A riveting real-life survival adventure reminiscent of Hatchet, this astounding true story from two New York Times–bestselling authors chronicles how a California sixth grader survived a deadly mountainside plane crash during a snowstorm.
Eleven-year-old Norman Ollestad is no stranger to extreme situations. Whether it’s surfing big swells off Topanga Beach or skiing in a blizzard, he has braved one adrenaline-rush adventure after another, pushed by his thrill-seeking father to realize that “anything’s possible.” And with Dad by his side, sometimes Norman believes him.
That motto is put to the ultimate test when the small plane Norman and his dad are aboard is engulfed by a snowstorm and crashes in the San Gabriel Mountains?with deadly consequences. Struggling in and out of lucidity, haunted by the voices and memories from difficult moments in his past, Norman must decide what to do while trapped eight thousand feet above sea level, facing dangers unlike any he has encountered before.
Inspired by the harrowing true childhood experience of author Norman Ollestad, this astonishing, action-packed story, co-written with Brendan Kiely, is about fear, survival, and the complicated forces and people that shape us. Fast-paced and unputdownable, Sole Survivor is the perfect read for fans of Dusti Bowling’s The Canyon’s Edge, Megan E. Freeman’s Alone, and the I Survived series.
Topics Norman Ollestad, Jr. (1967-). Norman Ollestad (1935-1979). Aircraft accident victims. Aircraft accidents. San Bernardino Mountains, California. Child surfers. Downhill ski racing. Fathers and sons. Death. Competition (psychology).
Trim Size 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Winter
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2025-09-22
JLG Release Date Dec 2025
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Biography Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
Biography Middle Plus
Biography Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
For Grades 5-8
This 14 book collections offers middle-grade readers fascinating biographies and compelling personal stories that provide a view into history or perspective on the issues of our times.