The Speed of Falling Objects

Danny Gonzalez lives with her father, a reality TV survivalist, but their relationship has grown distant since an accident left her blind in one eye at age seven. When her father invites her to join him filming a survival show in the Amazon rainforest on her seventeenth birthday, she sees it as a chance to reconnect and prove herself. The trip takes an unexpected turn when their small plane crashes in the jungle, leaving Danny and the other survivors - including a teen movie star - to battle the elements and navigate the dangerous rainforest. With limited supplies and no rescue in sight, the group must work together to stay alive while facing threats from the environment. Together they trek through the Amazon, testing the limits of their strength and resolve. Along the way, Danny confronts her fears about her disability and identity while discovering inner resources she never knew she possessed. The novel explores themes of survival, self-discovery, and the complex bonds between parents and children. Through Danny's journey in the wilderness, the story examines how extreme circumstances can reveal fundamental truths about human nature and relationships.

Readers found this YA survival story engaging but somewhat predictable. Many connected with Danny's journey of self-discovery and her complex relationship with her father. The Amazon survival scenes and detailed descriptions of plant life and wilderness challenges felt authentic to readers. Liked: - Strong character development - Vivid jungle setting details - Father-daughter relationship dynamics - Scientific and medical accuracy Disliked: - Romance subplot felt forced - Some found the pacing slow in the middle - Several reviewers noted plot similarities to other YA survival books - "Too many convenient coincidences" noted multiple Amazon reviewers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (230+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.1/5 (40+ ratings) One frequent comment from positive reviews: "The snake bite scene and medical details were particularly well-researched and gripping." Multiple negative reviews mentioned the "predictable ending" as their main criticism.

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🌟 Nancy Richardson Fischer (writing as Carol Duffy) drew inspiration from her own fear of flying when creating Danny's character arc and anxiety struggles 🌿 The book's rainforest setting was extensively researched through consultation with Amazon guides and survival experts 📺 The character of Gus Price was loosely inspired by survival TV show personalities like Bear Grylls and Les Stroud 🦋 Many of the insects and animals mentioned in the book are real species found in the Amazon rainforest, including the blue morpho butterfly that plays a symbolic role 🎯 Danny's eye condition, amblyopia (lazy eye), affects approximately 2-3% of the population, and like Danny, many people learn to adapt and excel despite having monocular vision