96 miles essay

• Recommended Reads
• Read Alikes
• Action / Adventure

Book Information

• Ages 08-10 (Middle Readers)
• Ages 11-13 (Older Readers)
• The Champion
• The Investigator
• The Jokester
• The Team Player
• action/adventure
• boys and men
• determination

21 days  without power.  2 brothers  on a desperate trek.  72 hours  before time runs out...

The Lockwood brothers are supposed to be able to survive anything. Their dad, a hardcore believer in self-reliance, has stockpiled enough food and water at their isolated Nevada home to last for months. But when they are robbed of all their supplies during a massive blackout while their dad is out of town, John and Stew must walk 96 miles in the stark desert sun to get help. Along the way, they’re forced to question their dad’s insistence on self-reliance and ask just what it is that we owe to our neighbors, our kin, and to ourselves.

From talented newcomer J. L. Esplin comes this story of survival and determination as two young brothers confront the unpredictability of human nature in the face of desperate circumstances.---from the publisher

272 pages                                          978-1250192301                            Ages 8-12

Keywords:  survival, determination, brothers, blackout, desert, self reliance, adventure, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old

********** John and Stew Lockwood are trying to get from their home in Nevada to the along state route 318 after the power has gone out. Their father, a survival prepper, had food and water saved up, but that was stolen, and their father is out on the road and can't get back home. They have friends at Brighton Rnach (a tortoise ranch!) 96 miles away, and the boys are determined to walk there. While they are getting water out of a toilet in a house, they run into Cleverly and Will, who are also on their own, having left their grandparents' house because their grandfather was giving the children all of their food. It's not easy to walk across the desert with few supplies, and the children also come across the men who stole the Lockwood's supplies. When Stew's health becomes imperiled, John and Cleverly take off in the night to get water from a reservoir, steal a truck, and are able to get a little farther. When they finally arrive at the ranch where Stew's friend Jess lives, her brother tries to chase the children off so they don't cut into their stores of food and medicine. Luckily, the power comes back on and more crises are averted, but the children are well aware that they need to be prepared in the future!

Strengths: This was a quick and compelling read for children who want adventure, survival, or light dystopian tales. It was scary but not overly so, and the evil people got their due. The relationships between the children were realistic, and the survival tips were top notch. There were even moments of humor that were appreciated. Weaknesses: The end was a little abrupt, but I was oddly okay with that. It made the whole book a bit less terrifying. What I really think: Definitely purchasing! I love the cover, and this is a great survival tale along the lines of Philbrick's The Big Dark or Walter's The Rule of Three.

Recommended by: Karen Yingling, Librarian, Ohio USA

See more of her recommendations: msyinglingreads.blogspot.com

User reviews

• ADMIN AREA MY BOOKSHELF MY DASHBOARD MY PROFILE SIGN OUT SIGN IN

by J.L. Esplin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 11, 2020

For readers thirsting for a fresh survival story.

Brothers undertake a desperate desert journey during a long-term power outage.

While their preparation-obsessed father’s out of state on a business trip, leaving 13-year-old John and 11-year-old Stew under the loose supervision of their neighbors, a complete blackout hits. Days pass and it doesn’t let up; what little news they hear implies a massive scale. In the opening sequence, readers meet the brothers as they lower themselves to collecting toilet water to drink, as they were recently robbed of their father’s entire (extensive) supply stash. They encounter a sister-brother duo, Cleverly and Will, and—even though John knows that they barely have the supplies to make the three-day, 96-mile titular journey to salvation—the brothers decide allowing the other kids to join is what is right to do. Along the journey, they face general hardships of desert hiking with insufficient water as well as human threats. Thankfully, these latter are given conflicting motives, which increases tension. Another conflict source is Stew’s defeatist behavior, which is at odds with John’s descriptions of him—and, in a twist, is revealed to have a very good cause. The story focuses on the themes of the kids’ journey, and while the ending provides hope, readers looking for answers to the blackout will be disappointed. The characters default to white, though there’s disability representation in the form of characters with Type I diabetes.

Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-250-19230-1

Page Count: 272

Publisher: Starscape/Tom Doherty

Review Posted Online: Oct. 22, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2019

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S MYSTERY & THRILLER | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

Share your opinion of this book

THE WILD ROBOT PROTECTS

From the wild robot series , vol. 3.

by Peter Brown ; illustrated by Peter Brown ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 26, 2023

Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.

Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.

When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.

Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023

ISBN: 9780316669412

Page Count: 288

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION

More by Aaron Reynolds

BOOK REVIEW

by Aaron Reynolds ; illustrated by Peter Brown

by Peter Brown ; illustrated by Peter Brown

by Louis Sachar ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1998

Good Guys and Bad get just deserts in the end, and Stanley gets plenty of opportunities to display pluck and valor in this...

Sentenced to a brutal juvenile detention camp for a crime he didn't commit, a wimpy teenager turns four generations of bad family luck around in this sunburnt tale of courage, obsession, and buried treasure from Sachar ( Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger , 1995, etc.).

Driven mad by the murder of her black beau, a schoolteacher turns on the once-friendly, verdant town of Green Lake, Texas, becomes feared bandit Kissin' Kate Barlow, and dies, laughing, without revealing where she buried her stash. A century of rainless years later, lake and town are memories—but, with the involuntary help of gangs of juvenile offenders, the last descendant of the last residents is still digging. Enter Stanley Yelnats IV, great-grandson of one of Kissin' Kate's victims and the latest to fall to the family curse of being in the wrong place at the wrong time; under the direction of The Warden, a woman with rattlesnake venom polish on her long nails, Stanley and each of his fellow inmates dig a hole a day in the rock-hard lake bed. Weeks of punishing labor later, Stanley digs up a clue, but is canny enough to conceal the information of which hole it came from. Through flashbacks, Sachar weaves a complex net of hidden relationships and well-timed revelations as he puts his slightly larger-than-life characters under a sun so punishing that readers will be reaching for water bottles.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1998

ISBN: 978-0-374-33265-5

Page Count: 233

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2000

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S MYSTERY & THRILLER

More by Louis Sachar

by Louis Sachar ; illustrated by Tim Heitz

by Louis Sachar

• Discover Books Fiction Thriller & Suspense Mystery & Detective Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy Nonfiction Biography & Memoir Teens & Young Adult Children's
• News & Features Bestsellers Book Lists Profiles Perspectives Awards Seen & Heard Book to Screen Kirkus TV videos In the News
• Kirkus Prize Winners & Finalists About the Kirkus Prize Kirkus Prize Judges
• Magazine Current Issue All Issues Manage My Subscription Subscribe
• Writers’ Center Hire a Professional Book Editor Get Your Book Reviewed Advertise Your Book Launch a Pro Connect Author Page Learn About The Book Industry
• More Kirkus Diversity Collections Kirkus Pro Connect My Account/Login
• About Kirkus History Our Team Contest FAQ Press Center Info For Publishers
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Reprints, Permission & Excerpting Policy

© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Popular in this Genre

Hey there, book lover.

We’re glad you found a book that interests you!

Please select an existing bookshelf

Create a new bookshelf.

We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!

Please sign up to continue.

It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!

Already have an account? Log in.

Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.

Almost there!

• Industry Professional

Welcome Back!

Sign in using your Kirkus account

Contact us: 1-800-316-9361 or email [email protected].

Don’t fret. We’ll find you.

Magazine Subscribers ( How to Find Your Reader Number )

If You’ve Purchased Author Services

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up.

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

Book Review

• J. L. Esplin
• Adventure , Children's Fiction , Drama

Readability Age Range

• 8 to 12 years old
• Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!; Winner of the Whitney Award for best debut novel; Winner of the AML award for best middle grade novel

Year Published

After the power grid goes down and thieves steal everything they have, young John and Stew Lockwood have no choice. They must walk 96 miles across blazing Arizona desert in three days … or die trying.

Plot Summary

The Lockwood brothers come from hardy stock.

