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No Way Out
Hiking along the Virgin River in Utah, nineteen-year-old Amy, her brother, and five friends battle a flash flood
Paperback
First published July 1, 1988
53 people want to read
About the author
Ivy Ruckman
19 books27 followersIvy Ruckman is the award-winning author of fourteen books, including No Way Out, for which she also wrote the screenplay. She is a former English teacher and creative writing instructor, and has written several short stories for young readers. Mrs. Ruckman lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 1, 2011
This book is really not that good. I was desperate for a small book to bring on a trip, an easy read for the planes and without much time to look and decide, this is what I came up with.
March 27, 2018
The book No Way Out by Ivy Ruckman is one that tells of many set backs and triumph. The main character, Amy, her soon-to-be husband, Rick, and her younger brother, Ben all go on a hike to one of the most difficult places to hike. It is called the Zion Narrows. They also go with a stranger they meet and several other people. They did not know, but soon enough all of them would become close. What was supposed to be a wonderful forecast, turns into a deadly storm causing many floods. They all face days of cold, endless rain, and lack of food. Personally, I did not like this story. It has no structure because the story is all over the place. I did not like how the story would jump back and forth between the viewpoints of several characters. That makes it hard to follow the story. One reason why I liked this story is because it teaches several lessons.
One lesson I learned from this book is that when people are at a struggling point in their life, you really see their true colors. In the beginning of the story, Amy really wants to marry Rick, but when they were faced with challenges Amy starts to reconsider. For example, there was a rattle snake in their way and Rick ended up killing it. Rick knows how much Amy loves animals, but he did not listen to her and still does it anyway. As Amy screams "Leave it alone!", Rick still pushes past her "with a head-sized slab of sandstone that took both hands to lift." This is where Amy is starting to realize the way Rick acts might not be what she wants in a husband. Another lesson this story taught me was about teamwork and not giving up. Everybody does their part to help one another survive. Ben literally saves the stranger, Clyde, from drowning. During the floods, Clyde and Ben were separated from the group. They were not safe in the cave they were in so they climbed up into a tree. When Clyde and Ben eventually return to the others, he exclaims "Clyde got his leg mashed and I had to hang on to him when he blacked out." Without Ben, Clyde would have possibly died. Also everyone cared for each other for the most part and were willing to help. Another good thing about the book is the author's use of imagery. A part of the Zion Narrows known as the North Fork of the Virgin River is described as a "river had carved a deep, paper-thin canyon through the layers of red sandstone." The words "paper-thin" and "red" can really help the reader picture the scenery. Also, a hyperbole is used when describing the canyon as paper-thin because it cannot actually be that thin. Thus, there are several themes in this book and the author does great at using literary elements.
All in all, I somewhat enjoyed this book. It was kind of all over the place to me, but I liked the messages it taught. I would recommend this book to a teenager because of the content. This book was an okay read.
One lesson I learned from this book is that when people are at a struggling point in their life, you really see their true colors. In the beginning of the story, Amy really wants to marry Rick, but when they were faced with challenges Amy starts to reconsider. For example, there was a rattle snake in their way and Rick ended up killing it. Rick knows how much Amy loves animals, but he did not listen to her and still does it anyway. As Amy screams "Leave it alone!", Rick still pushes past her "with a head-sized slab of sandstone that took both hands to lift." This is where Amy is starting to realize the way Rick acts might not be what she wants in a husband. Another lesson this story taught me was about teamwork and not giving up. Everybody does their part to help one another survive. Ben literally saves the stranger, Clyde, from drowning. During the floods, Clyde and Ben were separated from the group. They were not safe in the cave they were in so they climbed up into a tree. When Clyde and Ben eventually return to the others, he exclaims "Clyde got his leg mashed and I had to hang on to him when he blacked out." Without Ben, Clyde would have possibly died. Also everyone cared for each other for the most part and were willing to help. Another good thing about the book is the author's use of imagery. A part of the Zion Narrows known as the North Fork of the Virgin River is described as a "river had carved a deep, paper-thin canyon through the layers of red sandstone." The words "paper-thin" and "red" can really help the reader picture the scenery. Also, a hyperbole is used when describing the canyon as paper-thin because it cannot actually be that thin. Thus, there are several themes in this book and the author does great at using literary elements.
