What do you think?
Rate this book
Rising Water: The Story of the Thai Cave Rescue
The incredible true story of the twelve boys trapped with their coach in a flooded cave in Thailand and their inspiring rescue.
On June 23rd, 2018, twelve members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach were exploring the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex in northern Thailand when disaster struck. A rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels, trapping them as they took shelter on a shelf of the dark cave. Eight days of searching yielded no signs of life, but on July 2nd they were discovered by two British divers. The boys and their coach were eventually rescued in an international operation that took three days. What could have been a terrible tragedy became an amazing story of survival.
Award-winning author Marc Aronson brings us the backstory behind how this astounding rescue took place. Rising Water highlights the creative thinking and technology that made a successful mission possible by examining the physical, environmental, and psychological factors surrounding the rescue. From the brave Thai Navy SEAL who lost his life while placing oxygen tanks along the passageways of the cave, to the British divers that ultimately swam the boys to safety, to the bravery of the boys and their coach, this is the breathtaking rescue that captivated the entire world.
On June 23rd, 2018, twelve members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach were exploring the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex in northern Thailand when disaster struck. A rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels, trapping them as they took shelter on a shelf of the dark cave. Eight days of searching yielded no signs of life, but on July 2nd they were discovered by two British divers. The boys and their coach were eventually rescued in an international operation that took three days. What could have been a terrible tragedy became an amazing story of survival.
Award-winning author Marc Aronson brings us the backstory behind how this astounding rescue took place. Rising Water highlights the creative thinking and technology that made a successful mission possible by examining the physical, environmental, and psychological factors surrounding the rescue. From the brave Thai Navy SEAL who lost his life while placing oxygen tanks along the passageways of the cave, to the British divers that ultimately swam the boys to safety, to the bravery of the boys and their coach, this is the breathtaking rescue that captivated the entire world.
176 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2019
50 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Marc Aronson
53 books83 followersAronson has won many awards for his books for young readers and has a doctorate in American history. His lectures cover educational topics such as mysteries and controversies in American history, teenagers and their reading, the literary passions of boys, and always leave audiences asking for more.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/marcar...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/marcar...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
April 15, 2019
Unrealized potential. Story is riveting, but the set up takes a while, and the tone stays rigidly journalistic until the end when there are some obvious political statements made. I wish we'd been plunged into the action from the first moment.
August 5, 2020
While the book felt rushed, it was an interesting topic. I would've preferred more narrative and dramatization, and I'm quite sure a 1 hour tv expose on the incident would've sufficed. You see, I had barely heard about this story and legitimately didn't know how it ended. All 13 kids could have perished in that cave for all I knew, so the author could have certainly kept me in suspense in detailing such a terrifying situation. But I wasn't too excited...it was pretty clinical in its approach.
I appreciated his focus on immigration, the politics involved in the rescue, media literacy (advising us to consider why some stories are covered more than others), global interdependence, and his absolute determination in showing that a multinational teamwork approach worked when Elon Musk's money didn't save the day.
The book was okay, but the the angles mentioned above and the author's note (in which he thoroughly outlines his entire research team process) bumps it to a 3 for me.
I appreciated his focus on immigration, the politics involved in the rescue, media literacy (advising us to consider why some stories are covered more than others), global interdependence, and his absolute determination in showing that a multinational teamwork approach worked when Elon Musk's money didn't save the day.
The book was okay, but the the angles mentioned above and the author's note (in which he thoroughly outlines his entire research team process) bumps it to a 3 for me.
June 26, 2020
I'm conflicted on this book.
- The story itself is fascinating, but
- I found the book choppy and difficult to follow. There are lots and lots of people involved in a relatively short book and it's difficult to keep track of more than a handful.
- the Thai names are hard for English speakers - particularly for children - and I'm trying to figure out some strategies to help our 4th-6th grade readers tackle those names since this book is a Wyoming Indian Paintbrush nominee for next school year.
- I enjoyed the parts of chapters that gave more description of cave diving, SEALs, etc.
- I would have liked to feel more connected to the trapped boys, but the author explains at the end how in Thai/Buddhist culture, people share their experiences differently than we would expect in traditional Western society; the boys and their families didn't want tons of attention on themselves, but spoke of living good lives in the future in gratitude for all that had been done and sacrificed to save them.