Their single dad, Jim, is a man with a survivalist mindset. He’s taught the boys how to piece together lifesaving necessities from what little is at hand. And he’s stored up supplies that would last the three of them at least 6 months.

So, when Jim once more has to leave home for business, he leaves feeling confident that 13-year-old John and 11-year-old Stew can handle themselves like men.

What Jim doesn’t take into account is that while he’s gone, the whole world will fall apart.

At least that’s what it feels like. The power grid goes black. Stew is convinced that it’s a nationwide zombie attack, though John is not so sure. But one thing they are sure about: The power is out everywhere, and with that, everything else soon follows, including fuel, food and water.

Wherever Dad may be, it appears he can’t get back. The states have all closed their borders. Three weeks in, the world is in chaos.  Common decency quickly takes a backseat to raw panic. Men drive up to the Lockwood home, hold the boys at gunpoint and steal everything they have. They take the large tanks of water; nearly all the food; the fuel; the generator. And they take the medicine. That last one is crucial.

John realizes that sitting and waiting for Dad to return is no longer an option. They have three days at best to find relief. The Brighton Ranch—a tortoise farm run by fellow survivalists—is the best bet. Problem is, it’s 96 miles away. 96 miles of barren empty highway spanning barren, blazing Arizona desert.

That’s more than 30 miles on foot per day … fueled by a few scraps of jerky and a couple canteens of water scooped out of a toilet.

Christian Beliefs

There are no direct references to Christian faith, but there are examples of Christian ideals. When the boys come upon a teen girl named Cleverly and her much-younger brother Will, it’s obvious that the two are alone and ill prepared. John initially wants to keep pressing forward to protect Stew and not worry about protecting them, too. But Stew points out that their dad would find a way to do both. And so, John shares what little they have and gets Cleverly and Will to come along to Brighton Ranch.

There are other examples of people giving to and caring for others in dire need, while some selfishly steal from the less fortunate or defenseless.

Other Belief Systems

Authority roles.

John actually takes on the most prominent authority role in this story, giving his all to help the other kids and shouldering the burden of helping them survive. On several occasions he denies himself water and food so others can have it, and he takes on yet more burdens.

The Yardleys, a husband and pregnant wife who live a mile or two down the street, also do what they can to help the boys. But as their baby’s due date approaches, they must use what little fuel they have to get mom and baby to safety.

At first, nearby town officials attempt to control the situation and care for the community’s needs. But their ability to maintain stability quickly falls apart. And overheard radio reports make it appear that the federal government’s ability to help has crumbled as well.

This story certainly points out to young readers that working toward emergency preparedness is an important necessity, no matter how small your efforts.

Profanity & Violence

People are called a “jerk” and a “moron.” The word “crap” is used several times. There’s a bit of potty humor. (For example, the kids boil and drink water they scoop out of a toilet bowl and talk of being members of a special club. “Urine the club,” one jokingly says.)

Someone in this story is a diabetic and in dire need of insulin. We hear of how the lack of that drug, and an abundance of sugar in the bloodstream, debilitates a diabetic’s body. And we see that process firsthand. After enduring bloodying physical exertion and fights, John swallows a couple of aspirin.

John, Stew, Cleverly and Will take a grueling journey filled with constant peril. They lack the necessary food and water. They’re lashed by wind and beaten down by heat. Soon, all four are weakened to the point of staggering on the desert roadways,  bruised and bloodied by their exertions. John and Stew are forced to their knees with a pistol at their temples as thieves take vital supplies. Later, another adult points a rifle at John and takes his canteen.

John and Cleverly attempt to retrieve water from the thieves who stole their supplies. In the course of that, they slash the tires on three of the thieves’ vehicles and steal the fourth. While hotwiring that truck, John’s slashes his own hand open and bleeds profusely. He’s grabbed by the throat and punched in the face. Later, a teen threateningly points a rifle at John and the two wrestle and pound at each other.

John has occasional panic attacks brought on by intensely fearful moments and extreme stress. The kids talk about the possibility of a brain-eating zombie attack.

