to that she is sent abroad to a boarding school in England while her family will take a separate flight. The family is getting ready to move once again but it's time for her to get on a plane and head to school. Unfortunately for Anna her plane is hijacked by a refugee group that has felt ignored and dehumanized for too long. The plane is redirected into the desert with no additional water or food for the passengers. Anna must try to keep sane under scary circumstances knowing very well that all their lives may be forfeit if the hijackers demands are not met. Some bonds are made and she sees both the good and bad in people both from her fellow passengers and the hijackers, which causes her some confusion, making her come to the realization is that they were all human beings trying to survive but using different methods.
May 27, 2019
This is a fictionalised account of the author's own experience of being hijacked by Palestinian terrorists back in 1970. Despite being told in retrospect 40 years later, Moss writes very convincingly; it is clearly (obviously) not an experience which ever leaves you.
The story is very immersive and recreates the oppressive claustrophobia well. What I liked most about the novel was its exploration of human nature: empathy, loss and anger as well as the political history and tensions surrounding Israel and Palestine. I feel like I learned a lot from this book about one of the world's most controversial conflicts without detriment to the actual story.
You can see the author's trepidation about the memories of this in the way she chooses a character - Anna - to represent herself, although interestingly she shows her connection to the events through the use of her first person narrative.
Perhaps the only flaw - one which is difficult to remedy given the premise of the novel - was the occasionally sluggish pace. On the one hand it served to highlight the boredom and stretching of time aboard the hijacked plane, yet on the other it made the story a little wearisome at times.
The story is very immersive and recreates the oppressive claustrophobia well. What I liked most about the novel was its exploration of human nature: empathy, loss and anger as well as the political history and tensions surrounding Israel and Palestine. I feel like I learned a lot from this book about one of the world's most controversial conflicts without detriment to the actual story.
You can see the author's trepidation about the memories of this in the way she chooses a character - Anna - to represent herself, although interestingly she shows her connection to the events through the use of her first person narrative.
Perhaps the only flaw - one which is difficult to remedy given the premise of the novel - was the occasionally sluggish pace. On the one hand it served to highlight the boredom and stretching of time aboard the hijacked plane, yet on the other it made the story a little wearisome at times.
January 9, 2019
First couple of chapters aren't very engaging but after that I was hooked! And amazing story that shows how strong and brave we can be when our situation is hopeless. Would you be able to stay calm if your plane was highjacked in the Jordanain desert for 4 days? Knowing that there are explosives attatched to various parts of the plane and that unless the British goverment releases a Palastinian prisioner from a British jail buy the dealine date you will be blown up? I feel in love with Anna, David and little Tim, laughed with them, felt their pain and anxiety and ever shed a tear. I highly recommend Girl on a plane, especially if you like true stories!
August 5, 2023
Trigger warnings: terrorism, hijacking, physical violence, gun violence, sexual assault (off page), colonialism, racism, Islamophobia
A compelling story set in the 1970s and inspired by the author's own experiences of being on a plane hijacked by Palestinian liberationists. I find it intriguing that she chose to write a novel rather than a nonfiction book about her experiences, but that's ultimately besides the point.
It's very clear that the story draws heavily on the author's memories of what she went through, including the environment, the heat, the tension and the experiences of the passengers. I did feel like the epilogue was a little unnecessary to the story, but I can understand why the author felt it was necessary to HER story, so I'll let it slide.
A compelling story set in the 1970s and inspired by the author's own experiences of being on a plane hijacked by Palestinian liberationists. I find it intriguing that she chose to write a novel rather than a nonfiction book about her experiences, but that's ultimately besides the point.
It's very clear that the story draws heavily on the author's memories of what she went through, including the environment, the heat, the tension and the experiences of the passengers. I did feel like the epilogue was a little unnecessary to the story, but I can understand why the author felt it was necessary to HER story, so I'll let it slide.
March 1, 2017
Girl On A Plane - Miriam Moss
4.5 out of 5 stars
___________________________________________
It is 1970. You are 15 years old, embarking on a plane to boarding school unaware of what is going to happen. You say bye to your parents at the airport with no doubt that you won’t see them again. You board the plane. The plane flies. But the plane does not arrive at the proper destination. The man with the gun is mean, hollering orders, and your adolescent mind is confused. You don’t understand what is happening, but the truth is… you’ve been hijacked.