- I appreciated the endnotes that spoke of the detailed research conducted and the slew of assistants and volunteers that helped. It also spoke of the book being rushed to publication, which I feel like is one reason it feels choppy and rushed...because it was.
- after finishing I did more reading online that was interesting...more interesting than the book, but I wouldn't have known to look if it hadn't been for the book, so I'm glad I read the book.
- Mr. Aronson speaks of trying to give equal credit to the experts and volunteers from many different countries and I appreciate that aspect, that one group or another is not singled out for more praise or credit. He does spend the last few pages connecting the rescue to social/political/humanitarian causes such as immigration and global competition vs global collaboration.
The book is good, but very factual and not very captivating. I fear it will be a hard sell for my students.
- The story itself is fascinating, but
- I found the book choppy and difficult to follow. There are lots and lots of people involved in a relatively short book and it's difficult to keep track of more than a handful.
- the Thai names are hard for English speakers - particularly for children - and I'm trying to figure out some strategies to help our 4th-6th grade readers tackle those names since this book is a Wyoming Indian Paintbrush nominee for next school year.
- I enjoyed the parts of chapters that gave more description of cave diving, SEALs, etc.
- I would have liked to feel more connected to the trapped boys, but the author explains at the end how in Thai/Buddhist culture, people share their experiences differently than we would expect in traditional Western society; the boys and their families didn't want tons of attention on themselves, but spoke of living good lives in the future in gratitude for all that had been done and sacrificed to save them.
- I appreciated the endnotes that spoke of the detailed research conducted and the slew of assistants and volunteers that helped. It also spoke of the book being rushed to publication, which I feel like is one reason it feels choppy and rushed...because it was.
- after finishing I did more reading online that was interesting...more interesting than the book, but I wouldn't have known to look if it hadn't been for the book, so I'm glad I read the book.
- Mr. Aronson speaks of trying to give equal credit to the experts and volunteers from many different countries and I appreciate that aspect, that one group or another is not singled out for more praise or credit. He does spend the last few pages connecting the rescue to social/political/humanitarian causes such as immigration and global competition vs global collaboration.
The book is good, but very factual and not very captivating. I fear it will be a hard sell for my students.
July 24, 2020
Elon Musk interferes with a rescue operation and calls a rescue diver a "pedo guy" and a "child rapist" and is later found not guilty of defamation.
This book: "Elon Musk [was] eager to help."
This book: "Elon Musk [was] eager to help."
Read
February 17, 2019Reviewing for professional magazine, so read my GLOWING review in SLC magazine!
April 9, 2019
I liked this, but I wish it'd been less about spirituality/religion and had more details about the actual events.
February 29, 2020
One of the first books to come out describing the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue, written by a middle school author I've been watching for years.
I'm always looking for books that tell true, exciting stories, in a way that is accessible to a middle school audience. So when I saw this existed, it was a no-brainer to slide it into my middle school visit tour list.
As other reviews will tell you, this book isn't perfect. But I appreciate Aronson's inclusion of the ten-page afterword which goes into detail about how the provenance of the book. It's well-researched, given the constraints Aronson was working with.
This story has drawn some comparison with the Chilean Miner Accident story of 2010, which Aronson also authored a book about. As someone who's done a fair amount of caving (in a totally tourist capacity), it tugs on me a bit when some draw that comparison. The miners were working. There not by their own choice. These soccer players were in that cave strictly for fun, and by choice.
When I talked about this book with the middle schoolers, I described one of my own minor adventures going into a cave, and then briefly revealed the ripped-from-the-headlinesness of this book.
It's a great story, respectfully told. I hope that some day one of the kids who lived through the experience writes their own book, aimed at a middle school audience.
I'm always looking for books that tell true, exciting stories, in a way that is accessible to a middle school audience. So when I saw this existed, it was a no-brainer to slide it into my middle school visit tour list.
As other reviews will tell you, this book isn't perfect. But I appreciate Aronson's inclusion of the ten-page afterword which goes into detail about how the provenance of the book. It's well-researched, given the constraints Aronson was working with.
This story has drawn some comparison with the Chilean Miner Accident story of 2010, which Aronson also authored a book about. As someone who's done a fair amount of caving (in a totally tourist capacity), it tugs on me a bit when some draw that comparison. The miners were working. There not by their own choice. These soccer players were in that cave strictly for fun, and by choice.
When I talked about this book with the middle schoolers, I described one of my own minor adventures going into a cave, and then briefly revealed the ripped-from-the-headlinesness of this book.
