Spencer Gray is twelve - finally old enough to join Dad in his glider. His mates are going to be so jealous! Going up is awesome - but when disaster strikes, Spencer will need to be nothing short of amazing.---from the publisher
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Spencer Gray could be almost anyboy, anywhere... he's 12, lives in the suburbs with his mum, dad and sister Pippa, loves soccer, enjoys cross-country running, rides his bike everywhere, and has a great group of mates. But not every boy has a dad like Spencer's - as well as being a country doctor, his dad loves flying in his glider, Drifter. Spencer's mum says his dad is a 'fanatic" although his dad says that's a bit harsh. But whatever adjective might describe his dad's passion, Spencer himself has been waiting for the day that his dad says he is old enough to fly with him. And now it's come.
His mates are very envious but Spencer is the most excited. And as he and his dad soar above the landscape, he understands the buzz his dad gets - until the weather suddenly deteriorates and they don't make it back to base in time...
In a week that has its focus on Book an Adventure, this is truly an adventure that young independent readers are going to relish as they get involved in the action and relate to Spencer's fear that his dad is dead, his relief when he finds he is just unconscious and his resolve and resilience that he will get them out of this mess. But does a 12 year old boy have the cool and the courage to keep his head, particularly when he realises that it will be hours before anyone realises that they haven't returned home? Does he stay with his dad or leave to find help?
Shortlisted for the West Australian Young Readers’ Book Awards.in 2016, this is the re-release of this 2013 title in advance of the imminent re-release of The Spectacular Spencer Gray making an engaging mini-series that will offer readers a story in which they may well put themselves into the role of Spencer and perhaps even move on to the classics Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (and its sequels) or The Island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. ---from the publisher
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
Keywords: father/son, action/adventure, flying, self reliance, believing in yourself, disaster, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old
