In 2018, the world held its breath while a large international team gathered in Thailand to save a boys' soccer team trapped in a flooding cave; Christina Soontornvat (A Wish in the Dark) thrillingly recounts this harrowing tale.
One June afternoon, the Wild Boars soccer team asked Coach Ek to accompany them on a hike to a local cave. Coach Ek agreed and the spirited young athletes wandered deep into the cave. Then came the unthinkable: rushing water appeared, blocking their path. Over the next 18 days, world-renowned experts, local residents and the global community joined together in a herculean effort to rescue the team.
Soontornvat does a brilliant job of balancing education with riveting scenes of rescue attempts. She introduces the famous divers and planners alongside pivotal behind-the-scenes figures, all while keeping her focus on Thailand and the soccer team. A powerful testament to community and the strength of the human spirit. --Kyla Paterno, freelance reviewer