It's a great story, respectfully told. I hope that some day one of the kids who lived through the experience writes their own book, aimed at a middle school audience.
May 9, 2019
Aronson's writing is impeccably factual, and he is very careful to take a global, as opposed to an American-centric, view of the event. But for a variety of reasons, some related to the (understandable) rush to publish, we do not learn much about the personal, inner lives of the major players in this story. Aronson explains his reasoning behind the way he told the story and how he researched it in an afterward; it is one of the most interesting parts of the book. While I commend Aronson for the choices he made in researching and telling this story, the result is a somewhat distant-feeling account that, at times, gets bogged down in details. Still, Aronson does a good job of piecing together the chronology of the events of a story that had the world spellbound, and the final, improbably miraculous happy ending makes this an exciting read even without a lot of personal interest added. Aronson's decision to place the story in the larger context of global issues of nationalism and immigration also adds weight and interest to the book.
April 7, 2019
The author admits this was rushed into print and, well, it shows. There are some weird moments that taking more time could have avoided, like the discussion of what "stateless" means ("undocmented immigrants" would not have been my first comparison), or what the various ethnic groups the boys were and what that meant (historically and today). Even weirder was his mentioning of Elon Musk's Twitter activities in a passing - if you're going to talk about Musk's attempted involvement in the rescue and his use of Twitter, why not also mention how Musk then made comments on that platform that were seriously questionable? Or why the submarine he proposed wouldn't have worked, given the detail Aronson goes into about the route the divers took?
I'm waiting for another book on the topic to add to our collection as this is a topic I know my readers will want to learn more about; this is just not the book.
eARC provided by publisher.
I'm waiting for another book on the topic to add to our collection as this is a topic I know my readers will want to learn more about; this is just not the book.
eARC provided by publisher.
February 4, 2019
This is the average star rating for my 5th Grade Language Arts class. I used this as a nonfiction read aloud. The students were highly engaged in the story; however, there were so many names and high level vocabulary that I think some found it difficult to follow. The book was very well researched.
Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2022
Read-aloud bedtime book. Wasted opportunity to tell a gripping story with a happy ending. This is a short book packed with names and details written more like a journalists briefing document than a book. There is no suspense, we hardly hear about and from the boys at all regarding their ordeal while trapped in the cave - how did they feel, what were their individual ups and downs, hopes and fears? Likewise, the actual rescue was written in a way that made it a let down, even though it must have been nail biting, arduous, and dramatic. Where are the first-person detailed view from each of the key rescuers or rescue teams? We do not hear from parents and other loved ones waiting at the cave mouth for new except in the most general terms.
Yes, we learned more of the facts surrounding the event, clearly this book is very carefully researched, but this book failed to inject human emotion into what was an incredibly emotional time. Disappointing.
Yes, we learned more of the facts surrounding the event, clearly this book is very carefully researched, but this book failed to inject human emotion into what was an incredibly emotional time. Disappointing.
January 13, 2020
This is a thorough account of the Thai cave rescue from 2018. I listened on audio. I found my attention drifting a bit here and there, but I'm not sure if that was the book itself or listening to a nonfic on audio (which I do not do too much). The lasts hour of the book was riveting and I liked learning about the author's research and writing process on this story too.
January 5, 2021
Do NOT skip the “How I Did My Research” chapter (it addressed a lot of the concerns I had/shortcomings I saw), and if you can’t find the time to read the entire book, at least read Ch. 10 about what we can learn from this experience for the future.
November 13, 2019
A nice little “instant” book that gives a good recap of the rescue operation and the context under which it took place.
February 10, 2020
Meh. Story had potential, but didn’t deliver. Aronson described it as an “instant” book and had different people writing different parts.
July 18, 2021
Having read All Thirteen just last year, my experience reading this book was certainly skewed. I think I will provide an excellent all-school reading experience this year and I look forward to discussing with my colleagues and students.
May 19, 2019
This book emphasizes the cooperation between skilled rescue teams from different countries all over the world that resulted in the rescue of a Thai boys soccer team trapped in a cave that had partly filled with water due to a sudden storm. The world was gripped by this dramatic story as it took place over a number of days and all were rooting for the safety of the boys and their coaches.
