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The Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure
Amazon: You Decide How to Survive!
A new thrill ride begins in the Amazon rainforest with the latest novel in the Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure series! Join an expedition of students exploring the Amazon jungle and face real dangers and decisions. Your choices will determine your fate. Will you survive your encounters with piranhas, tarantulas, mosquitoes, monkeys, and jaguars? Or will you be forced to return home early? Only you can decide how to survive. There are twenty-two possible endings to this adventure, but only ONE leads to ultimate success! Featuring dynamic comic book–style illustrations, and based on real, true-life facts about the Amazon, this story will be a surefire hit with anyone craving a fun, highly visual reading experience.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2011
9 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
David Borgenicht
121 books18 followersDavid Borgenicht is the creator and co-author of the best-selling WORST CASE SCENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK series. He is also the author of dozens of other books, including THE STAR TREK BOOK OF OPPOSITES and HOW TO CON YOUR KID. He is the president and publisher of Quirk Books (www.quirkbooks.com), Philadelphia-based publishers of entertaining, informative, and amusing fiction and non-fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 16, 2013
An interesting contrast to Willard Price's classic Amazon Adventure, this book profoundly demonstrates the change in children's literature in the last sixty years. At a high level, the two books are somewhat similar: they both present an adventure featuring kids traveling from a "source" of the Amazon all the way down to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean. Both make a case for the importance of conservation of the rain forest, and both present the perils of jungle survival. But Amazon Adventure is an adventure story, with protagonists and antagonists, humor and horror. This book is like a grade school lesson plan on the Amazon presented in a "Choose Your Own Adventure" format. The story begins with the direction that you should read the "Expedition File:" a dossier-like appendix at the back of the book that summarizes everything that we are to learn about survival in the Amazon. Then the book presents a number of decision points where we, as readers, get to demonstrate how well we can apply what we read in the Expedition File. The end result feels like a standardized test where we've been given the answers in advance. The book boasts that there are "24 different endings!" but to get to anything other than the successful arrival in the Atlantic, you'd have to willfully choose against what the book itself tells you to do in the beginning. For example: the Expedition File informs us that the only way to possibly survive an encounter with a jaguar is to make yourself look big rather than running away, as the jaguar's feline instincts will be to pounce on you if you try to flee. Then, in the story, you come face-to-face with a jaguar. Do you a) run away, or b) make yourself big by raising your arms and waving them around? Pretty much all of the choices in the book are brainless binaries like that. In addition, the book presents a number of ridiculous assertions as if they were facts, which I found very irritating (for example, the journey starts out in the Peruvian Andes, at a mountain town with a spring that is identified as "the source of the Amazon river," when of course the Amazon has a million sources, not just one). On the other hand, the presentation of the book is pretty interesting: it is both illustrated in parts and rendered as comics in other parts, blending in a way that was, for me, seamless and natural. I also thought the focus on the expedition's diet was a welcome one, stressing how tedious and also laborious it is to travel through the jungle when it means having beans and rice at every meal for months, because they're nutritionally compact, they keep, and they're highly portable, and foraging for other food is terribly time and energy consuming.
In all, I felt that this would be a nice way to pique the interest of a youngster who had no previous exposure to information about the Amazon...particularly with an adult available to temper some of the more outrageous parts with questions to consider. For instance: "How do you think the character is writing a blog while traveling deep in the jungle?"
In all, I felt that this would be a nice way to pique the interest of a youngster who had no previous exposure to information about the Amazon...particularly with an adult available to temper some of the more outrageous parts with questions to consider. For instance: "How do you think the character is writing a blog while traveling deep in the jungle?"
May 14, 2012
It's another of those wonderful Worst-Case Scenario titles with a trip through the Amazon this time. Savvy readers of the previous title have learned to read the helpful Expedition File at the back of the book to lessen the risks on the journey, but if you are foolhardy or think you're experienced enough to read the book without looking at that section first, go ahead and see how things turn out. As you and your companions spend six months making your way along the Amazon, you face many challenges such as what to do when picking up firewood, how to react to a jaguar, and how to handle piranhas and electric eels. Although there are 26 different endings to the story, there is only one way to make it out alive and on time. Thus, a reader will read the narrative and then be faced with a decision. Making one choice takes him/her in one direction while making a different choice takes him/her somewhere else. It's all great fun, and allows readers to learn a lot about themselves as well as a little bit about the Amazon. No one will complain if you assign this book or one of the others in this series for independent reading.
November 21, 2017
Absolutely amazing book. It has many interesting stories, plus you choose your own story - when you take different decisions, the book takes you to different pages. (24 possible endings)
If you like a book, full of adventures, I definitely would recommend this book to you.
If you like a book, full of adventures, I definitely would recommend this book to you.
