Survivor Diaries: Overboard! (Survivor Diaries) by Terry Lynn Johnson

 A high-stakes adventure series perfect for fans of the I Survived series and Hatchet. Eleven-year-old Travis and his family are on a whale watch off the coast of Washington when disaster strikes. The boat capsizes, throwing everyone into the ice-cold chaotic waves. Separated from their families and struggling to stay afloat, Travis and twelve-year-old Marina must use all of their grit and knowledge to survive.

With seventeen years of hands-on experience and training in remote areas, survival expert Terry Lynn Johnson (Ice Dogs; Sled Dog School) creates on-the-edge-of-your-seat storytelling featuring the real skills that kids need to survive a disaster. This book includes Coast Guard-approved cold-water survival tips; you may have a better chance of surviving a real-life cold-water disaster after reading this book.

Stay calm. Stay smart. Survive.

Hardcover, 112 pages 

Published July 4th 2017 

by HMH Books for Young Readers

*****

Survivor Diaries is a new series by Terry Lynn Johnson, the hardcover version is illustrated by Jani Orban. The first installment is Overboard! isn't a long book, coming in at 112 pages, for myself I read in 2 sittings, but for young readers it is the perfect size. 

I have been a fan of Terry Lynn Johnson since reading her previous books Ice Dogs and Dogsled Dreams. She loves the outdoors, adventure and nature which shows in her writing. Overboard  is not just an adventure story but a learning experience at the same time, with survival tips and the dangers of the outdoors, appealing to both boys and girls.

The day begins peacefully for 11-year-old Travis when his family takes a whale watching excursion off the coast of Washington. A rogue wave capsizes the boat separating the family.  Along with 12-year-old Marina the two struggle to survive. They learn how strong they really are when that is the only direction they can go.  Taken from real life situations this is a great adventure story of courage, survival and determination.

I never thought I could do that.  I did it when I wasn't busy thinking I couldn't. I just did it. Seemed to me, the thing about surviving something is believing you can.