This author wrote Deep, Down, Dark, about the Chilean miner rescue, which was more interesting to me as it focused so much on the miners and how they organized themselves and coped. Still, the message of Rising Water is a good one about the cooperation, skill and self discipline to pull off the rescue and the patience and resilience of the boys and their leaders. The book is geared to middle schoolers and I read it to see if my grandkids might like it.
This author wrote Deep, Down, Dark, about the Chilean miner rescue, which was more interesting to me as it focused so much on the miners and how they organized themselves and coped. Still, the message of Rising Water is a good one about the cooperation, skill and self discipline to pull off the rescue and the patience and resilience of the boys and their leaders. The book is geared to middle schoolers and I read it to see if my grandkids might like it.
April 18, 2019
The difficulties, tension, hope and fears of what happened at the Thai Caves comes to life along with many details and explanations of what the rescuers and boys truly faced.
The Thai Cave rescue of the boy's soccer team brought the world together as they not only followed the rescue attempts through the media, but many flew in to offer their support and real help. The background of the caves and the boys offers insight and understanding as to their original adventure, while many more explanation help the reader to understand how the accident occurred, and even more so, what trails the rescuers faced and how they overcame these.
The author's thorough and care in research shines through these pages as he hits various angles and aspects surrounding this well-known event. It begins with background information about the caves themselves, which clarifies why the team was in the caves. Then, a brief but clear summary is given of each boy as well as a more detailed explanation about the soccer team and it's coach. This part alone offered interesting insight and is sure to connect young readers with the boys. But then, with every dip into information, the author grounds the happenings into real life and makes it clear how intense the situation was—and how normal these kids were.
Young readers as well as adults will be pulled into this book, thanks not only to the information but also to the moments of well laid and real tension. While some moments read like a story, most pages come across like a newspaper/magazine article. A lot of this has to do to the speed with which it was written. The author admits to having to complete the book in a tight time crunch. Unfortunately, this shows. While the information is extremely well done and very interesting, it sometimes comes across a bit pasted together. Some areas gained quite a bit of depth in explanation, while others were mentioned and almost forgotten. The writing itself illustrated this too, as some passages contain a fairly high vocabulary, where others fall back and explain or speak down to the reader (in comparison).
Despite these problems, the book is very interesting and will pull readers in. The care in the research does come across well, and readers will learn quite a bit while staying engaged in the situation. In other words, I can recommend this to upper middle graders and tweens.
I received a complimentary copy and did enjoy reading it, while learning quite a bit on the way.
The Thai Cave rescue of the boy's soccer team brought the world together as they not only followed the rescue attempts through the media, but many flew in to offer their support and real help. The background of the caves and the boys offers insight and understanding as to their original adventure, while many more explanation help the reader to understand how the accident occurred, and even more so, what trails the rescuers faced and how they overcame these.
The author's thorough and care in research shines through these pages as he hits various angles and aspects surrounding this well-known event. It begins with background information about the caves themselves, which clarifies why the team was in the caves. Then, a brief but clear summary is given of each boy as well as a more detailed explanation about the soccer team and it's coach. This part alone offered interesting insight and is sure to connect young readers with the boys. But then, with every dip into information, the author grounds the happenings into real life and makes it clear how intense the situation was—and how normal these kids were.
Young readers as well as adults will be pulled into this book, thanks not only to the information but also to the moments of well laid and real tension. While some moments read like a story, most pages come across like a newspaper/magazine article. A lot of this has to do to the speed with which it was written. The author admits to having to complete the book in a tight time crunch. Unfortunately, this shows. While the information is extremely well done and very interesting, it sometimes comes across a bit pasted together. Some areas gained quite a bit of depth in explanation, while others were mentioned and almost forgotten. The writing itself illustrated this too, as some passages contain a fairly high vocabulary, where others fall back and explain or speak down to the reader (in comparison).
Despite these problems, the book is very interesting and will pull readers in. The care in the research does come across well, and readers will learn quite a bit while staying engaged in the situation. In other words, I can recommend this to upper middle graders and tweens.
I received a complimentary copy and did enjoy reading it, while learning quite a bit on the way.
April 22, 2019
On June 23, 2018 , twelve young members of the Wild Boars soccer team in Thailand, along with their assistant coach, went cave exploring. Inside the Tham Luang cave system they advanced down well worn paths heading toward adventure. Unknown to them, during the few hours they were inside, an early storm hit and flooded the entrance and several of the interior chambers. When they tried to leave, they were trapped. Stuck in a far chamber of the caves, there was no way to get through the tight spots that were now completely submerged.
