A Thousand Lives Lived: Girl on a Plane by Miriam Moss // Thrilling and Unique

Girl on a Plane, by Miriam Moss
Publication: September 12, 2017, by HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Historical
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating:

Bahrain, 1970. After a summer spent with her family, fifteen-year-old Anna is flying back to boarding school in England when her plane is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists and taken to the Jordanian desert. Demands are issued. If they are not met, the terrorists will blow up the plane, killing all hostages. The heat becomes unbearable; food and water supplies dwindle. All alone, Anna begins to face the possibility that she may never see her family again. Inspired by true events, this is a story about real people facing horror with courage and resilience.

My Thoughts:

Girl on a Plane has been on my radar for over a year now - I feel so bad that I haven't given it a chance yet and allowed myself to become aware of the gorgeous writing Miriam Moss provides. This is my first time reading a story about a hijacking, and let me just say that this seems so real. It's actually based on the true story of Miriam's, who actually experienced a hijacking in her own life. Obviously, the two stories do differ, as the protagonist in this story is not Miriam, but a fifteen-year-old girl named Anna, who is returning home to England after spending time in Bahrain, where her father works for the military. I can easily admit that this was one of the most heartbreaking stories I have ever read. To read about a young character who is forced to experience such a traumatizing experience without her loved ones really did it for me. I was on the verge of shedding many tears as I read Anna's story, and saw her struggle for strength.

This story is actually historical, taking place in 1970. The setting actually played a huge role in shaping the way the novel progressed, and showed the culture of the times. Characters in the book, such as David, had an Etch-a-Sketch, which made me remind myself of the time period in which this story took place, and I found it quite interesting. This was seriously one of the most emotional stories I've read. We definitely have the ability to see growth in each of the characters, including Anna and her family, who are forced to live in the unknown by not knowing what is happening to their daughter. Additionally, this book showed a different take on hijackings, as Anna's plane was steered towards a vacant desert in Jordan, ruled by Palestinian rebels. I was able to learn more about the struggles endured by these people and learn about their reasoning for doing what they did. Obviously, it is unacceptable for these events to occur, but Moss clearly showcased the perspectives of both sides.

One of the major themes highlighted in this novel was innocence. Having a protagonist who is so young made the story so special and important. I loved reading about this through a teenager's experience instead of an adult's, as Anna's innocence showed that she did not know much about what was happening and didn't know how to deal with the situation. It just made the story steer away from fiction and caused it to become real.

Girl on a Plane was entertaining, thrilling, and SO SO SO different than anything I've ever read before. If you're seeking a story that will change your life and cause you to appreciate what you have, read this.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*