Sexual Content

John and Cleverly are about the same age (13), and though they are at odds at first, the two eventually come to rely and care for one another. John realizes that he is having a flushed reaction when the pretty Cleverly calls his name. And he holds her hand on one occasion.

Discussion Topics

Have you ever been in a really scary situation? How did you handle it? Do you have people you can turn to and rely on when bad things happen? How can you help others when things are bad?

Take a look at Proverbs 3:4-6 and James 1:2-4. Do you think that these and other Bible verses can actually help when you’re in the midst of real-world difficult situations?

John and Stew’s dad really believed in being prepared for an emergency. Do you think that’s important for us to think about? How has your family prepared for different emergencies? Are there ways you can help?

John and Stew also learned some survival techniques from their dad. Are there any techniques that you think might be helpful to learn? How would you do that?

Get free discussion question for books at focusonthefamily.com/magazine/thriving-family-book-discussion-questions .

Additional Comments

J.L. Esplin’s first novel is an award-winner that challenges young readers to think about survival and wise, self-sacrificial choices in an emergency. It’s a tense and perilous character-driven story, and very well crafted.

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not necessarily their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

Review by Bob Hoose

Latest Book Reviews

The Eyes and the Impossible

Castle Reef 2: Bloodlines

Compass and Blade

Nothing Else But Miracles

Waverider (Amulet #9)

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Weekly reviews straight to your inbox.

• Teen eBooks
• Available now
• Most Popular
• New to the Collection
• Teen Audiobooks
• Just Added Magazines
• Home & Garden
• Kindle Books

Description

21 days without power. 2 brothers on a desperate trek. 72 hours before time runs out... The Lockwood brothers are supposed to be able to survive anything. Their dad, a hardcore believer in self-reliance, has stockpiled enough food and water at their isolated Nevada home to last for months. But when they are robbed of all their supplies during a massive blackout while their dad is out of town, John and Stew must walk 96 miles in the stark desert sun to get help. Along the way, they're forced to question their dad's insistence on self-reliance and ask just what it is that we owe to our neighbors, to our kin, and to ourselves. From talented newcomer J. L. Esplin comes this story of survival and determination as two young brothers confront the unpredictability of human nature in the face of desperate circumstances. "A suspense thriller, survival story, and a story of the love between brothers. You'll turn the pages and be surprised again and again."—Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor Award-winning author of The Wednesday Wars "Fast-paced, believable, funny, and poignant. 96 Miles is a great read from the first sentence to the surprising and satisfying ending. I give Esplin's debut novel 100%. Don't miss it!"—Roland Smith, New York Times bestselling author of Peak "Readers who enjoy realistic survival stories will not be able to put down Esplin's debut.... Filled with survival techniques, danger, and overcoming realistic obstacles, this story will have readers turning pages. A great choice for lovers of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet or Roland Smith's Peak ."— School Library Journal At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Kindle Book

• Release date: February 11, 2020

OverDrive Read

• ISBN: 9781250192295
• File size: 4710 KB

Kindle Book OverDrive Read EPUB ebook

Juvenile Fiction Juvenile Literature Suspense

ATOS Level: 5.2 Lexile® Measure: 760 Interest Level: 4-8(MG) Text Difficulty: 3-4

Publisher: Tor Publishing Group

Kindle Book Release date: February 11, 2020

OverDrive Read ISBN: 9781250192295 Release date: February 11, 2020

EPUB ebook ISBN: 9781250192295 File size: 4710 KB Release date: February 11, 2020

• J. L. Esplin - Author
• Formats Kindle Book OverDrive Read EPUB ebook
• Languages English
• Levels ATOS Level: 5.2 Lexile® Measure: 760 Interest Level: 4-8(MG) Text Difficulty: 3-4

Why is availability limited?

Availability can change throughout the month based on the library's budget. You can still place a hold on the title, and your hold will be automatically filled as soon as the title is available again.

The Kindle Book format for this title is not supported on:

Read-along ebook.