At the age of 15, Anna often hopes that her reality is a dream, that she will wake up one day to find herself surrounded by normalcy. This is not the case though. While travelling to boarding school in England, Anna’s plane is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists and lands in a Jordanian desert. The terrorists give Britain a referendum; either they release a member the prime minister holds captive or the plane in which Anna is on (tethered with bombs) will explode. Four days and the decision must be made. Do the people on the plane survive?
Through scorching weather, fear and homesickness, Anna is forced to find strength through this journey.
One of my favourite characters in this book is (some might say) way out in left field. He is a supporting character but I feel that he helped to place the story into perspective. Jamal is a boy apart of the terrorist group, around Anna’s age. Anna would converse with Jamal often towards the end and she asked him a question: why are you doing this? His answer was so profound it sent chills down my spine. He talks about what happened one day when he and his brother came home from school.
“ ‘When I was eleven, we came home from school down the long, straight track that lead to the farmhouse. Our mother, then our father, ran out of the house. There was a burst of gunfire. They fell, face down. Dead. I dragged my brother into the long grass, and we hid till it was dark. Then we left. We never went back. Couldn’t.’ He turns toward me. “Tell me - where would you be if that had happened to you?’ He looks right at me. ‘Might you be here too?’ ”
The writing was exceptional. Simple and to the point, written for any age group. Be aware though that the storyline in itself is a sensitive topic though the topic makes a brilliant story nonetheless.
Usually there are a few quirks that I do not like in a novel but I find none within this story.
This fiction created from a true story is suitable for anyone. I highly recommend this novel, by far one of my unforgettable favourites.
Yours truly, Biblio Virgo
4.5 out of 5 stars
___________________________________________
It is 1970. You are 15 years old, embarking on a plane to boarding school unaware of what is going to happen. You say bye to your parents at the airport with no doubt that you won’t see them again. You board the plane. The plane flies. But the plane does not arrive at the proper destination. The man with the gun is mean, hollering orders, and your adolescent mind is confused. You don’t understand what is happening, but the truth is… you’ve been hijacked.
At the age of 15, Anna often hopes that her reality is a dream, that she will wake up one day to find herself surrounded by normalcy. This is not the case though. While travelling to boarding school in England, Anna’s plane is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists and lands in a Jordanian desert. The terrorists give Britain a referendum; either they release a member the prime minister holds captive or the plane in which Anna is on (tethered with bombs) will explode. Four days and the decision must be made. Do the people on the plane survive?
Through scorching weather, fear and homesickness, Anna is forced to find strength through this journey.
One of my favourite characters in this book is (some might say) way out in left field. He is a supporting character but I feel that he helped to place the story into perspective. Jamal is a boy apart of the terrorist group, around Anna’s age. Anna would converse with Jamal often towards the end and she asked him a question: why are you doing this? His answer was so profound it sent chills down my spine. He talks about what happened one day when he and his brother came home from school.
“ ‘When I was eleven, we came home from school down the long, straight track that lead to the farmhouse. Our mother, then our father, ran out of the house. There was a burst of gunfire. They fell, face down. Dead. I dragged my brother into the long grass, and we hid till it was dark. Then we left. We never went back. Couldn’t.’ He turns toward me. “Tell me - where would you be if that had happened to you?’ He looks right at me. ‘Might you be here too?’ ”
The writing was exceptional. Simple and to the point, written for any age group. Be aware though that the storyline in itself is a sensitive topic though the topic makes a brilliant story nonetheless.
Usually there are a few quirks that I do not like in a novel but I find none within this story.
This fiction created from a true story is suitable for anyone. I highly recommend this novel, by far one of my unforgettable favourites.
Yours truly, Biblio Virgo
September 26, 2016
Girl on a Plane by Miriam Moss is a fictionalized account of the true hijackings that took place in the 1970s by a Palestinian terrorist group. The book stars 15 year old Anna, who doesn't know what awaits her on the plane as she tries to get back to her boarding school. This book is based off of the real life experience of the author, Miriam Moss. The plane is taken over by Palestinian radicals, who are trying to make themselves heard after being taken off of their land. Whose land it truly is could be an entire discussion on its own, but the heart of the story is really Anna and her interactions with the other characters on the plane.
