I gave a five to Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team more for the illustrations by Dow Phumiruk and the several afterwards than the story itself. Not to say that it is a bad story, but the length of the text made it not an easy read and while I enjoyed it, it is not one of my absolute favorite stories that Susan Hood has created. Also, unlike her Ada’s Violin, I was familiar with the story whereas Ada’s Violin was an unknown story. I was able to learn from Ada’s story whereas I was hearing mostly things I knew already with Titan’s story. Yet, what saves this story for me is that there is some new information, especially what happened after the boys were released from the hospital.
Hood and Patthana Sornhiran created a straight forward story. And if you had watched the news during this time, you know much of it already. However, the book is more centered around the youngest player, nicknamed Titan, and the feelings the players and their coach were going through. You see the divers of the rescue teams, other people behind the scenes and have a more personal relationship with the story. The afterwards give you many of the facts that you would have seen on television and read about but bring them together in one place to tie everything together.
Good for a classroom setting to teach about other areas of the world, but not for the younger fans of soccer. An older child (due to the length and subject matter) might be curious about kids also lovers of the sport. However, even though there is a lot of text and really meant for the older child, the picture book format could turn some kids off.
It is not an easy recommendation. But one that I do highly recommend to the right reader.