All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team

Because of her educational and professional qualifications, as well as her cultural background, author Christina Soontornvat is an ideal person to tell the story of the Tham Luang cave rescue. In addition, she has a personal connection to the event, since she was visiting Northern Thailand when the boys became trapped in the cave. She and her family were even thinking of exploring some caves that day but decided to stay home because of the weather forecast.

Soontornvat’s educational and professional background is in the sciences. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and her master’s degree in science education. Additionally, she worked for 10 years at a science museum, where she developed exhibits for children. Because of her education and professional qualifications, Soontornvat is experienced in explaining science concepts to children. This serves her well as the author of All Thirteen, as she explains the scientific reasons behind the flooding of the cave as well as science concepts about survival, such as the stages of hypothermia. Her ability to explain science in simple terms allows the middle grade target audience to comprehend the many risks involved in the cave rescue, the dangerous conditions that threatened the boys’ lives, and the geographical conditions that made the flooding of Tham Luang happen so quickly and unexpectedly. In addition, Soontornvat has authored other children’s books, including middle grades books, so she has experience writing for this audience.

Another of Soontornvat’s qualifications for writing All Thirteen is her cultural background. She lives in the US and grew up there, so she comes from a Western cultural perspective. This allows her to highlight the cultural perspective of people in the story from the US and England, such as Major Charles Hodges and the British divers. In addition, Soontornvat has a Thai cultural heritage and has family still living in Thailand. She interviewed Thai people involved with the rescue as well as the Wild Boars team with the help of her family members, who provided insights about the cultural meaning behind different gestures, ways of speaking, religious practices, and more. This allows Soontornvat to provide cultural insight regarding the perspectives of the Thai leaders, the Thai Navy SEALs, and the boys’ behavior in the cave.

Soontornvat provides nuances of meaning based on her knowledge of both Thai and Western cultures, which helps convey some of the responses and interactions between cultures that took place leading up to the rescue. Soontornvat’s educational background and cultural position both give her an ideal perspective to author the story of the Tham Luang cave rescue.