This book is a true story about three Italian prisoners of war in British East Africa during World War II who escape from their POW camp to climb Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest mountain. The narrative is not only about their audacious adventure, but also about the power of the human spirit, camaraderie, and the freedom of the wild. After their climb, they voluntarily return to their POW camp, where they are punished but also celebrated for their incredible feat.

This novel follows the adventures of five prisoners of the American Civil War who escape by hijacking a balloon and crash-landing on an uncharted island in the Pacific. Using their skills and knowledge, they endeavor to survive and master the island's resources, uncovering its secrets along the way. Their ingenuity in the face of adversity, the discovery of a mysterious benefactor, and encounters with pirates weave a tale of exploration, survival, and the triumph of human intellect and camaraderie against the odds. The story is a testament to the enduring human spirit, the value of scientific knowledge, and the mysteries that the natural world holds.

This story follows a young Polynesian boy named Mafatu, who has been terrified of the sea ever since witnessing his mother's death in a storm. Dubbed a coward by his peers, Mafatu decides to conquer his fears. He embarks on a daring solo journey into the Pacific, facing harsh elements, battling wild animals, and ultimately proving his bravery. Through his adventures on a deserted island, Mafatu demonstrates remarkable survival skills, crafts tools, and makes a canoe, readying himself for the return home. His journey transforms him from a scared boy into a confident young man, earning him the respect of his community and the title of a true hero.

"The Terror" is a historical fiction and horror novel that follows the ill-fated Franklin Expedition. The crew of two British Royal Navy ships are trapped in the Arctic ice, where they face not only the harsh environmental conditions but also a mysterious and brutal monster that stalks them in the endless night. The novel combines historical and survival themes with supernatural horror, creating a chilling and suspenseful atmosphere.

The novel takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a pandemic has turned many people into zombies, or "skels." The protagonist is a survivor who is part of a team tasked with clearing out the remaining skels in Zone One, the area in and around lower Manhattan. The story alternates between the present and the past, revealing the protagonist's experiences during the initial outbreak and his struggle to hold onto his humanity in the face of such devastation.

Set in the harsh poverty of the Ozarks, the story follows a determined, hard-bitten teenage girl who, in the face of her drug-dealing father's disappearance, takes on the responsibility of caring for her two younger siblings and mentally ill mother. When she learns their house will be taken away unless her father shows up for his court date, she embarks on a dangerous journey through the criminal underworld to find him, encountering violence and betrayal along the way.

The book follows a group of teenagers who return from a camping trip to discover that their country has been invaded and their families taken prisoner. As they grapple with the harsh reality of their situation, they must transform from carefree adolescents into resourceful and determined fighters, struggling to survive and launch a guerrilla war against the occupying forces. The story explores themes of friendship, survival, and the loss of innocence, as the characters are thrust into a brutal conflict that forces them to confront the complexities of adulthood and warfare.

"An Evil Cradling" is a harrowing memoir of a man's four-year captivity in Beirut, Lebanon. Captured by fundamentalist Shi'ite militiamen in 1986, the author, an Irish citizen, endures solitary confinement, starvation, and brutal physical abuse. Despite his grim situation, he manages to find humanity in the most unlikely of places and individuals, including one of his captors. His eventual release is a poignant moment of triumph against the backdrop of his traumatic ordeal.

"The Ruins" is a gripping horror novel about a group of friends who, while vacationing in Mexico, decide to embark on a journey into the jungle to find a missing brother. The group soon stumbles upon an ancient Mayan ruin, and quickly realize they are trapped by a malevolent, sentient plant that begins to slowly pick them off one by one. As their situation grows increasingly dire, the friends struggle to maintain their sanity and survive in the face of a seemingly impossible escape.

"Alas, Babylon" is a post-apocalyptic novel set during the height of the Cold War. The story follows the residents of a small town in Florida as they struggle to survive after a nuclear attack devastates the United States. With limited resources and the breakdown of society, the townspeople must come together and rely on their ingenuity and resilience to rebuild their lives and create a new community in the aftermath of destruction.

"Solo Faces" centers on the life of a man who is driven by an insatiable passion for mountain climbing. The protagonist, a skilled and introspective climber, navigates the perilous and exhilarating world of high-altitude mountaineering, where he confronts both the physical dangers of the sport and the existential questions of purpose and belonging. His solitary pursuits and the relationships he forms with fellow climbers lead him on a journey across various landscapes, from the Sierra Nevada to the Alps, as he seeks to transcend the limits of the ordinary world and find meaning in the pursuit of the sublime. The novel is a meditation on the human desire to challenge the boundaries of experience and the costs that come with such ambition.

"The Siege" is a historical fiction novel set during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II. The story revolves around the Levin family and their struggle to survive the harsh winter and the brutal blockade imposed by the German army. The narrative explores the themes of love, hope, and endurance in the face of adversity, providing a poignant depiction of the human spirit's resilience during one of the most tragic periods in history.

"Home of the Blizzard" is a first-hand account of an Antarctic expedition led by the author. The narrative takes the reader through the challenging journey of survival in the harsh, icy wilderness of Antarctica. It details the struggles faced by the team, including extreme weather conditions, loss of team members, and near-death experiences. The book serves as a testament to human resilience and the spirit of exploration in the face of adversity.

