This is one of those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books I love! Obviously, it’s set in Antarctica. I chose the path of an explorer in 1911, on a team trying to reach the South Pole first! Unfortunately, the path I chose lead to eventual death, but I didn’t let that get me down! The book shared great tips for surviving extreme cold temperatures, how to deal with hypothermia, and more. It even mentioned several people who survived treks to Antarctica. I think maybe my favorite part was the survival quiz. Since I’m a Boy Scout I had the advantage! I learned about treating hypothermia months ago so I passed the quiz with flying colors! This is a great book for kids looking for a little adventure and don’t mind learning something along the way! For example, did you know that Antarctica is considered a desert even though it is covered in ice!? http://www.jennsbookshelves.com/2011/08/04/tales-of-a-formerly-reluctant-reader-the-capstone-edition/
I've taught teenagers about Antarctica and finding appropriate and interesting resources for the student's to develop their knowledge outside of the classroom is difficult. Can You Survive Antarctica? is set to change all this. It is an 'interactive book', which means that children and teenagers can choose their own path through the book by reading different pages, leading to different endings. It adds an element of fun and game play, which hopefully will encourage them to continue reading. There are three paths "early explorer", "modern day adventure" and "living and working in Antarctica". All paths combine aspects of history and geography, and often include elements of science and survival skills. The book begins with a general chapter discussing what Antarctica is like, with key geographical facts such as average temperatures which makes this book an excellent source of information for project work/homework. It then asks the students to choose which path they would like to follow. The story like style of the book, and the elements of danger, will distract children from the fact that it is a non-fiction book. Offering choices, such as the choice between the better equipped Scott expedition or the more experienced Amundsen expedition, helps promote students problem-solving and critical thinking skills. After finishing all three paths, readers will have a well-rounded knowledge of the history and geography of Antarctica, and what life is like living there. The layout of the book is clean and modern, shaking off the image of boring non-fiction books. This clean, modern feel is replicated in the pictures and maps chosen, which, in the main, are colourful and appealing. In terms of reading age, it is generally appropriate for KS2-KS3, in my opinion, which is ages 7-14, however some words, by necessity, are more difficult, and KS2 and low ability KS3 students may struggle with them, although there is a very good glossary provided in the back of the book. As an educator, the book provides a quiz and further information sources, which should consolidate and extend learning. However, the quiz is more focused on survival skills, and is not useful for assessment, and the 'Read More' section could have been longer to provide a greater selection of paper based resources. The FactHound code, used to produce a list of verified, trusted websites, is an excellent idea, as it will give parents/educators the peace of mind that their children/students are getting reliable, appropriate information from the internet. Overall this is an excellent book where learning takes place almost by accident. From a parents/educator's point of view, it is a well-researched, non-fiction book that will keep children and teenagers engaged and entertained while they are learning. For children/teenagers, I believe they will enjoy the choices given and the style of the writing, which makes it read more like a fiction book rather than a non-fiction book. A must have for any school or public library! 5 STARS http://tomesofthesoul.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-can-you-survive-antarctica-by.html
These books are going to be popular with your young readers, especially the boys. The books describe a variety of choices to a disaster. If the reader makes the wrong choices, they are dead. A benefit is that the books teach survival skills, and each book describes a different type of environment. These books will be popular with children who are adventurous, plus they provide mental exercise for the reader. Each book provides three story paths and contains a survival guide related to the topic, Real Survivors, and Survival Quiz sections. Recommended.
