The Raft

A simple airplane trip becomes a harrowing struggle for survival in this tense offering from Bodeen (The Gardener). Fifteen-year-old Robie is on her way home to Midway Island after vacationing in Honolulu when the tiny cargo plane she’s on develops engine problems. One emergency landing later, and Robie is forced to swim for her life, taking refuge on a life raft with Max, the copilot. In the middle of nowhere, with almost no supplies, and under constant threat of shark attack, their chances for rescue are impossibly slim. As they fight to stay alive, Max’s story unfolds and Robie discovers just how far she’ll go in the name of self-preservation. Bodeen’s tight, pared-down sentences mirror Robie’s mood as her ability to cope falls apart (“My throat was so dry, I could barely swallow. I rolled on my back and looked up at the sky. Cloudless. Again”). This psychological thriller uses natural menaces and Robie’s eroding mental state to strike one dark note after another, leading to some disturbing twists and an ending that isn’t entirely reassuring. Ages 12–up. Agent: Scott Mendel, Mendel Media Group. (Aug.)