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Sole Survivor.


SOLE SURVIVOR. Ruthanne Lum n. 1. A chimney.
2. A ventilating chimney over the shaft of a mine.
3. A woody valley; also, a deep pool.
 McCunn. 1985/2002. Read by Johanna Ward. 6 cds. 7 hrs. Blackstone Audiobooks. 0-7861-9436-7 $48.00. Vinyl; content, author notes. SA

In 1942 Poon poon  
n.
Any of several trees of the genus Calophyllum, of southern Asia, having light hard wood used for masts and spars.



[Sinhalese p
 Lira answered the British call for Chinamen to serve on merchant ships. He worked as a steward on the Benlomond, which was torpedoed by a German submarine and sank off the coast of Brazil, Poon was the only survivor. For 133 days, until rescued by a family in a small boat, Poon survived by catching rainwater in canvas rigging rigging, the wires, ropes, and chains employed to support and operate the masts, yards, booms, and sails of a vessel. Standing rigging is semipermanent, consisting mainly of mast supports, the fore-and-aft stays, and the stays running from the masthead to each side , fashioning hooks and lines to catch fish, and eventually catching birds and drinking his own urine. Planes and ships were sighted; one turned away when Poon was recognized as Chinese.

Ward's reading captures the emotional intensity in the details of survival with the added worry of being Chinese. Poon's hope, after rescue, was that he might serve as an example of Chinese competence and courage. While it is true that training films were made of his creative ways of catching water and fish and a private bill granted him US citizenship, the initial debriefing de·brief·ing  
n.
1. The act or process of debriefing or of being debriefed.

2. The information imparted during the process of being debriefed.

Noun 1.
 by the US Navy was dismissive dis·mis·sive  
adj.
1. Serving to dismiss.

2. Showing indifference or disregard: a dismissive shrug.

Adj. 1.
. This book was initially classified as fiction because of its imaginative detail. Author McCunn explains the interviews, including those with Poon, and the research that supports its re-release as nonfiction non·fic·tion  
n.
1. Prose works other than fiction: I've read her novels but not her nonfiction.

2. The category of literature consisting of works of this kind.
.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

Vivian Berg, Mandan, ND
COPYRIGHT 2004 Kliatt
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2004, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Author:Berg, Vivian
Publication:Kliatt
Article Type:Audiobook Review
Date:Sep 1, 2004
Words:262
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