The OverDrive Read format of this ebook has professional narration that plays while you read in your browser. Learn more here.

Recommendation limit reached

You've reached the maximum number of titles you can currently recommend for purchase.

Session expired

Your session has expired. Please sign in again so you can continue to borrow titles and access your Loans, Wish list, and Holds pages.

If you're still having trouble, follow these steps to sign in.

Add a library card to your account to borrow titles, place holds, and add titles to your wish list.

Have a card? Add it now to start borrowing from the collection.

Need a card? Sign up for one using your mobile number.

The library card you previously added can't be used to complete this action. Please add your card again, or add a different card. If you receive an error message, please contact your library for help.

Buy from other retailers

What's .css-1msjh1x{font-style:italic;} 96 miles about.

Now in paperback: J. L. Esplin’s 96 Miles is a survival story sure to appeal to fans of Gary Paulsen’s classic Hatchet and Lauren Tarshis’s bestselling I Survived series. 21 days without power. Two brothers on a desperate trek. 72 hours before time runs out… The Lockwood brothers are supposed to be able to survive anything. Their dad, a hardcore believer in self-reliance, has stockpiled enough food and water at their isolated Nevada home to last for months. But when they are robbed of all their supplies during a massive blackout while their dad is out of town, John and Stew must walk 96 miles in the stark desert sun to get help. Along the way, they’re forced to question their dad’s insistence on self-reliance and ask just what it is that we owe to our neighbors, to our kin, and to ourselves. From talented newcomer J. L. Esplin comes this story of survival and determination as two young brothers confront the unpredictability of human nature in the face of desperate circumstances. “A suspense thriller, survival story, and a story of the love between brothers. You’ll turn the pages and be surprised again and again.”–Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor Award-winning author of The Wednesday Wars “Readers who enjoy realistic survival stories will not be able to put down Esplin’s debut…. Filled with survival techniques, danger, and overcoming realistic obstacles, this story will have readers turning pages. A great choice for lovers of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet or Roland Smith’s Peak.”–School Library Journal

What Kind of Book is 96 Miles

Book lists that include 96 miles.

The Creative Behind the Book

What has j.l. esplin said about this book.

Nothing yet! Let J.L. Esplin know that you want to hear from them about their book.

Other Books You Might Enjoy If You Liked 96 Miles

Book Details

Contribute to this page.

So, SO close to perfection!

Just the barebones.

• Help Center
• Gift a Book Club
• Beautiful Collections
• Schedule Demo

Book Platform

• Find a Book
• Motivate Reading
• Community Editors

Authors & Illustrators

• Get Your Book Reviewed
• Submit Original Work

Follow Bookroo

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Common sense media reviewers.

Kids seek safety in riveting tale of post-disaster trek.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Lots of detail about Nevada, its "Battle Born" fla

Strong messages of responsibility, resourcefulness

Story revolves around how people's true character

Adults rob kids while pointing a gun at one of the

A teen boy and girl hold hands briefly while walki

Frequent "crap," "butt," references to pee (especi

Occasional scene-setting mention of real-life bran

Parents need to know that 96 Miles , by J.L. Esplin, is the story of two brothers, 13 and 11, walking down a remote highway in the wilds of Nevada and trying to survive. The situation is desperate, because the power has gone out, there's no word from the outside world, their widowed father is away on a…

Educational Value

Lots of detail about Nevada, its "Battle Born" flag, the remote highways and surrounding terrain, etc. Mile markers on the highway are important in the story. Also the fine points of water purification and other survival strategies in situations calling for a lot of self-reliance. Two young characters have Type 1 diabetes, and there's lots of practical detail about dealing with it.

Positive Messages

Strong messages of responsibility, resourcefulness, dependability, looking out for your loved ones while not doing wrong to others. Self-reliance and helping each other are both strong themes, as are courage, tenacity, family, and friendship.