All in all, I somewhat enjoyed this book. It was kind of all over the place to me, but I liked the messages it taught. I would recommend this book to a teenager because of the content. This book was an okay read.
December 11, 2020
No Way Out is a fantastic, well-written survival story about a hike in the Utah Zion Narrows. I read this book years ago and discovered on my second read that it hadn't lost any of its punch and brilliance. The characters are well-crafted and well-described as they "learn things about [themselves] in physically dangerous situations." The book illustrates how people see things more clearly in dangerous situations and what is most important stands out while lesser things fall away. What is also heartwarming is how quickly strong bonds are made when you work together to battle life-threatening events. Great action, great plot, strong characterization, a fantastic read.
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March 23, 2023A fun middle school revisit that I pulled off the shelf. A little slow and clunky at first, but once it gets going it is action packed! When I had to put it down I kept thinking about what was going to happen next. It was a pretty quick read. Thankfully, it's less about Amy and Rick's relationship than the description makes it sound and more about a group trying to survive a flash flood together.
November 15, 2020
I read this book several times as a girl and after hiking a slot canyon in Utah (not the Zions narrows) it reminded me of this story. Great book full of nature and survival. Still like it even in my 40s.
May 20, 2014
Amy her brother,Clyde, and fiance Rick decide to go on a hiking trip in the Zion Narrows in Utah. While on the trip they meet quite a few people on the way there. They meet a girl named Neale who is a stuck up snotty kid who basically judges people before she even gets to know them. Neale is also a daughter of one of Rick's dads clients. They stopped and ate, but the series of events that happened afterward would forever leave a lasting impression on Amy and the rest of the group.
It starts raining really hard and eventually turns the Zion Narrows into a flash flood zone. The perfect weekend that Amy thought she was going to have abruptly ended. Besides that she is pondering the fact of marrying the man that she thought she loved, but really turned out to be a terrible person. Her survival skills are tested as they try and survive through this terrible flash flood. While the team is tested through the flash flood Amy starts realizing that Clyde is the guy that she wants to be with.
The thing I like about this book in this book is the intense action scenes where the entire team gets into danger due to one persons mistake.
The thing I most disliked this book is The choppiness of the chapters they could have had more in depth details about what happened after they got out.
I would recommend this book to people who like lots of action and harsh problems along they way about they abilities of survival.
It starts raining really hard and eventually turns the Zion Narrows into a flash flood zone. The perfect weekend that Amy thought she was going to have abruptly ended. Besides that she is pondering the fact of marrying the man that she thought she loved, but really turned out to be a terrible person. Her survival skills are tested as they try and survive through this terrible flash flood. While the team is tested through the flash flood Amy starts realizing that Clyde is the guy that she wants to be with.
The thing I like about this book in this book is the intense action scenes where the entire team gets into danger due to one persons mistake.
The thing I most disliked this book is The choppiness of the chapters they could have had more in depth details about what happened after they got out.
I would recommend this book to people who like lots of action and harsh problems along they way about they abilities of survival.
May 11, 2009
I read this book when I was a kid and have been afraid of flash floods ever since. I have had many chances to hike the narrows in Zion and have declined due to that fear. It is fair to say this book made a stronger and longer lasting impression on me than most books.
August 16, 2009
Hiking in the Zion Narrows in Utah, nineteen-year-old Amy, her fiance, and four friends battle a flashflood.
I loved this book when I read it. As a child, I devoured anything by Ivy Ruckman.
I loved this book when I read it. As a child, I devoured anything by Ivy Ruckman.
August 17, 2010
Good book about a 1980s adventure. Makes you think. Try it.
October 3, 2010
This story is in the Zion Narrows and very realistic about it's dangers. I appreciated it more after my children went down the Narrows as teenagers.
April 8, 2014
Another one of those books that lead me through my preteen years. Not as great as some of the others but still an enjoyable little book that was a page turner after some rough first chapters.
September 30, 2014
it was a great book
March 11, 2012
This book was a great read I loved every minute of it
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews