Reading Metrics
Description
EOD Specialist Dan West has nerves of steel. When West finds an Afghan boy standing on a bomb's pressure plate, he still manages to keep calm, because if he doesn't, West will be forced to face the thing he fears--the pink mist.
Quick Summary
In this short 1165-word novel, EOD Specialist Dan West must defuse a bomb in Afghanistan while an Afghan boy stands frozen on the pressure plate, forcing him to confront his fear of the pink mist that could end them both. The book explores themes of courage under impossible pressure, moral responsibility, and the psychological weight carried by soldiers in combat zones. If your kid likes survival stories like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, they'll love this tense military quick read. Perfect for 4th-5th graders who want a fast, high-stakes tale with an AR level of 3.1 and 0.5 points.