April 1, 2014
Gr 5-8-This high-interest series provides fast-paced stories of survival in different scenarios and also offers solutions for readers if they ever find themselves facing dangerous situations. Each chapter is a different suspenseful (and true) tale. The narratives are not connected, but they do relate in theme. Though all of the stories in the series end well, there are some mature themes explored. The structure of the books is engaging and allows for easy browsing. Photos, graphics, and information boxes are effectively used to supplement the text. At the end of each book is a "10 Tips" section tailored for different situations. There is no glossary, but difficult words are defined on the pages. Though this entertaining, informative series does not discourage adventure, it reminds readers to use caution and good sense.
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2014
Each thin volume shares six to eight (mostly) contemporary stories of extreme survival, including a 2005 grizzly bear attack on a father and daughter and a boy's eight-day ordeal buried in rubble in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Readers will be grabbed by a mix of harrowing details and eye-catching color photographs. The stories and appended safety tips are superficially presented but are nonetheless fascinating. Reading list, websites. Ind.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)