Girl on a Plane cover

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
Book Level 4.7
Points 9.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Fiction
Word Count 61939
Points per Word 0.000145

Description

In summer 1970, Anna is travelling back to her English boarding school, but her plane never makes it home. This is an account of a hijacking based on a true story.

Quick Summary

Set against the backdrop of a 1970 hijacking, Girl on a Plane drops you right into the chaos when fifteen-year-old Anna's flight to her English boarding school is diverted by armed skyjackers. The story mixes the gritty, nail-biting tension of a survival drama with the everyday humor of teenagers stuck together in a confined space, making the 600-plus pages feel surprisingly quick. If you've ever found Hatchet gripping but wanted something that takes place on a plane instead of in the wilderness, this one hits that sweet spot for teens who love true-life suspense and historical detail. Parents will appreciate that while the book captures the fear and uncertainty of a real hijacking, it keeps the tone age-appropriate, with a few moments of levity that balance the scares. The characters are relatable enough that kids will see themselves in Anna's quick-witted observations, and the story's basis in fact gives it an extra layer of authenticity that makes you want to look up the real events afterward.