Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker

Thin Air is a YA thriller set almost entirely on an airplane. Teens compete in a high-stakes contest mid-flight, only for the challenge to take a deadly turn when contestants begin disappearing. The premise sounds like Clue meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder with the unique, claustrophobic setting of an airplane.

This book earned a spot on the Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award list, so it’s likely to be in the hands of many middle school readers across the state. As a former middle school teacher, I was curious how it would land with students and if the execution matched the hype.

What Worked

• The concept is fantastic. A thriller that traps the characters (and readers) on a plane immediately ups the tension, and the competition puzzles sprinkled throughout gave the story some energy and variety.
• The prologue pulled me in quickly. It set up high stakes and gave me hope the ride ahead would be gripping.
• The cover design is excellent—bold, eye-catching, and exactly the kind of thing middle schoolers gravitate toward on a display.

What Didn’t Work

• I never really connected with the main character. She came across as unlikeable and whiney. Don’t get me on my soapbox, but she is dealing through dilemmas (like choosing colleges) because she is 17, not 13 like the middle school students it is being promoted to.
• There were simply too many side characters to keep track of. In a competition setting, this is always tricky, but here it bogged down the mystery and made some big moments feel diluted.
• The tension fizzled after the strong beginning, and by the middle, the pacing dragged. As a teacher thinking about student readers, I know many would set this one aside before the end.
• The reveal and the motive behind the murders ultimately didn’t land for me. Although it was surprising, it felt unbelievable and unsatisfying after all the buildup.

Final Thoughts

While Thin Air has an exciting premise and some clever elements, the story didn’t maintain the level of suspense I was hoping for. That said, I understand why it was chosen for the Young Hoosier list: the hook is strong, it fits the current demand for YA thrillers, and the setting is unique enough to grab attention.

For me personally, it fell more into the “just fine” category than fantastic. Students who love high-concept thrillers might pick it up, but I’m not convinced many middle school students will stick with it.