As a sixth grader living in California, but attending a Hindu private school, Nirelli is torn between the American culture in which she lives and the Indian culture she loves. As she and her sister embark on a summer of fun back in Bombay with their grandparents, she leaves her parents behind for the comforts of life in the garden with her grandmother. Upon their return home, their 747 jet is inexplicably overtaken by menacing hijackers. Nirelli feels responsible for getting her younger sister out alive, but that's not easy when chaos, murder, and fear are their new seat mates. Following the events of an actual hijacking, get on board with the heroic crew and passengers as they all fight for their lives while they learn about compassion, faith, kindness and self-knowledge as they take a journey that will ultimately lead them towards home.
About the Author: Jennifer Graham spent 20 years in education as a teacher, principal and professor before commencing her work with educational foundations. Her mission is to improve lives through education by providing innovative ways to provide opportunities for students to succeed. With a passion for teaching, Jennifer focused her studies on inner city and third world education, which allowed her to teach in four countries, on three continents and in three states. She has served as the principal of elementary, middle and high schools with her favorite position being the principal of a K-12 grade Disciplinary Alternative School where she was able to maintain an environment that rewarded collaborative learning and personal responsibility. As an adjunct professor, Graham taught lower and upper division classes in special education. Leadership is the honor given to those who enjoy service. Whether it's leading a Rotary service team to the Philippines, orchestrating a downtown revitalization program, forming a Botanical Garden, hosting foreign exchange students, guiding entrepreneurs, or heading a Youth Leadership Camp Jennifer never says no to a new idea. She considers herself a window jumper because when windows of opportunity open up, she's the first to jump. Whether she heads out feet first, or dives in, she often lands on her butt, but has the tenacity to brush herself off and be glad for the flight time. This book was a concept her father, a Pan Am pilot started in the 1980's. It wasn't until after the company folded, and court cases were settled that he was able to get enough information to begin telling the story. It was in his final years, that Jennifer and her father went to the University of Miami and began the work of sifting through the special collections to piece together the story of Pan Am Flight 73 and the crew who saved all but 20 of the 350 passengers. This story takes the actual events but tells it from the perspective of a fictional character. Jennifer's father read her story before his death, and was proud that the story got told, but felt certain there was too much technical information about the airplane that was left out. That's the beauty of storytelling, we all tell our own version of the truth.