In the 1930s and ‘50s, three American expeditions raced to conquer K2, Earth’s second-highest mountain. One ended in frustration. Another devolved into tragedy. Charlie Houston led the third to 25,000 feet, where a vicious storm and a sudden illness put his expedition on the edge of disaster—and turned his quest to conquer a mountain into one of the most stirring rescue missions ever.
Learn More"A tale more thrilling and suspenseful than any work of fiction." — Lauren Tarshis, author of the bestselling I Survived series
"An absolute must-have for all readers looking for well-researched and gripping adventure nonficiton." — School Library Journal, starred review
"Gripping, well-researched, superb entertainment." — Kirkus
"This non-stop action adventure is narrative non-fiction at its best." — School Library Connection
Do you have what it takes to climb the second-highest mountain on Earth? Test your research skills on the slopes of K2.
Play Now"I just want to say that I LOVE your books! Normally I hate reading and not just not liking books but I HATE reading books I can't stand them but when I read your books they are amazing." —Finley, Lebanon, OR
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"I am Keaton and me and my friend Ben are sending you this because we have read your thrilling story Lost In The Pacific, 1942. YOU ARE AN AWESOME WRITER." —Keaton, 5th grade, Hamilton, MI
"Your books are flying off the shelf in my classroom. When your latest book came out, I had to order multiple copies or we would have a riot in my classroom." —Joy Kooyer, 3rd grade teacher, Holland, MI
"I am about to turn 12 years old this year. The thing I am going to ask my mom for a birthday present is Lost in the Amazon. Tod Olson I love your books and I hope you keep making more." —Danny, Whitman, NE
"I resumed reading Lost in the Pacific last night and did NOT fall asleep until I turned the last page. I loved it. Your language was sophisticated, you didn’t flinch with the gory details and the story was fascinating." —Carol Stoltz, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA
Twenty-eight men are stranded on an ever-shifting ocean of ice. The nearest outpost of civilization lies 1,000 miles away across the most dangerous seas on the planet. So begins one of the most harrowing survival stories ever.
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A B-17 bomber runs out of fuel on a secret wartime mission and heads for a crash-landing in the Pacific Ocean. Eight men. Three inflatable rafts. Sixty-eight million square miles of ocean. What will it take to make it back alive?
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A crippled spaceship, 200,000 miles from home. A team of Earth-bound engineers, pushed to their limits to bring three astronauts back. A 16-year-old daughter, left to wonder if her father will make it home alive.
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A roiling storm engulfs a plane high above the Amazon. Lightning strikes, and suddenly, 17-year-old Juliane Koepcke is alone, strapped to her seat and plunging 3,500 feet to the forest floor.
Learn MoreThe fun, fascinating, long-lost journals of three young Americans (okay, imaginary young Americans) who set out to make their fortunes on the open road.
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