Positive Role Models

Story revolves around how people's true character emerges in times of dire stress. John and Stewart are determined to live up to what their absent father would want of them, which involves both being prepared to take care of yourself and your loved ones and being willing to help others in need. Their new friends Cleverly and Will match them for courage, resourcefulness, occasional snark. Their much missed friend Jess, who finally appears, is strong, courageous, take-charge. The adults are a mixed bag, from kind neighbors who look out for the kids to more predatory ones who rob them and threaten them with weapons.

Violence & Scariness

Adults rob kids while pointing a gun at one of their heads. Kids steal a truck from the adults who robbed them -- and slash their tires so they can't give chase. Guns and knives brandished a lot, sometimes in self-defense and some by crazy or predatory people. Lots of humor about the zombie apocalypse and how to cope with it.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A teen boy and girl hold hands briefly while walking through rough terrain.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Frequent "crap," "butt," references to pee (especially in context of kids having to drink water they've scooped out of a toilet and boiled), and a memorable "moron."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Occasional scene-setting mention of real-life brands, especially Xbox, makes of cars, food products.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that 96 Miles , by J.L. Esplin, is the story of two brothers, 13 and 11, walking down a remote highway in the wilds of Nevada and trying to survive. The situation is desperate, because the power has gone out, there's no word from the outside world, their widowed father is away on a business trip, and armed adults have robbed them of all their supplies -- food, water, generators, gasoline -- so they're determined to trek nearly 100 miles in the blazing heat to reach family friends. Along the way, they have plenty of encounters with the best and the worst of human behavior brought on by disaster, from brave kids and self-sacrificing adults to violent, weapon-wielding us-against-them types, as well as people driven by paranoia to attack their lifelong friends. Adults rob kids while pointing a gun at one of their heads. Guns and knives are brandished a lot, sometimes in self-defense and some by crazy or predatory people. The robbers are robbed of their truck when their teen victims have skills like hot-wiring and driving vehicles. Two of the kids have Type 1 diabetes, which adds further danger to an already dire situation. Family, friendship, courage, responsibility, and determination to do right, even when things are at their most dystopian, are strong themes.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (1)
• Kids say (5)

Based on 1 parent review

Kids relating to each other

What's the story.

96 MILES finds two young brothers on a desperate trek to what they hope is safety in the wake of a massive disaster. When the father of John (13) and Stewart (11) Lockwood leaves them alone at their isolated Nevada home to go on a business trip, John feels a little burdened by the responsibility. But it's nothing he can't handle, since their dad, a strong believer in the sort of practical self-reliance you need to live in the middle of nowhere, has taught them well. He's left them with plenty of food, water, generators, gasoline, and so forth to get them through whatever might come up, and good neighbors nearby. But things change fast when, without warning, the power goes out in the whole western United States, nobody knows why, and there's no communication with the outside world. After adults rob them of all their supplies, and their neighbors leave to seek medical assistance, the boys decide their only option is to make the 96-mile trek down a remote highway to some family friends, and they soon meet two kids in similar straits who join them. They also meet a lot of adults determined to rob them of what little they've got left. And broiling sun seems determined to kill them.

Is It Any Good?

First-time author J.L. Esplin brings a riveting tale of kids on a deserted Nevada highway in the wake of a multiweek power outage that, as they sometimes note, could signal the zombie apocalypse. Thirteen-year-old John and his newfound friend Cleverly, a girl his age, grapple with the challenges of keeping themselves and their younger sibs alive as they endure blazing sun, hot asphalt, dust, wind, and no water. They meet some people who try to help them and others who'd gladly rob them and leave them to die. It's way more than kids their age should have to deal with, but it's not like they have a lot of choice. And the journey presents a lot of moments that test them, their values, and their character, even as it raises the nagging possibility that all that may not matter any more, at least to a lot of people.

"I know. I get it. People do crazy things when their own survival is at stake, things they never thought they'd do. Like rob kids at gunpoint. Or drink toilet water. Or commit grand theft auto. Or deny lifesaving help to the kid you've called family for the last five years. But the thing is, if you do survive, you still have to live with yourself."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the portrayal of kids left to fend for themselves in a dire situation in 96 Miles . How do they cope? Why do you think this is such a popular theme in storytelling? What other examples do you know? Do you find this kind of story thrilling, inspiring -- or too scary to deal with?

