When four American teens journey to Central America to help rebuild a school, they’re prepared for the usual mission trip hardships – blisters, hard work, culture shock, and forgoing accustomed comforts like hot showers, cell phones, and facebook!
But when a revolution blazes through the country, it burns a bright red bullseye on the backs of all Americans, and what started out as a simple mission trip turns into a desperate fight for their lives.
This is the sixth young adult novel by Andrew Klavan that I’ve read, and by now, there are a few things I know to expect when I crack open the cover of one of his books: a fascinating premise, page-turning peril, and heart thumping action!
A mission trip turned desperate-race-to-survive. It’s only too believable. Who hasn’t gone on a mission trip and at least considered the possibility? Who hasn’t traveled to a foreign country and wondered what would happen if a war or revolution broke out? Ok, maybe it’s just me and my over-active-writer-imagination! But I found the premise of If We Survive to be fascinating all the same.
I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters — Will Peterson, Meredith, Nicki, Jim, and Palmer Dunn. Though there were definitely times when I wanted to shake some common sense into Nicki and whack Jim up the side of the head until he started using his brain!
The action and peril present in almost every paragraph of If We Survive kept the pages turning. I finished it in one afternoon. Simply didn’t want to put it down until I reached the end!
All in all, I definitely enjoyed If We Survive and look forward to reading even more of Andrew Klavan’s books in the future.
Check out the author’s website: http://www.andrewklavan.com/
Find the book on Amazon: If We Survive
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Jake says
This sounds SO GOOD. I love Klavan's stuff. And maybe even relevant, seeing as I'm an MK in a postwar country. I'm curious to see how realistic it'll be.
Charley Robson says
Hmmm, now here's an author I've not met before. Sounds like an interesting read – if only your review weren't so short, I was enjoying it too much, haha!
Gillian Adams says
Jake – Hopefully not too realistic! ;) But if you read it, let me know what you think! I'm not an MK but I've been on a couple of mission trips and the premise hooked me from the start.
Charley – I definitely enjoyed it! Klavan's books always keep you turning the pages!