The entire novel takes the span of one Saturday afternoon, from 5:05 PM until 12:48 AM the following day, approximately eight hours. Through Cooney, we are able to enter the minds of the major characters in the beginning of the novel - from the rescuers to those boarding the plane that will eventually crash. We learn a great deal about them, such as their personality, behavior and character. Heidi is a sixteen year old girl, who resides …showed first 75 words of 1256 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1256 total…with her parents, Patrick's father commends them on their daughter Heidi as she has been one of the most helpful. She talks with him after he tells her how proud of her he is. Her mother talks right after and Heidi assures her she is also fine. At the end of the novel, Heidi decides to spend the night with at Patrick's as her house is being used as a medical clinic for the night.