Bibliographical information:

Heinlein, Robert A. Tunnel in the Sky. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1955.

Brief summary:

Rod Walker is about to take is solo survival exam, when his sister tells him that his father is very ill, and his parents are entering stasis in hope of curing his illness. During the survival exam, something goes wrong, and students from Patrick Henry High School are stranded along with students from other school and colleges. Believing that they are stranded for good, they set out to build a civilization on their unfamiliar planet.

Comments:

My daughter's teacher recommended this novel for her--it was one of his favorites as a kid. It was a hit with my daughter. The story is exciting and engaging. There are marks of its 50s origin--Heinlein clearly tried to imagine gender roles of the future, and what he has imagined will be thought-provoking for readers.

Grade/Age level:

Ages 10 and up

Cautions:

Some violence.

If you like this book, you might also like . . .

--Lisa Gordis

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