The man who makes off with the kids' food and water makes a big fuss about how bad he feels, but says he needs what he's taking so he's going ahead and stealing all they have and leaving them to die. Do you think if you're doing something bad, it makes a bit of difference to your victim or anyone else whether you feel bad about it at the time but go ahead anyway?

Did you know about highway mile markers and how they work before you read this story? Do you think you'll pay more attention to them on your next road trip?

Book Details

• Author : J. L. Esplin
• Genre : Coming of Age
• Topics : Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Starscape
• Publication date : February 11, 2020
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
• Number of pages : 272
• Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
• Last updated : June 4, 2020

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

The Good Thieves

Beverly, Right Here

Find similar titles by category

96 Miles by J L Esplin Novel Study Discussion Question Cards

What educators are saying

Description.

This product includes 164 comprehension, literary instruction, reflection, critical thinking, discussion, and composition prompts on cards for studying the novel 96 Miles written by J. L. Esplin . This book is a suspenseful survival story that is enjoyable and engaging . This novel opens the door to many important discussion opportunities for students within the classroom and beyond.

• Book Themes: Survival; Siblings; Adventure; Determination; Power Failures; Self-Reliance
• This book is an especially useful vehicle for addressing a wide range of TEKS and Common Core standards and the questions provided allow differentiation and adaptation of how the book is used to address these standards in discussion, presentation, and composition.
• This resource is great for classroom discussion, literature circles, book clubs, novel studies, task cards, book challenges, reflection journals, and/or student writing prompts.
• Chapter-specific questions are in order and labeled by chapter.
• General questions exploring themes, structure, literary elements, vocabulary, text connections, and the author's craft are included without reference to specific chapters.
• The questions in this resource are purposefully designed for discussion and reflection. The questions prompt students to think critically about the story, share observations , express their understanding , and make connections and applications while exploring literary elements. An answer key is not included because of this focus.
• Classroom teachers
• Reading teachers and reading specialists
• Language therapists
• Individuals who work with students to encourage a love for reading!

Be sure to download Great Ideas for using SK Designs Novel Study Question Cards in the Classroom – a collection of 20 great ideas to use with our novel studies. It is available free of charge from our store and is specially prepared to use with SK Design’s novel studies! Find it here:

Great Ideas for Using SK Designs Novel Study Question Cards in the Classroom

SK Designs has a full line of book resources for favorite student reads. Check out our store at the link below for the complete listing of titles.

Thank you for downloading this product and leaving your feedback!

Be inspired!

__________________________________________________________________

**************************************************************

If you are interested in more of SK Design's products, freebies, and updates, please feel free to follow us by clicking here and then clicking the green star next to our logo on our store page!

Be sure to leave comments and ratings on the products you purchase to earn valuable TpT rewards!

Questions & Answers

• We're hiring
• Help & FAQ
• Privacy policy
• Student privacy
• Terms of service
• Tell us what you think

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Student Opinion

How Far Would You Push Yourself Physically to Meet a Goal?

What is the most ambitious thing you have ever done athletically? Was it worth it?

By Katherine Schulten

Have you ever run a difficult race? Walked, biked or swum a long distance? Landed a dangerous trick on a skateboard or skis, or perfected a complex shot in tennis, basketball or hockey? What is the most physically ambitious — or stressful — thing you have ever done?

What was it like? How did you feel afterward? Did it make you want to continue to push yourself — or to back off?

The Barkley Marathons is an extreme footrace that requires participants to navigate 100 miles of rugged terrain in rural Tennessee in no more than 60 hours. It also has the equivalent of 60,000 feet of ascent and descent, about twice the elevation of Mount Everest. As its founder sai d, “Anything that makes it more mentally stressful for the runners is good.”

Last month, Jasmin Paris became the first woman to complete the race. Here is how the moment shown in the image above was captured in a New York Times article:

At the end of the run, Paris sank to the ground in front of a yellow gate that marks the start and finish of the event, which consists of five roughly 20-mile laps. “The final minutes were so intense, after all that effort it came down to a sprint uphill, with every fiber of my body screaming at me to stop,” Paris said in an email.

The same week, a professional rock climber named Beth Rodden published an essay in the Times Opinion section headlined “ Tired of Sucking It Up as a Climber, I’ve Embraced a Softer Strength .” Near the beginning of the essay, she describes the “hard core” life she once lived:

Hanging in the middle of Half Dome was an ordinary thing. Ascending ropes with bloody knuckles and a heavy pack thousands of feet off the ground was as conventional to me as grabbing the bananas and apples in the produce section: just part of my day. Climbers pride themselves on being better than normal people. Not just in the “I climbed a mountain and you didn’t” type of way, but in the fabric of how we approach life. How we eat, where we sleep, the stories we walk away with: It’s all better. By the time I was in my mid-20s, I was a walking archetype of how to succeed in that world because of the belief system I followed: suck it up, persevere, win. I was used to pushing the level of climbing further, used to doing things that no other women had done — and even, a couple of times, things that no guys had done.

But later in the essay, Ms. Rodden writes:

I can’t say there was one moment, a specific event that made me start to question the “suck it up, Rodden” theme song I had lived by for so long. I got divorced, and eventually remarried; I got injured over and over. After years of injuries I had a child, and that led to relearning my body. Maybe it was the scale of all those changes in my life that forced me to reconsider the way I’d always done things, or maybe I just got fed up with the facade. Why was it noble to climb through cracks on El Cap soaked with climbers’ urine, but leaking while jogging postpartum was something to be ashamed of? Gradually, I began to question the old mentality. I began to be more open about what I found value in, and learned to share my pain and my fears with friends instead of hiding them behind a perma-smile. I started to be kinder to myself, and to be frank that, as effective as it had been for me and my career, I just didn’t see the point in suffering for the sake of a climb anymore. In letting go of that, I was surprised to find a new kind of strength — something perhaps truer and more durable than the ability to just plow through.

Students, read both articles and then tell us:

Are you attracted to physical challenges in general? What are some of the things you have done to push yourself? What emotional or physical effects did they have on you?

Whom do you relate to more — an athlete like Ms. Paris who challenges herself to win, even at great physical cost, or one like Ms. Rodden, who has goals but is more interested in taking care of herself than suffering?

To what extent do you — or those around you — believe that people should “suck it up” in order to achieve their goals? How has that attitude affected your life, whether in sports, at school, at work, or even in your relationships?

Do you think Ms. Rodden is right that the world of sports is “starting to embrace a softer kind of strength?” Do you think that “taking care of ourselves, whatever that looks like, can now be as celebrated as dodging death for a summit” — or will going to extremes always be rewarded?

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Barkley,” Ms. Paris says in the article, “it’s that you never know what you are capable of until you try.” Do you agree with this sentiment in general? How does it apply to your life in terms of sports or anything else?

What athletes do you admire most? To what extent do you think they push themselves to extremes? What have you learned from them?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Katherine Schulten has been a Learning Network editor since 2006. Before that, she spent 19 years in New York City public schools as an English teacher, school-newspaper adviser and literacy coach. More about Katherine Schulten

50 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-8

Chapters 9-13

Chapters 14-16

Chapters 17-19

Chapter 20-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Chapters 4-8 Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 4 summary.

To reach Brighton Ranch, John, Stew, and the brother and sister they met, whom they learn are named Will and Cleverly, start walking along State Route 318. Will licks his chapped lips as the wind picks up. John worries that this young boy will be “the first one to slow us down” (53). Stew and John realize that they recognize Cleverly, or at least her name. She is named for her grandparents, whose last name is Cleverly, and Stewart and John know them.

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Featured Collections

Action & Adventure

View Collection

Coming-of-Age Journeys

School Book List Titles