On June 23, 2018 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach departed on what was to be an afternoon of cave exploration. However, due to sudden flooding rains, it became an ordeal for the team, their families, the rescuers and the people of Thailand. This ordeal lasted 17 days. Between the efforts of military members, civilians and volunteers from all over the globe, all 13 team members were rescued. It was a rescue that should not have been successful, but miraculously was.
The author is of Thai descent and was visiting family in Thailand when the team went missing. She witnessed many of the developments in real time. Her proximity to the event brings an immediacy to her writing. Not only does the author tell a gripping rescue story, she also weaves in a wealth of information about Thailand, the terrain, the weather patterns, the impact of Buddhism on the rescue efforts, and the nature of every day community members that contributed to the overall success of the operation. Photos, maps and diagrams are liberally utilized to bring the story to life. Soontornvat is adept at making the more technical aspects of the story interlace with the narrative in a way that keeps the story moving forward. All Thirteen is a well-documented account of the difficult rescue as well as a page-turning adventure. This would be great for ages 8-12+ and is a 2021 Newberry Honor Book, a 2021 Roberrt F. Siebert Honor Book, and a 2021 YALSA Award for Excellence in Non Fiction Finalist.