Something loud crashed over their heads, and they could hear gravel and dirt hitting the top of the truck. It happened again and again. The last sound they heard was the scrape of a shovel picking up more dirt. Then it was quiet.

“Where do you think we are?” Woody asked. “It’s getting really cold in here.” Roman hit the back door with his fist. “I’ll tell you where we are. We’re buried alive!”

Roman Sanchez’s life has become a nightmare. His father, a SWAT officer, has been killed in the line of duty. Then masked gunmen storm Roman’s classroom and hold him and three other boys hostage in a remote mountain cabin. There’s not much time before the kidnappers’ deadly threats are carried out. Can Roman overcome his fear—and the memory of his father’s death—to lead the boys’ desperate fight for freedom?
© Tim Keating
Gary Paulsen is the distinguished author of many critically acclaimed books for young people, including three Newbery Honor books: The Winter Room, Hatchet, and Dogsong. He won the Margaret A. Edwards Award given by the American Library Association for his lifetime achievement in young adult literature. Among his Random House books are Road Trip (written with his son, Jim Paulsen); Family Ties; Vote; Crush; Flat Broke; Liar, Liar; Paintings from the Cave; Woods Runner; Masters of Disaster; Lawn Boy; Notes from the Dog; The Amazing Life of Birds; Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day; How Angel Peterson Got His Name; Guts; and five books about Francis Tucket's adventures in the Old West. Gary Paulsen has also published fiction and nonfiction for adults. He divides his time between his home in Alaska, his ranch in New Mexico, and his sailboat on the Pacific Ocean. View titles by Gary Paulsen

About

Something loud crashed over their heads, and they could hear gravel and dirt hitting the top of the truck. It happened again and again. The last sound they heard was the scrape of a shovel picking up more dirt. Then it was quiet.

“Where do you think we are?” Woody asked. “It’s getting really cold in here.” Roman hit the back door with his fist. “I’ll tell you where we are. We’re buried alive!”

Roman Sanchez’s life has become a nightmare. His father, a SWAT officer, has been killed in the line of duty. Then masked gunmen storm Roman’s classroom and hold him and three other boys hostage in a remote mountain cabin. There’s not much time before the kidnappers’ deadly threats are carried out. Can Roman overcome his fear—and the memory of his father’s death—to lead the boys’ desperate fight for freedom?

Author

© Tim Keating
Gary Paulsen is the distinguished author of many critically acclaimed books for young people, including three Newbery Honor books: The Winter Room, Hatchet, and Dogsong. He won the Margaret A. Edwards Award given by the American Library Association for his lifetime achievement in young adult literature. Among his Random House books are Road Trip (written with his son, Jim Paulsen); Family Ties; Vote; Crush; Flat Broke; Liar, Liar; Paintings from the Cave; Woods Runner; Masters of Disaster; Lawn Boy; Notes from the Dog; The Amazing Life of Birds; Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day; How Angel Peterson Got His Name; Guts; and five books about Francis Tucket's adventures in the Old West. Gary Paulsen has also published fiction and nonfiction for adults. He divides his time between his home in Alaska, his ranch in New Mexico, and his sailboat on the Pacific Ocean. View titles by Gary Paulsen

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