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Book Review of Getting Air

Getting Air
Getting Air
Author: Dan Gutman
Genres: Children's Books, Teen & Young Adult
Book Type: Hardcover
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Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Jimmy, David, and Henry are off to do what they do best - skateboard. They call themselves the Woodpushers.

On a plane headed to California, they hope to skate their way into the money-filled pockets of some big-league sponsors. Along for the ride is Jimmy's younger sister, Julia, and a plane full of old ladies headed for a knitting convention.

The Woodpushers' big plans are dramatically detoured when four terrorists hijack the plane. All of the passengers ban together to overpower the hijackers, but unfortunately the pilot and co-pilot don't make it. With no one able to fly the plane, Henry uses the knowledge from his one flying lesson to crash-land the group in the deep woods of Canada. The six survivors include the three skateboarders, sister Julia, one stewardess, and Mrs. Herschel, an 80-year-old knitter.

Thanks to the amazing knowledge of Jimmy's sister, Julia, the group is able to start a fire and find water and food to survive. Readers will be entertained by crazy antics, a few scary moments, and the group's efforts to get along in a stressful situation.

Although the story is pretty unrealistic, most reluctant readers should find it entertaining and fast-paced. GETTING AIR is a fun summer read or one that will make returning to school next fall a bit more enjoyable. This one is definitely worth adding to your Dan Gutman collection.