Digging deep, they discover the roots and reach of fear and if they have the strength to overcome it. Too much like a video game and yet not at all the same, Will and his team fight for their freedom and the right to go home.

After narrowly escaping a firing squad, they face a deathly trek through the jungle only to be captured again. Will and his friends, each with their own agendas for this trip, fall prey to a hostage situation.

Written in the first person perspective of fifteen-year-old Will Peterson, this book follows an adventure that begins as a missions trip and tumbles into a hostile national rebellion. I definitely had a number of sleepless nights with If We Survive, but mostly because I couldn't put it down. Consequently, an endorsement from him typically leaves me nervous and unsure what to expect. However, it did spark my curiosity to read more from Klavan, and I am happy to know that he has more thriller novels out there.Stephen King called Andrew Klavan 'the most original novelist of crime and suspense since Cornell Woolrich.' Stephen King is a phenomenal writer, but he scares me. It was a good read, but it’s also not something that I’m raving about. These provided nice breaks to essentially ease the tension - though they never lasted too long. I’m not sure if Klavan did, but either way, his use of words painted vivid pictures throughout the book.Īlthough the general storyline was a thrill, there were also moments of humor. This type of detail could only be done by someone who has visited Central America.

Even though this is a fictional story, the locations that the characters were in felt very realistic. I also liked the authenticity that went into his writing. Andrew Klavan does a wonderful job of illustrating how defenseless Will and his group truly are. They find themselves trapped in a foreign country, during a major revolution - and as American citizens, they have an even bigger target on their backs.Īs I read through the pages, I often felt nervous for the fates of the characters. I must say, the characters in this book were truly in the right place, at the wrong time. It centers around 16 year-old Will Peterson, who is on a trip with several others to help rebuild a school.īut of course, such a nice deed cannot go smoothly - at least not in the world of fiction. You will be transported to the depths of Central America with this story. If you’re looking for a dangerous thrill, this book is a pretty solid choice.

If we survive by andrew klavan