Lost in the Amazon

May 16, 2005
Desperate, divorced, with collection agencies breathing down his neck, freelance photographer Kirkpatrick, in a last ditch effort to salvage his career and, perhaps, himself, in 1995 makes a trip to the Peruvian Amazon. Things quickly go awry—faulty maps, appalling conditions, recalcitrant porters and plain bad luck combine to put Kirkpatrick and his party near death. Lost in the dense jungle with a ragtag band of gringo adventurers and native guides, Kirkpatrick manages to capture the prey he had come to find: photographs. Then, exposed to the environment's unrelenting moisture, his cameras go bad and subsequently his film is tragically lost in the river. Twelve days later, Kirkpatrick emerges from the jungle battered, bloodied and starving, but alive. The author, a devout Christian, pulls no punches as to who's responsible for his safe return. At each crisis, Kirkpatrick turns to prayer for guidance. Alone in the forest, in a blinding rainstorm, exhausted, filthy, injured, he scribbles in his notebook, "I have to be realistic. Christians die just like everyone else." His tone isn't preachy; it merely reflects one man's deep faith. The narrative has a crude, immediate feel, which for this small story is just enough. Photos.

November 1, 2005
Adult/High School -Freelance wildlife photographer Kirkpatrick made a trip to the Peruvian Amazon in 1995. His need to find good material was so paramount that it pushed his expedition to start out with hand-drawn maps of an area virtually unvisited by humans, and with only a general idea of the route that would lead to the planned pick-up point. The hastily put together plan fell apart very quickly, and it wasn't long before the group was lost in the rainforest. This book is more than just a retelling of what happened -there's plenty of drama, comedy, suspense, fast-paced action, and nature to satisfy any reader. Kirkpatrick took comfort in thinking about his three sons and from his belief in God. His narrative is not particularly liturgical, doctrinal, or objective; his was an experiential faith that wavered, struggled, and was almost lost completely at times, but somehow held on. He eventually realized that faith was what sustained him, but there was no guarantee as to the outcome of the journey. Readers will not only feel like members of the expedition, but will also discover hidden truths about life, love, and faith." -Erin Dennington, Fairfax County Public Library, Chantilly, VA"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.