I have read a few other reviews of this book, and the concerns people had were different from mine. There is a lot of wonderful parts to this book. It felt very real to me. Other reviews commented on how it didn't seem to ramp up the suspense and the terror Anna and the other passengers might have been feeling. I feel that this is very deliberate and true to life. Being in a life and death situation is exhausting, and I am sure the human mind separates itself from the reality. I loved that she mentioned that she became bored (I can see that happening-- regardless of if you are going to die or not, you want to just know one way or another), and she spent time doing things with the other kids on the plane to pass the time. It seems odd (and it did also to Anna) to be this way, but I suspect that this is the reality. And I always felt the ominous, what is going to happen, lurking in the background. The book is beautifully written. My favorite part of the book was the young terrorist that Anna befriended. He is the scariest villain because he's sympathetic and you have the idea that given a different set of circumstances, he wouldn't be in the position he is now.
My issues stem with how the whole book ends. The first 80-90% of the book feels like a story, and the rest feels like Miriam's actual experience at the end. This may be deliberate, but because it started as a fictionalization, it should end and wrap things up like a fictionalization. I wanted to see her give us a little info on the other survivors from the plane, even if it was just to say that she never saw them or talked to them again possibly because no one wants to relive that. Or perhaps she exchanged contact info and after the first few bursts of communication, it died away as many penpals do. Instead we get a faceless husband who never really makes an appearance and we don't know his reaction to what Anna is feeling at the time or anything. It's a very strange epilogue and left me feeling unsatisfied.
Overall, a worthy read of a hijacking that feels terrifyingly real and beautifully written, although the last few chapters of the book made me wish for a different more gratifying ending.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have read a few other reviews of this book, and the concerns people had were different from mine. There is a lot of wonderful parts to this book. It felt very real to me. Other reviews commented on how it didn't seem to ramp up the suspense and the terror Anna and the other passengers might have been feeling. I feel that this is very deliberate and true to life. Being in a life and death situation is exhausting, and I am sure the human mind separates itself from the reality. I loved that she mentioned that she became bored (I can see that happening-- regardless of if you are going to die or not, you want to just know one way or another), and she spent time doing things with the other kids on the plane to pass the time. It seems odd (and it did also to Anna) to be this way, but I suspect that this is the reality. And I always felt the ominous, what is going to happen, lurking in the background. The book is beautifully written. My favorite part of the book was the young terrorist that Anna befriended. He is the scariest villain because he's sympathetic and you have the idea that given a different set of circumstances, he wouldn't be in the position he is now.
My issues stem with how the whole book ends. The first 80-90% of the book feels like a story, and the rest feels like Miriam's actual experience at the end. This may be deliberate, but because it started as a fictionalization, it should end and wrap things up like a fictionalization. I wanted to see her give us a little info on the other survivors from the plane, even if it was just to say that she never saw them or talked to them again possibly because no one wants to relive that. Or perhaps she exchanged contact info and after the first few bursts of communication, it died away as many penpals do. Instead we get a faceless husband who never really makes an appearance and we don't know his reaction to what Anna is feeling at the time or anything. It's a very strange epilogue and left me feeling unsatisfied.
Overall, a worthy read of a hijacking that feels terrifyingly real and beautifully written, although the last few chapters of the book made me wish for a different more gratifying ending.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2018
Girl on a Plane is based on the authors own experience of being on a hijacked plane during the 1970's Dawson's Field Hijackings. While Moss did fictionalize friendships, certain scenes, dialogue etc, the core of this story was real.
However, it just fell a little lackluster with heart and even tension
However, it just fell a little lackluster with heart and even tension
October 24, 2022
4.5
Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Very well written and suspenseful!
Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Very well written and suspenseful!
May 23, 2023
it was really good
October 7, 2025
The story is good quick and intense!
August 24, 2021
3.5 stars
September 27, 2023
This book was one of best based on a true stories that I have ever read.
September 27, 2018
This book is about a girl who doesn't want to go back to England for her school. On her way there her plane was hijacked. She makes many relationships when she is on the plane. This is such a good book.
November 3, 2017
Anna who goes to a boarding school because her family always moves. She visits her family in Bahrain. When its time to go back her plane gets hijacked. Even though this book had an interesting topic it wasn't that fun to read.
January 23, 2018
This was amazing book for me to read. I thought everything was planned so well and the description was great! It was so enjoyable to read; very spooky and horrific (at some points ). I have to give it a 5 Star Rating because it was so adventurous, mysterious and AMAZING to read!!! Hope this helps 👍🏻
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