My Top Ten Tuesday post this week features a variety of books with survival themes. Do you have a favorite survival story to add to this list?
Books With Survival Themes
***Titles are links to my reviews or Amazon Affiliate Links
I’m linking up today with Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday. This week’s prompt is “Books That Include ______.” After contemplating what book list I haven’t yet compiled, I chose “survival.” I’ve read and can recommend each of these titles.
Do you enjoy survival themes? I enjoy small sides of survival in my stories. Nothing too scary. Most of the following books contain “gentle” sides of survival. There are a couple that are more intense, and I’ve noted those.
(In no particular order)
The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor
Well…this one is maybe not so gentle!
An intense, harrowing, and emotional story of survival following the sinking of the SS Benares (WWII). Memorable and unforgettable.
The River by Peter Heller
Friendship theme with a riveting side of wilderness survival.
The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee
Nonfiction (memoir): Escape from North Korea.
A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly
The Carpathia rescues passengers in the aftermath of the tragic sinking of the Titanic.
Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
The survival of Jewish persons in the expansive forests of Poland during WW11 inspired this story.
Castle of Water by Dane Hucklebridge
Two individuals fight to survive on a deserted island after a plane crash.
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Again….not so gentle!
A harrowing story from beginning to end, a mother and son travel to America to escape gang violence and retaliation in Mexico.
Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott
A poignant, memorable, and riveting story of friendship and survival during WWII. (YA novel in free verse)
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
In my favorite Meissner story, women support each other to survive a devastating earthquake and flee an abusive husband. Another favorite Meissner is As Bright as Heaven about surviving the 1918 Flu Pandemic.
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan
In 1838, a luxury steamship called the Pulaski sank off the east coast of North Carolina, and this is one survivor’s story.
Currently Reading: (an ARC) Tilt by Emma Pattee …surviving a devastating earthquake in Portland, Oregon.
QOTD:
Do you love survival stories? Do you have a favorite survival story to add to this list?
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Great choice of topic. It’s interesting to see what everyone has chosen today. Here’s my list: https://damppebbles.com/2025/03/11/toptentuesday-11th-march-2025/
I love all the creative lists!
I immediately thought of Hatchet and The Road.
I’ve had The Road on my TBR for sooooo long! Loved Hatchet!
This might amuse you, Carol. I do like books with survival themes, but in order to read them I must skip ahead to the end to see how many characters make it in the end. (Usually, it’s most of them, but it depends on the book). Once I know their fates, then I can sit back and enjoy all of the bumps along the way.
lol! I can totally relate! I’ve done that! When I read We Were the Lucky Ones, I kept reminding myself of the title for reassurance!
I love survival books! I need to check these out.
Might be too tame for your tastes!
A great selection Carol. I know it was controversial but I thought American Dirt was brilliant.
Thanks Joanne! AD was harrowing from the first to last pages!
I tend to avoid this theme, because so many times it’s too heavy of a topic.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/mature-citizens-of-the-world-books-featuring-mature-characters/
I have to vet them carefully…I don’t enjoy books with too much violence or tension because I’m susceptible to nightmares.
I’ve read 2 of the ones mentioned here (American Dirt and The River) and they were good! One I would like to read (Castle of Water). I live in Maine and one of the Must Read books for Mainers is this true story of an 11 yr old boy who survives in the wilderness by himself for 9 days—Lost on a Mountain in Maine, by Donn Fendler. They just made a movie of it, too.
Thanks for stopping by and for the rec! 🙌
Great choices, Carol. I do enjoy survival stories. I still have to read The Last Lifeboat. I enjoyed many of these books already.
An unforgettable read!
I have a couple of these books on my TBR, most notably The Last Lifeboat and A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice!
Both tbr worthy! 🙌
A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner. 💖📚
Yes! I thought of it and thought I might overdo it with the Meissner titles! 😂
I don’t think you can overdo it with Meissner titles, Carol!😂🤣💖📚
I love survival stories! The Last Lifeboat and The River are both on my TBR, and while I haven’t read that Susan Meissner book, I’ve read others and really appreciate her writing and storytelling abilities!
All tbr worthy!
I love a good survival story, gentle or otherwise. THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS is my favorite Meissner novel as well! It’s really stuck with me. I recently read a forthcoming novel that reminds me of it (although it’s not as good as the Meissner one): LAST LIGHT OVER GALVESTON by Jennifer L. Wright. It’s about the 1900 hurricane that devastated Galveston. I’m listening to THE LAST LIFEBOAT right now. I haven’t gotten very far into it, but so far it’s pretty slow. I’m hoping the action picks up soon. Great list!
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thanks for tge rec! I’ll check that out! Re Last Lifeboat…I think it’s very character driven and emotionally gripping…so maybe not action in the way you’re expecting. 🤷♀️
It’s not quite the same, but I enjoy books about hunkering down and surviving a harsh season or extended storm. Examples include Two Old Women by Velma Wallis or The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Oh yes! I can think of a couple of titles! I might use your idea for a future TTT post if I can think of 10! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!