Cave-In
Who can a teen trust when business and political shenanigans overshadow the imminent danger of a sinkhole disaster?
Hudson Greer and his caving partner, Jett, are determined to become teen legends who discover a long-sought passageway that connects two giant cave systems in their little mountain town. But they’re haunted by the history of a giant sinkhole that opened up and swallowed the town’s fully-packed church, steeple and all. Dozens were killed, including Hudson’ s grandfather. Hudson knows it’s in danger of happening again; he just doesn’t know when or where.
Can his caving instincts and science knowledge predict or prevent the next disaster? Are the shoddy logging practices of the town’s main employer tempting fate? And who’s on whose side when business and political shenanigans mix with evaded environmental codes?
Nothing less than the lives of the townspeople are at stake — and it’s up to Hudson to separate myth from fact, and get key players working together, before it’s too late.
Available now at Amazon.com and Indigo.ca.
Click here to learn about the story behind the book!
I’m indebted beyond words to Rick Cole, Vancouver Island caving Search and Rescue guy, who spent hours helping me with plotting and writing, and who shared an armload of binders and manuals. He has extraordinary patience and knowledge, and passion for the sport.
I was originally inspired both by a Kartchner Caverns tour in Arizona and time spent wriggling through Upana caves near Tahsis, B.C., on which Tass is based. My husband was horrified when I climbed down into Devil’s Bath sinkhole, but both of us were charmed by Tahsis and its welcome sign: “Population: more or less.” (Meanwhile, a local pub has signs reading, “Beer is free tomorrow.” “Drinking town with a fishing problem.” “Shut up and fish.”)
The town’s website states that “Tahsis is without a doubt Canada’s ecotourism caving mecca! Cavers from all over the world come to explore the more than fifty kilometres of passages found so far in the mountains around town.”
Apologies to Tahsis residents for fictionalizing many of the town’s aspects and features.
I was obviously intrigued by Rick’s comment that a church really was swallowed by a sinkhole in that region many years ago (but not with anyone inside).
I was sobered by PBS’s Nova documentary, “Sinkholes: Buried Alive.”
I gained valuable perspective from James M. Tabor’s Blind Descent, Andy Sparrow’s The Complete Caving Manual, and Paul Burger’s Cave Exploring. I also drew upon information in Kurt Repanshek’s National Parks Traveler article, “Two Caves That May Have a Connection?” (Jewel and Wind Caves, South Dakota); “Wind Pressure in Caves” by allsensors.com; Tasmanian geomorphologist Kevin Kiernan’s “Forest Sinkhole Manual” (Forest Practices Board, Tasmania); and “How to Survive an Opening Sinkhole” by whatifshow.com.
Last but definitely not least, thanks to all the team at Yellow Dog, especially Catharina de Bakker and Anita Doher. Also, thanks to agent Amy Tompkins, my valued friend and editor Allyson Latta, my husband Steve, and teen editors Jett Samson, Bella Nelstrop and Juliet King.