Like others in the series, the book deals with 12-year old Jack Landon and his 11-year-old sister Ashley, whose parents' work often takes the whole family to many of our nation's national parks. Steven Landon is a nature photographer, and Olivia Landon is a wildlife veterinarian. (Another book said that Olivia was a wildlife biologist, but for this book's premise to work, she needed to have credentials to do a necropsy, an animal autopsy.)

In Buried Alive, readers find Jack not coping very well with another foster child their parents have taken in. This time, it is 13-year-old Nicky Milano, whose reason for going into foster care is shrouded in mystery. Jack feels hostile toward this newcomer; first, because there will be another person cluttering up his family's trip to Denali National Park in Alaska to investigate what is killing the wolverine population there. Jack also begins to resent Nicky's influence on his sister because she no longer seems to look up to Jack. Soon, Ashley, Nicky, and Jack have to learn to rely on each other as they face bad guys again and the Alaskan wilderness.

I love these books! Not only do the authors give readers great information about the national parks but insight into specific animal populations and habitats. Buried Alive also presents details about dog sledding, or mushing, and avalanches. And, there is always a great mystery with resourceful kids young readers can relate to.