Are you ready for some of the most exciting, death-defying escape stories ever told? The fourth installment in the Great Escapes series is here—perfect for fans of the I Survived series! December 13, 1920. It was a typical Monday morning when three US Navy officials boarded a hot air balloon for an easy, routine training flight. But as evening came, heavy rain and wind knocked Lieutenants Louis Kloor, Stephen Farrell, and Walter Hinton off course, eventually forcing a crash landing deep within the snowy Canadian wilderness. As the men searched for salvation, they were overcome by freezing temperatures, starvation, and fatigue. To survive this harrowing experience, the brave military officers would have to go up against their greatest enemies yet—desperation and despair. From reluctant reader to total bookworm, each book in this page-turning series—featuring fascinating bonus content and captivating illustrations—will leave you excited for the next adventure!  Gr 3–7—It's December 1920, and three white naval officers are on a routine training flight in a balloon. However, due to inclement weather, their mission goes awry, and the men end up lost in the wilderness. Lieutenants Louis Kloor, Stephen Farrell, and Walter Hinton must learn to look past their differences and cooperate. Will they be able to make it to Canada, find help, and find their way home? Or will the great outdoors, their arguments, and despair get the best of them? This well-written and effectively researched historical fiction novel is based on actual events and newspaper accounts. Otfinoski deftly weaves historical information through the plot; readers will learn more about Canadian geography, the role of carrier pigeons, the Cree people, ballooning, dogsleds, and the Hudson's Bay Company, among other things. VERDICT This fourth installment in this exciting series will appeal to those who love adventure and survival stories; a solid choice for classroom use.—Margaret A. Robbins, Univ. of Georgia, Athens "Well-written and effectively researched. This fourth installment in this exciting series will appeal to those who love adventure and survival stories; a solid choice." - School Library Journal Steven Otfinoski has written more than two hundred books for young readers. He is also a playwright and has his own theater company that brings one-person plays about American history to schools. He lives in Connecticut with his family. James Bernardin is a versatile and prolific illustrator of many acclaimed books for children. He has illustrated Laura Numeroff's Would I Trade My Parents? , Eve Bunting's Too Many Monsters , and Candy Chand's The Twelve Prayers of Christmas . He has also created artwork for numerous book covers, including Mary Pope Osborne's Tales from the Odyssey series. James lives on Bainbridge Island in Washington State with his wife, Lisa, and two sons, Wyeth and Bryson.