No one knew they were missing until that evening, when parents began to wonder why the boys weren't back from their day trip. Soon a nation was on alert and a rescue mission began. Only, even professional Scuba divers and SEALS, could not force their way through the narrow passageways to find the team.
This is the story of the journey to rescue these boys. An International endeavour to save the team from death. It wasn't until July 2, that they were even reached, and then it was several more days until a plan to get them out could proceed. Day by Day, attempt by attempt, this real life drama unfolds.
My Thoughts-
Amazing! The author, Aronson, does an amazing job digging through information from all the rescue crews and political press releases. He produces a timeline that sheds light on who did what, when, and without bias. The story of the rescue is incredible and the real life photos and maps allow the reader to follow along and see the real people involved.
I was obsessed as I read. The rescue path seemed impossible, and as more and more rescue crews from all over the world came to the same conclusion, I was sure this book would end in tragedy. That's right. I did not know the facts in advance! This book opened it up to my mind.
As a reader I learned about the individual scuba divers and what they went through to even enter the main cave system. Next, finding where the boys were, and if they were even still alive was a whole nother task. Then, how do you get twelve boys and a coach out when there are several miles of underwater passages? This is an incredible story that is a testament to international love. It ends with the author's plea to realize that we need one another. 4 stars!
No one knew they were missing until that evening, when parents began to wonder why the boys weren't back from their day trip. Soon a nation was on alert and a rescue mission began. Only, even professional Scuba divers and SEALS, could not force their way through the narrow passageways to find the team.
This is the story of the journey to rescue these boys. An International endeavour to save the team from death. It wasn't until July 2, that they were even reached, and then it was several more days until a plan to get them out could proceed. Day by Day, attempt by attempt, this real life drama unfolds.
My Thoughts-
Amazing! The author, Aronson, does an amazing job digging through information from all the rescue crews and political press releases. He produces a timeline that sheds light on who did what, when, and without bias. The story of the rescue is incredible and the real life photos and maps allow the reader to follow along and see the real people involved.
I was obsessed as I read. The rescue path seemed impossible, and as more and more rescue crews from all over the world came to the same conclusion, I was sure this book would end in tragedy. That's right. I did not know the facts in advance! This book opened it up to my mind.
As a reader I learned about the individual scuba divers and what they went through to even enter the main cave system. Next, finding where the boys were, and if they were even still alive was a whole nother task. Then, how do you get twelve boys and a coach out when there are several miles of underwater passages? This is an incredible story that is a testament to international love. It ends with the author's plea to realize that we need one another. 4 stars!
June 7, 2019
An account of the rescue of the 12 boys and their coach who were trapped in a cave in northern Thailand when rains flooded their way out in June 2018.
This account tries to give an equal look at all the different countries and groups involved in the cave rescue. It was written very quickly in order to be one of the first accounts to hit the book market. Aronson talks about the pressure and downfalls of writing on such a short schedule in notes at the end. This is a pretty succinct account of the events. Aronson does spend a little extra page time to help readers understand what it means to be stateless since the coach and a few of the boys are stateless. I live in Thailand and know several people who know people involved in these events. I've heard several details that totally didn't make Aronson's book, but I also learned many things from the book that I hadn't heard. I will be really interested to see how our Thai students respond to Aronson's telling and his portrayal of Thailand and Thai customs. I don't think they'll always approve of the way he presented things, but I do appreciate that he had 3 Thais help him in his research so that is much more minimal than it could have been. I hear there is a version of this story being written by a Thai woman and I'll be very interested to read her book. This is a very readable nonfiction book. It isn't very long, and kids/teens who remember these events in the news will likely be curious to learn more so it provides a good reading option to entice them.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. One death of a diver that isn't gorily or sensationally described.
This account tries to give an equal look at all the different countries and groups involved in the cave rescue. It was written very quickly in order to be one of the first accounts to hit the book market. Aronson talks about the pressure and downfalls of writing on such a short schedule in notes at the end. This is a pretty succinct account of the events. Aronson does spend a little extra page time to help readers understand what it means to be stateless since the coach and a few of the boys are stateless. I live in Thailand and know several people who know people involved in these events. I've heard several details that totally didn't make Aronson's book, but I also learned many things from the book that I hadn't heard. I will be really interested to see how our Thai students respond to Aronson's telling and his portrayal of Thailand and Thai customs. I don't think they'll always approve of the way he presented things, but I do appreciate that he had 3 Thais help him in his research so that is much more minimal than it could have been. I hear there is a version of this story being written by a Thai woman and I'll be very interested to read her book. This is a very readable nonfiction book. It isn't very long, and kids/teens who remember these events in the news will likely be curious to learn more so it provides a good reading option to entice them.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. One death of a diver that isn't gorily or sensationally described.
