Cave-In
by Pam Withers
Yellow Dog, 2024
ISBN 978-1-77337-124-5
$18.95, 213 pp, ages 14 – 17
greatplains.mb.ca
Guaranteed to hook teen readers, Cave-In is intense from the first five words, “It’s dark as tar ahead” to the last six words, “passion for what we truly love.” Although the author explains in the acknowledgements that much of the text was carefully referenced and researched, Pam Withers has crafted such a thrilling yet utterly believable text that this reader stopped at several points to Google details, not believing it was fiction. Set in a fictional town on Vancouver Island whose economy is dependent on logging but whose geology could lend to caving tourism, Cave-In follows sixteen-year-old Hudson Greer, an avid caver who explores the town’s subterranean areas with his dad and his friend Jett. Hudson’s parents work for the logging company Tass Tree Felling (TT), and Hudson lives in a delicate balance between trying to discover caves for potential tourism and education sites and not upsetting his parents’ employer. Cave-ins are dangerous—deadly even—and occur at several points in the novel. Hudson’s way of navigating these occurrences by reflecting on the lessons he’s learned introduces the reader to important caving knowledge and a selfless protagonist who embodies the “it takes a village” philosophy.
Pam Withers weaves connections between Hudson and important adults in his town: the mayor, his science teacher, and the head of TT. Teen characters include his ex-friend (also ex-caving partner), a fellow social outcast, and the new girl in own. Hudson’s character is relatable to any teen—not yet respected as an adult but expected to behave like one or treated like a child and expected to obey the adults around him.
This text covers more than caving and cave-ins. It tackles environmental education and issues, including geology, logging, drinking water contamination, and corporate shortcuts. Social topics include parenting, safety, friendship, trust, responsibility, and relationships. It’s a gripping story that makes tough choices relatable, difficult concepts understandable, and adventure unforgettable.
Classroom Connections: Attention high school English teachers: use the whole text for small group or whole class literature circles. Alternatively, use excerpts to study descriptive language, visualization, dialogue, vocabulary development (in context) and connect to scientific and environmental curriculum areas. Reading Comprehension Strategies: Visualizing, Transforming, Making Predictions, and Asking Questions.
Review by Amanda Parker.
This review is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Winter 2025 issue.
