We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(2) Sea Level
Theodore Taylor's The Cay is a desert-island survival story set against the backdrop of World War II. Since there's no shortage of submarines, torpedoes, and hurricane-force winds, we're sure that Shmoopers will find themselves flying through this exciting book's pages.
But wait! A quick word of warning: the novel is a piece of historical fiction, and the action is set in the Caribbean. Readers might want to brush up on their World War II knowledge and their world geography skills to help keep all those names and dates straight.