August 14, 2019
In June and July 2018, the world sat riveted to their television screens, grasping at every bit of news of the twelve members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach trapped deep inside the Tham Luang Cave Complex. Families and strangers wept and cheered when news reached them that the boys had been found alive.
Author, Marc Aronson, puts the emotion aside to bring the engrossing back story about the initial cave exploration of the soccer team and the ensuing rescue. Detailed accounts of the rescue teams from different countries show just how well the international community worked together to save the lives of team. From the top cave divers who were flown in from around the world to the brave Thai Navy Seal who lost his life placing oxygen tanks along the way, the reader gets a glimpse into just how dangerous the rescue mission really was. The account of the three day rescue is truly spine chilling. Aronson's attention to detail from press releases, interviews, press conferences, and television from sources of many countries involved in the rescue, gives a complete and accurate account of the near disastrous rescue mission.
Rising Water keeps the reader engrossed in what feels like a new story all over again. Kudos to Aronson for highlighting social issues of the stateless team members. A definite must read for those who love real life adventure.
Original review appears on my blog, Boys To Books.
Author, Marc Aronson, puts the emotion aside to bring the engrossing back story about the initial cave exploration of the soccer team and the ensuing rescue. Detailed accounts of the rescue teams from different countries show just how well the international community worked together to save the lives of team. From the top cave divers who were flown in from around the world to the brave Thai Navy Seal who lost his life placing oxygen tanks along the way, the reader gets a glimpse into just how dangerous the rescue mission really was. The account of the three day rescue is truly spine chilling. Aronson's attention to detail from press releases, interviews, press conferences, and television from sources of many countries involved in the rescue, gives a complete and accurate account of the near disastrous rescue mission.
Rising Water keeps the reader engrossed in what feels like a new story all over again. Kudos to Aronson for highlighting social issues of the stateless team members. A definite must read for those who love real life adventure.
Original review appears on my blog, Boys To Books.
January 26, 2021
YA Nonfiction Lit Circle book
This was written in regards to a true story where 12 boys ands their coach ended dup trapped in a cave in Thailand. Marc Aronson did his research and explained the environmental, physiological, and the physical factors that went into being able to rescue the team quickly and efficiently. He is able to use descriptive word choice and strong imagery in order to elaborate on what occurred in the cave, as well as what was going on outside of it and all the hard work the rescue teams were undergoing in order to help save the team.
I really enjoyed reading this book, especially since it was based on real life events, it made it that much more interesting to read. To be able to learn how these 12 young boys and their coach were rescued, and how people died in order to save them, really blew my mind and made me grateful for everyone who helped save them.
Ranking: ***
This was written in regards to a true story where 12 boys ands their coach ended dup trapped in a cave in Thailand. Marc Aronson did his research and explained the environmental, physiological, and the physical factors that went into being able to rescue the team quickly and efficiently. He is able to use descriptive word choice and strong imagery in order to elaborate on what occurred in the cave, as well as what was going on outside of it and all the hard work the rescue teams were undergoing in order to help save the team.
I really enjoyed reading this book, especially since it was based on real life events, it made it that much more interesting to read. To be able to learn how these 12 young boys and their coach were rescued, and how people died in order to save them, really blew my mind and made me grateful for everyone who helped save them.
Ranking: ***
Read
June 10, 2020This was a pretty quick, non fiction read that I think young readers would enjoy. Support to understand some of the geographic, political, and social issues may be important to scaffold readers into the text. I jumped into the story expecting it to simply be about the rescue of the boys on the soccer team, but it was also about the very important social justice issue of immigration and the difficulties families face when they are stateless and undocumented. If you have a reader that is looking for a story about resilience, perseverance and social justice, that moves quickly and along a chronological time line, this could be a good pick. The adventure seeker might also be interested as there is a great deal of information about the sport of cave diving.
June 17, 2020
What a fascinating book. I like that it's short and yet gets the whole picture, written in an unbiased (from what I can tell) manner showing all the countries involved in the crisis in a positive manner. Cooperation and calm is a prevalent theme. It's written in an easy-to-understand way and I would think it appropriate for middle school and even upper elementary.
