Pilot Down Presumed Dead

Ryan KnappReading-Miss Roche Period 3May 11, 2012

By: MarjoriePhleger

Marjorie Phleger: Biography

Webpage: NONE

Marjorie Temple Phleger was born in August of 1907 in Glendale, California. She met her future

husband at the University of Southern California. His name was Fred. Fred got a degree in

oceanography while Marjorie got a degree in theater. While in theater, she met many actors,

writers, and publishers, such as Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss) and his wife Helen. Ted encouraged her to

write books. Marjorie published in 1963 her first book Pilot Down Presumed Dead. With the

help of her husband she wrote 2 more novels You Will Live Under the Sea and Off to the Races.

The Phlegers have two children, Charles F. ‘Rick’ Phleger and Audrey (Phleger) Levonas. Marjorie

Phleger died in February 1986 at the age of 78. You can still see her books in bookstores today.

SummaryPilot Down Presumed Dead is about a man named Steve Ferris who lives in San Diego.

He is a pilot who takes passengers to Baja California and back to San Diego. After taking passengers to La Paz, he flew back home. While flying, he encountered a freak storm. After a sudden, dramatic, near death drop, Steve saw a break in the storm, and luckily land was right below him. A pilot needs a long strip of land to at least survive an attempted crash landing. Steve had to make a quick decision but he decided to land his craft. When Steve attempted to land he found out that the sand on the beach was really soft. The plane did a 360˚ spin-flip in the air and ended up nose first in the sand. Steve was knocked out cold from the impact of the plane. When he came to conscience, all of the planes supplies were a mess. That night Steve slept in the plane and woke suddenly when he herd howling outside the plane. Turns out it was a California coyote. In the morning Steve made a big S.O.S. sign. His 2nd night on the island Steve slept outside. The coyote came over to the fire. Steve was very kind to the coyote, so the coyote trusted Steve. He named the coyote Amigo. Steve had many food problems. Steve was not careful with how he rationed his water from the plane, so he became clever and found many ways to get water. Steve's food was plentiful on the island. He had lots of fish, cactus flower, clams, crabs, and other seafood things. One day while exploring the island, he saw some seals. While he was watching them, a killer whale came up and attacked the seals. While wading back to shore he sprained his ankle in a crack. Steve wasn’t able to do anything for a week. That left a lot of time planning for the raft that he was going to make to get off the island. When he was finally better, Steve built the raft. Was it going to float? Was he going to make it back to the mainland safely? Was he going to bring his loyal companion Amigo along? Would he ever see his family again? Read Pilot Down Presumed Dead to answer these questions.

Characters

Main Character

Steve Ferris: A brave, determined pilot who gets stranded on an island and is going to stay alive for as long as he can handle it.

Minor Character

Amigo: A loyal coyote companion who is also determined to save Steve’s life. Amigo helps Steve find water and food. Steve thinks that Amigo was left on the island by accident by the Mexicans.

PlotIntroduction

Steve goes on a plane ride and gets caught in a storm. Steve crash land on a deserted island. He meets a coyote and names him Amigo.

Rising Action Steve has a hard time finding food and water. Steve explores the island. Steve becomes creative and makes new inventions. Steve meets seals who are attacked by a killer whale . Steve sprained his ankle.

Climax Steve makes the raft to go to the mainland.

Falling Action Steve starts to leave the island but Amigo followed. Steve and Amigo make it to Baja California. They meet a poor Mexican family. The Mexican family tells Steve about another family with a car who can take

him back to his home.Conclusion

Steve leaves Amigo behind, but Amigo finds new friends.

New Vocabulary1. Primitive: adj. being the first or earliest of the kind or in

existence, especially in an early age of the world: primitive forms of life. “The crutches were primitive, but they helped him keep his injured foot elevated when he went to the water or combed the area for firewood.” pg. 157

2. Combed: v. to search everywhere in. “The crutches were primitive, but they helped him keep his injured foot elevated when he went to the water or combed the area for firewood.” pg. 157

3. Swamp: v. to flood or drench with water or the like. “It was best to stay in easy swimming distance of the island in case the raft would swam swamp and start to sink” pg. 175

4. Merely: adv. only as specified and nothing more; simply. “He merely watched with apathy as the rudderless craft turned this way and that, but he noted with thankfulness that the wind was pushing it forward.” pg. 197

5. Apathy: n. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement. “He merely watched with apathy as the rudderless craft turned this way and that, but he noted with thankfulness that the wind was pushing it forward.” pg. 197

Starring Actors

Steve Ferris is played by Robert John Downey Jr.

Amigo is played by a California Coyote

Soundtrack Tunes

Airplanes By B. o. B.I choose this song because when Steve is flying the airplane he wishes that he could land

so this song is perfect.

Can we pretend that airplanesIn the midnight sky

Are like shooting starsI could really use a wish right now (wish right now) (wish right now)

Can we pretend that airplanesIn the night sky

Are like shooting starsI could really use a wish right now (wish right now) (wish right now)

RatingI rate Pilot Down Presumed Dead a

4 out of 5 stars

I liked this book because it was an adventurous book where

someone is stranded on an island or some place, and they try to survive. I

didn’t like this book because I personally didn’t like the ending. I can’t say why

or else I would ruin the book. I recommend this book to anyone who likes

adventure and people trying to survive for their lives.

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