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How Can You Hijack a Cave?
Two teenage tour guides at the Cathedral Caverns try to rescue a friend being held in a cave by kidnappers demanding money for her release
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1988
8 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Petersen
32 books12 followersP. J. Petersen grew up on a farm six miles from Geyserville, California. He says, "I was sure that I lived in the most boring place in the world--a prune farm in the middle of nowhere. Since my family didn't have the time or money to travel, I did my traveling through books. I read everything I could get my hands on. Most of my books came from the Geyserville Public Library, which was one tiny room served by the county Bookmobile. I loved the place, especially on the day after the Bookmobile came."
Mr. Petersen wanted to be a writer from the beginning. He had other ambitions, like being an airline pilot and a baseball player, but he always intended to write books.
He was not an immediate success. He wrote seriously for over twenty years without selling a single word. Then he had his best idea--to write a book for his daughter Karen, a seventh grader at the time. He had never written for young people, but he knew the kind of books his daughter liked. That book, WOULD YOU SETTLE FOR IMPROBABLE?, was his first published novel. He has been writing books for young people ever since.
Mr. Petersen lives with his wife, Marian, in Redding, California. He has two grown daughters, Karen and Carla, and two grandchildren, Ryan and Emma. A graduate of Stanford University with a Ph.D. in American literature from the University of New Mexico, he taught at Shasta College from 1964 to December 2000. Now that he has retired from teaching, he is available for school visits, workshops, or conferences.
Mr. Petersen wanted to be a writer from the beginning. He had other ambitions, like being an airline pilot and a baseball player, but he always intended to write books.
He was not an immediate success. He wrote seriously for over twenty years without selling a single word. Then he had his best idea--to write a book for his daughter Karen, a seventh grader at the time. He had never written for young people, but he knew the kind of books his daughter liked. That book, WOULD YOU SETTLE FOR IMPROBABLE?, was his first published novel. He has been writing books for young people ever since.
Mr. Petersen lives with his wife, Marian, in Redding, California. He has two grown daughters, Karen and Carla, and two grandchildren, Ryan and Emma. A graduate of Stanford University with a Ph.D. in American literature from the University of New Mexico, he taught at Shasta College from 1964 to December 2000. Now that he has retired from teaching, he is available for school visits, workshops, or conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 24, 2022
I inadvertently saved the best for last. I had a stack of five paperbacks from local author Petersen. This one was autographed to my older brother, and inspired by Shasta Caverns, where we all went on school field trips.
Was I excited to read about a girl getting "kidnapped by terrorists," and spelunking to boot? Absolutely not. I did not want to read it at all.
But Curt and Laura were a fun pair, and we get right to the action before backing up in time. Well written, well structured.
Intrigued by the Brotherhood of Freedom's ransom note. Didn't really get into that much. The "terrorists" are a pair of woe is me guys, kinda 80s TV-esque. So it isn't about their "cause" at all.
So happy at how much I enjoyed this one, in spite of it all.
Was I excited to read about a girl getting "kidnapped by terrorists," and spelunking to boot? Absolutely not. I did not want to read it at all.
But Curt and Laura were a fun pair, and we get right to the action before backing up in time. Well written, well structured.
Intrigued by the Brotherhood of Freedom's ransom note. Didn't really get into that much. The "terrorists" are a pair of woe is me guys, kinda 80s TV-esque. So it isn't about their "cause" at all.
So happy at how much I enjoyed this one, in spite of it all.
February 24, 2019
How Can You Hijack a Cave? is a straightforward story about two teens' spelunking adventure to save a kidnapped friend. If kidnappings and caving adventures are your cup of tea, then give this a look. While the characters are on the unmemorable side, the story is engaging enough to keep you reading. I wouldn't recommend buying it or searching it out, but if you have a copy in hand and are looking on here to see if it's kid friendly, then know that it's fine. The only warning I'd give is that there's some tense moments that could frighten younger readers, but that's pretty expected for a kidnapping story.
July 26, 2025
pretty good book seemed like a nice little start, then the middle kinda dropped but picked up in the last part, I wish they would've given the characters more backstory and explained certain aspects of the story more, but all in all, it was a decent story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2015
Read this in jr. high, and found it such a fun read. Cathedral Caverns was also apparently based off of caverns near my hometown, which I remember thinking was just "so cool!"
What I (still) love about this book is that it's not "Mary Sue" or, rather, "Marty Stu", fiction, just a good old-fashioned adventure.
What I (still) love about this book is that it's not "Mary Sue" or, rather, "Marty Stu", fiction, just a good old-fashioned adventure.
May 25, 2010
a really cute book! I read it in high school then had to buy it so I could read it again. Gotta love adventure books!
August 10, 2010
This is a pretty average book about a girl who is kidnapped and held in a cave for ransom. Her two friends try to rescue her, but end up making things worse. However, it all ends well.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews