When We Were Lost by Kevin Wignall

The quick cut: A group of teens struggle to survive when their trip to Costa Rica ends up as a plane crash in the middle of the Amazon instead.

A real review:

Everyone hopes the worst will never happen, but if it happens, how will you respond? Can you handle the sudden needs and adaptations needed? This is a question for Tom and his classmates after they survive a plane crash.

Tom never wanted to go on the field trip to Costa Rica, but life found a way to get him there. Sitting in the back of the plane, he expected a cliche Eco experience when instead he woke up in a rainforest and no adults alive. Now a handful of his classmates have survived, but they still need to find rescue. Can they escape the rainforest and live?

I so wanted to like this book, especially since it's the type of adventure I enjoy. Unfortunately, I got to the end and wanted to throw this book against the wall. The story is fine and the characters likeable, but the lack of answers and glaring plot holes ruined the experience.

Tom is a surprisingly likeable lead character, especially for how quiet and unassuming he is. You don't really get to know him on any deep level other than his parents dying as a child. The way he handles disaster is applaudable though and it's that talent that makes him great. However, his persistent need to avoid being a leader is never explained. For how insistent he is, there MUST be a reason for it and one is never given. Really?!?!

The epilogue does a sad attempt to explain why the plane crash happened, but it's barely an afterthought. I read it and immediately started punching holes in it. It doesn't make sense and considering how big a mystery it is, you'd think that would have been a more core component.

Finally, the ending really didn't tell you at all what happened to most of Tom's classmates and I wanted to know! Did their pseudo leader Joel get his karma for never owning his lack of appropriate choices? Did the ones who were hurt live? Did Tom end up with a whole group of new friends? These are the questions I can state with minimal spoilers. It's not even the toughest ones!

A fun story with a lack of resolution or continuity.

My rating: 2.5 out of 5