This book is a gripping first-person account of a Russian navigator's survival journey in the Arctic wilderness. After his ship gets trapped in pack ice, the protagonist and his crew embark on a grueling trek across the frozen landscape, battling extreme weather, starvation, and despair. The narrative provides a vivid depiction of the harsh Arctic environment and human resilience in the face of adversity.

"Endurance" is a gripping account of the 1914-1916 Antarctic expedition led by Sir Ernest Shackleton. The expedition went awry when their ship, Endurance, was trapped and eventually crushed by ice, leaving the crew stranded on the ice floes. The narrative vividly portrays the crew's struggle for survival in the harsh Antarctic environment, their 800-mile open boat journey to South Georgia, and the eventual rescue. The story is a testament to human resilience, leadership, and the indomitable spirit of survival against all odds.

This book is a detailed account of Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole, as told through the journals of a member of the expedition. It provides a gripping and poignant insight into the harsh realities of polar exploration in the early 20th century, including the team's scientific endeavors, their struggle against the brutal Antarctic conditions, the camaraderie among the men, and the tragic death of Scott and his companions on their return journey from the South Pole.

"K2 The Savage Mountain" is a gripping account of the 1953 American expedition to the world's second highest, yet most difficult to climb mountain, K2. The authors, who were part of the expedition, chronicle their team's heroic struggle for survival against harsh weather conditions, a dwindling supply of oxygen and food, and the mental and physical toll of climbing at such high altitudes. The book provides a detailed and harrowing insight into the world of mountaineering and the relentless determination required to conquer such formidable peaks.

"Alive" is a gripping true story of survival, recounting the harrowing ordeal of a Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashes in the Andes mountains in 1972. Stranded for over two months in the harsh, freezing wilderness, the survivors face unimaginable hardships, including avalanches, starvation, and the devastating decision to resort to cannibalism to stay alive. The book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the will to survive against all odds.

In a post-apocalyptic America, where civilization has collapsed and survival is a daily struggle, a lone wanderer accidentally becomes a symbol of hope. Taking on the identity of a postal worker from the long-defunct United States Postal Service, he dons an old uniform and begins delivering mail, initially as a means to scavenge for food and shelter. However, his actions inspire others, and what starts as a deception evolves into a movement. The protagonist's journey transforms him into a leader who inadvertently unites disparate communities and reignites a sense of unity and purpose, becoming a catalyst for the reconstruction of society amidst the chaos and desolation of a fallen world.

In a post-apocalyptic world where rising waters have drowned much of the earth, the story unfolds on a Native American reservation that has survived the cataclysm. The protagonist, a monster hunter with supernatural abilities, navigates a landscape steeped in the lore and gods of her indigenous culture. As she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind a series of brutal murders, she is accompanied by an enigmatic medicine man with secrets of his own. Together, they confront not only malevolent creatures from legend but also the darker aspects of humanity and personal trauma, all set against the backdrop of a world struggling to rebuild from environmental and societal collapse.

In this gripping sequel set in a dystopian future, the story continues with the protagonist and her fellow victor reluctantly embarking on a "Victory Tour" across the districts, following their unprecedented win in the brutal Hunger Games. Their attempt to maintain a facade of compliance with the Capitol quickly unravels, revealing their subtle defiance, which unwittingly sparks rebellion across the oppressed districts. As the government seeks to regain control and quash the growing dissent, the protagonists are thrust back into a more sinister version of the Games, designed to eliminate them and quell the burgeoning uprising. Amidst evolving alliances and unexpected betrayals, the fight for survival becomes a fight for the future of their society.

In this thrilling young adult novel, a group of teenagers find themselves trapped in a mysterious and ever-changing maze with no memory of the outside world. The protagonist, a boy named Thomas, arrives in the maze with no recollection of his past life, only to discover that he and the other boys are part of a sinister experiment. Together, they must work to understand the purpose of the maze, uncover the secrets it holds, and devise a plan to escape. But as they delve deeper into the maze and its dangers, they realize that escaping might not be as straightforward as they hoped, and the truth behind their imprisonment is more alarming than they could have imagined.

"Matterhorn" is a gripping novel set during the Vietnam War, focusing on a young Marine lieutenant and his comrades stationed at a remote jungle outpost. The narrative explores the physical and psychological challenges they face, from the harsh conditions and deadly combat to the internal conflicts and racial tensions within their own ranks. The story provides a raw, unfiltered depiction of war, revealing the bravery, fear, camaraderie, and moral dilemmas experienced by the soldiers.

This science fiction novel is set on a lush, exotic planet covered by a dense rainforest, where the native inhabitants live in harmony with their environment. The story follows a young native named Born as he navigates the complexities of his world, Midworld, which is rich in flora and fauna, some of which are sentient. When off-world humans crash land on the planet, Born finds himself in the middle of a conflict that challenges his understanding of his world and its place in the universe. The novel explores themes of environmentalism, colonialism, and the clash between technologically advanced and primitive societies, all while presenting a vividly imagined alien ecosystem.

"Touching the Void" is a gripping tale of survival and adventure that follows two mountaineers on a dangerous climb in the Peruvian Andes. After one climber breaks his leg, his partner is forced to leave him behind in order to save his own life. The injured climber, left alone in the wilderness, must find the strength and determination to crawl back to base camp, despite his severe injuries and the harsh elements. This true story is a testament to the human spirit and the will to survive against all odds.