It was a little tricky to keep all the names straight, but there's a cast of characters at the beginning of the book. I enjoyed the "How I Researched and Wrote This Book" note at the back; it gave me a better picture of the process and the possible holes in the story. Other great things: black and white photos, color photos, maps, pictures of the people involved, further reading, and references.
It was a little tricky to keep all the names straight, but there's a cast of characters at the beginning of the book. I enjoyed the "How I Researched and Wrote This Book" note at the back; it gave me a better picture of the process and the possible holes in the story. Other great things: black and white photos, color photos, maps, pictures of the people involved, further reading, and references.
September 7, 2021
Ok so I’m torn between 3 and 4 stars. I know that this is a non fiction book and everything but I still expected it to be more exciting. It was quite… bland.
This is the story of the Wild Boars- a Thai soccer team. One day after practice they decide to go explore a cave. It is the dry season so they see no reason to worry about flooding. They get trapped in the cave when it starts raining. It becomes a world wide kinda thing. But will they get the boys out? That’s the question.
So I probably never would have read this one of I hadn’t been assigned to read it for school and I would have been fine to never have read this book in my lifetime. But I think that if you like very informational books, this ones for you. 😂
This is the story of the Wild Boars- a Thai soccer team. One day after practice they decide to go explore a cave. It is the dry season so they see no reason to worry about flooding. They get trapped in the cave when it starts raining. It becomes a world wide kinda thing. But will they get the boys out? That’s the question.
So I probably never would have read this one of I hadn’t been assigned to read it for school and I would have been fine to never have read this book in my lifetime. But I think that if you like very informational books, this ones for you. 😂
June 12, 2024
I remember this story being all over the news several years ago where a soccer team and their coach was stuck in a cave with waters rising quickly. I wanted to know more about the story so I decided to read the book. I thought the author did a good job giving us some detail regarding the family history of the boys. I found it amazing that so many countries were able to come together for this amazing rescue. What these divers and kids had to go through is insane. Thank God they were able to do as much as they did even facing all of the obstacles that were in their way. I think what is crazier is that this could have happened to anyone especially if you weren't familiar with the area. The boys and the divers had a lot of mental fortitude to be able to persevere.
April 9, 2019
In 2018 when the Thai boys and their coach were trapped in a flooded cave the world watched with bated breath. This story, modified for a younger reader audience, outlines what happened over the period of time that they were missing and the daring research mission to rescue them. Through extensive interviews, news reports and stories Marc Aronson brings to life the people involved in this true life drama. It’s a fascinating read and will appeal to anyone who followed the story at the time or those interested in factual events. Colour photographs, cast of characters and comprehensive footnotes add to the strength of this book.
Suitable for 12+
Suitable for 12+
May 6, 2019
On June 23, 2018, twelve children and teenage soccer players and their coach entered the Tham Luang caves in Thailand after a practice game, where they became trapped when the caves flooded during a rainstorm. Over the next week, divers, military, scientists, and rescue workers from across the world would work together to save them. With photographs, quotes, and tension despite knowing the outcome, Aronson provides a concise version of this harrowing true story. The way the people were rescued was amazing, as was the international cooperation and scope of problems to overcome. Recommended to adventure readers and those in search of non-fiction.
January 5, 2021
I read the audio version of this book. It is very easy to follow and tells the remarkable story of the soccer team from Thailand that got trapped in a flooded cave system. The back stories of the boys and several of their rescuers fit almost seamlessly in with the action. Also I like reading this story in which the author shows the reader how people of different religions and cultures from around the world, came together to save the young team.
While some may think the story seemed a little rushed, I disagree. It is perfect for the intended audience, which is young people who want to read a real-life adventure, rescue story.
While some may think the story seemed a little rushed, I disagree. It is perfect for the intended audience, which is young people who want to read a real-life adventure, rescue story.
Read
October 27, 2019Rising water describes the rescue and interview oof the thai soccer team that was traapped in the Tham Luang Complex. The search went on for eight days, and on July 2 they were discovered by two British divers. I am amazed by the perseverance of the team, how they managed to survive for so long without barely any resources, and the quick-thinking and bravery of the two divers that went in to save them. This book reminds me of the great human beings that exist in this world and how if they work together, anything is possible.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews