Published: 2021
Series: Unsolved Case Files (Book #1)
Author & Illustrator: Tom Sullivan
Genres: Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Mystery, True Crime, History, Childrens, Juvenile, Crime, Kids
Audience (Grade Levels): 3-7
Number of Stars: 5 Stars
Goodreads Link: Escape at 10,000 Feet: D.B. Cooper and the Missing Money
Triggers: Hijacking, bomb threats/extortion, airplane jump/disappearance
Review By: MaryAlice Brennan-Steere
Publisher’s Summary:
A minute-by-minute account of the only unsolved airplane hijacking in the U.S.
CASE NO. 001: NORJAK
NOVEMBER 24, 1971
PORTLAND, OREGON
2:00 P.M.
A man in his mid-forties, wearing a suit and overcoat, buys a ticket for Northwest Orient Airlines flight 305 bound for Seattle.
3:07 P.M.
The man presents his demands: $200,000 in cash and four parachutes. If the demands are not met, he threatens to detonate the explosive device in his briefcase.
So begins the true story of the man known as D.B. Cooper, and the only unsolved airplane hijacking case in the United States.
Review:
On November 24, 1971 a man hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305. He told the stewardess that he would detonate a bomb unless 4 parachutes and $200,000 were delivered to him. The airline met his demands and delivered the items to him in Seattle. The man, referred to as D.B. Cooper, ordered the plane to take off. When the plane was in the air over Washington state, he opened the airline’s door and parachuted out of the plane into the night. He was never found, and only a small portion of the ransom money was ever recovered. The unsolved mystery about who was D.B. Cooper, and whether he survived is explored in a captivating and compelling narrative. Students, and adults, who love true-crime mysteries will find this book hard to put down. It’s a perfect selection for reluctant readers and is the first title in a series called “Unsolved Case Files.”
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social Studies / US History: This text aligns perfectly with modern American history curricula focusing on the late 20th century. It invites an exploration of how commercial aviation operated in 1971, the historical timeline of United States airport security protocols, and the real-world evolution of FBI forensic investigation techniques across generations.
- English Language Arts / Information Literacy: This graphic novel provides a brilliant model for studying multi-modal texts. It allows educators to teach informational reading strategies by showing students how to synthesize traditional narrative prose alongside primary source documents, authentic FBI files, diagrams, and historical investigation photography.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- “Debunking the Suspects” Investigative Activity: Drawing from the book’s presentation of real-life investigation parameters, have students act as historical detectives. Students can select one of the primary suspects or popular theories surrounding D.B. Cooper’s disappearance, review the timeline of events, and compile a structured evidence board outlining points that support or debunk their survival and escape.
- Reluctant Reader Mystery Book Club: Utilize this fast-paced, high-interest graphic format to anchor a library book club specifically targeted at reluctant or developing readers. Pair it with an introductory lesson on the layout of historical nonfiction comics to build engagement and critical thinking about unresolved historical events.
Readalikes:
- Jailbreak at Alcatraz (Unsolved Case Files #2) by Tom Sullivan
- The Cold War Hat 1: Spies, Secret Agents, and Saboteurs by Alan Gratz
- Geronimo: The True Story of America’s Most Legendary Warrior by True Kelley
Blog Excerpt (less than 75 words): Looking to hook reluctant readers and true-crime fans alike? Tom Sullivan’s Escape at 10,000 Feet delivers a captivating, minute-by-minute graphic account of America’s only unsolved skyjacking. Combining edge-of-your-seat narrative pacing with actual reproductions of FBI files and photographs, this outstanding five-star informational text is a brilliant addition to any middle or high school library looking to supercharge historical inquiry and mystery engagement!
