All Thirteen

Twelve members of a boys' soccer team and their coach decide to spend a day exploring a cave in Thailand. They do not realize that the cave is flooding with water as they explore, and when they decide to exit, they quickly learn that they are trapped inside, with no way to communicate with the outside world.

Christina Soontornvat tells the true story of the cave rescue of the boys and their coach. I was taken with the research Soontornvat did on the story and the beautiful and thorough way she told what happened. An incredible story of danger and rescue.

The entire time reading this I could just feel tears brimming in my eyes. Not only is it an incredible story but it's written so beautifully. Soontornvat does an amazing job giving readers the cultural, scientific, and situational knowledge to understand the breadth of the challenges of the rescue attempt. I really appreciated how she talked to and highlighted the work of everyday Thai people - the Get-it-Done Crew, the cooks, the rice farmers who let their fields be flooded and refused compensation - who helped. I thought it was remarkable to show how it wasn't just military, science, and cave experts who helped save the trapped soccer players, but the whole community pitched in to help.

I don't think anyone else could have told this story to young readers better than the author! It also goes without saying that this book deserved all the awards it was given at the YMAs this year and sets the gold standard for narrative nonfiction for youth.