Getting Air
by Dan Gutman

    GETTING AIR by Dan Gutman
    Category:  Action-Adventure
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  4/24/07
    Publisher:  Simon & Schuster
    Reviewed by:  Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
    Rating:  4 Stars


    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.