Survivor Mountain

Fake it 'til you make it - that's what

Dani's older sister always said.

Thirteen-year-old Dani never asked to be responsible for her younger sister on the school field trip to the Santa Cruz Mountains - but no one expected a massive earthquake to strand them far from help. Now with no cell service, dwindling supplies, and dangerous terrain, Dani, her sister Lily, and Dani's secret crush, Miles, must find a way off the mountain on their own.

But nature isn't the only threat. As they navigate the rugged wilderness, they cross paths with strangers who aren't who they claim to be - and a sinister plot begins to unfold. Trapped in a high-stakes con-game, the trio's only chance of escape is to work together.

That's easier said than done. Ever since their older sister's death, Dani and Lily have barely spoken, each silently blaming the other. Now, they must learn to trust each other again if Dani's daring plan has any chance of success.

If she fails, they might never make it home. But if she succeeds, Dani won't have to fake it 'til she makes it anymore - she will prove that she is becoming the person she wants to be.

Bold. Brave. Decisive.

Her older sister would be proud.

--

About Sarah Floyd

This action-adventure story is based on real life: when she was a junior in college, Sarah enrolled in a summer program with the National Outdoor Leadership School where she learned to navigate without a compass, climb rock cliffs, and create tools and shelter to survive in the rugged mountain wilderness. The first crush romance, friendships, and frenemy struggles are also based on her own teen experience, along with the story’s themes of post traumatic distress, depression, and anxiety. An author’s note is included to encourage readers to reach out for mental health support when needed. 

Sarah was born in Carmel Highlands, California, where she and her friends ran wild through the Big Sur wilderness that surrounded their homes. They were independent kids, building forts and acting out adventure stories in the woods, relying on each other and their own instincts with no adults telling them what to do until they finally returned home for dinner. Later her family moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then to San Francisco, California. Sarah always brought her favorite books wherever she moved, and she always made new friends who loved to read. Now she writes books for children and teens — for her, it’s the best job in the world.

Sarah is also the author of the middle-grade novel, Butterfly Girl, and the picture book, Ten Clever Ninjas (Clear Fork Publishing). She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from U.C. Santa Barbara and is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She currently lives in Florida with her husband, son, and seventy-pound senior lapdog.

To learn more, please visit her website: sarahfloydbooks.com, or connect on X/Twitter: @kidlitSarah