DISTRESS SIGNAL

A class trip turns into a fight for survival when four sixth graders are lost in the Arizona wilderness.

Lavender Blue-Morris has been looking forward to the wilderness science camp since kindergarten. For an astronomy and ham radio buff like Lavender, three days in the wild feel like a dream come true. When Lavender’s best friend, Marisol, gets angry with her and pairs up with Rachelle, the class queen bee, for the bus ride instead of Lavender, who has to sit with John, it begins to look like this won’t be the amazing trip she’d hoped for after all. Things go from bad to worse when a prank goes wrong and Lavender is responsible for getting herself, Marisol, Rachelle, and John hopelessly separated from the rest of the group. The unforgiving Arizona bush presents treacherous obstacles like a flash flood, wild animals, and dehydration. Hardest of all, the conflict between Lavender and Marisol—and struggles among the rest of the group—threatens to tear them apart when they need each other the most. The brisk pace, poignant descriptions of a changing friendship, and realistic handling of Lavender’s growing self-awareness will keep readers riveted. Marisol is bilingual in English and Spanish, hinting at some diversity in the class, but physical descriptions are minimal, and most characters are assumed White.

Perilous desert survival action and relatable BFF conflict combine for a fast-paced disaster read.