June 22, 2013
I remember reading "Choose Your Own Adventure" books while growing up and loving them! I had seen this series a while back and was reminded of the adventure books I had grown up with so decided to check these out. They are as fun to read as I remember them!
This series of "An Ultimate Adventure Novel" lets readers choose their own paths throughout the story. Each path leads to a different direction, and you'll never know how your path will end up based on your decisions. In this book, you're part of an expedition to the Amazon for six months and will go through many challenges. There are 26 possible endings to your mission but only one path through the book that will lead to a successful ending.
This would make a great book for both boys and girls from grades 4-5. Also a great book for reluctant boy readers but who like adventure and suspense.
This series of "An Ultimate Adventure Novel" lets readers choose their own paths throughout the story. Each path leads to a different direction, and you'll never know how your path will end up based on your decisions. In this book, you're part of an expedition to the Amazon for six months and will go through many challenges. There are 26 possible endings to your mission but only one path through the book that will lead to a successful ending.
This would make a great book for both boys and girls from grades 4-5. Also a great book for reluctant boy readers but who like adventure and suspense.
July 30, 2012
I loved this book. It is written for kids, and your goal is to successfully complete a journey along the entire length of the Amazon River. I finished successfully on the first try. I think the characterization is good- there are some characters who are easy-going and some others you kind of want to punch in the face. I have not been to the Amazon but I have been to Costa Rica, so it was at least a somewhat familiar setting. I enjoyed every minute of this book, and then went back to figure out all the possible options (there are many). The illustrations are great too, and I believe this would be a great book for kids of either gender- I would definitely put this into a classroom library.
March 30, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this book, especially that the decisions you make while reading determine your fate. The entire book is filled with excitement and that you as the reader decide how to approach. Within the book there are also a few comic book style drawings which really add to the story. Then, once you have finished the story the end of the book contains factual information about the amazon and survival tips such as How to Survive Venomous Snakes or How to Fish for Piranhas. I would definitely recommend this book to intermediate readers looking for adventure.
July 10, 2012
I thought this was an amazing book because it was an adventure book that felt realistic. This book really made me think because I had to make choices and I wanted to make the right choices so I did not have to go home.
After I read the whole book I went back and made all the wrong choices so I could learn more and see what would happen. The survival guide in the back of the book was the best part because it gave you real information so you could make informed choices while reading.
After I read the whole book I went back and made all the wrong choices so I could learn more and see what would happen. The survival guide in the back of the book was the best part because it gave you real information so you could make informed choices while reading.
July 16, 2013
Oh my goodness...the kids are going to eat this series up! Especially the boys! I was pleasantly surprised that before I could start the story, I was instructed to flip to the back of the book to read the very short field guide with tips that I needed to remember to survive in the Amazon. I only read for about thirty minutes and met angry bees, found myself dehydrated, and found a poisonous snake under the firewood that I was collecting! I think this series will fly off the shelves!
January 13, 2016
Great for reluctant readers that will enjoy choosing their own story path. The "Expedition File" at the end of the book should be read first. Pertinent, factual information informs the reader and prepares them for successful decision making. There is only one path that will lead to the "ultimate success." However, there are 24 possible outcomes, some of which--to the delight of most kids--lead to a final demise. Kids love to tell me, "I died five times!"
June 18, 2012
This take on the "choose your own adventure" concept is brilliant. The book begins by telling you to read first the important adventure informaiton contained in the back of hte book. This information is vital for survial. By making solid choices based on the "worst case scenarios," readers can actually survive their unique adventures!
June 28, 2012
I haven't read one of these "choose your own adventure" books in a long time, and I wasn't sure I wanted to read this one, but I'm so glad I did. It was fun. I learned a lot. It was a break from reading my usual novel or non-fiction that takes days. Great for vacation reading, and it appeals to a wide range of ages. I'm passing this book along.
December 28, 2016
At first it seemed fairly reasonable, but then when it came time to get rid of some paths, the “wrong choice”s seemed less and less wrong.
Not much adventure value.
All the information necessary to complete the mission successfully is in the Expedition Guide in the back, which makes it seem like the whole point is to get you to read directions.
Not much adventure value.
All the information necessary to complete the mission successfully is in the Expedition Guide in the back, which makes it seem like the whole point is to get you to read directions.
July 14, 2017
So much better than the choose your own adventure series of my childhood! I read this to a 4 year old at his insistence and was pleasantly surprised that he stuck with it until nearly the end of his story track. He probably would have lasted if it wasn't bed time and my voice didn't do that lulling thing we all love so well. ;) I did sit and finish the last ten pages or so on my own. :D
March 15, 2015
Di You want an action packed book .Then this is the perfect book for you .It tells an amazing story of crossing the amazon on foot.A team of five Dan,Jing,carlos freddy and ababia.But this book has something noother book has.This book gives you options of there fate. There life are in your hands.
April 18, 2016
Wow! The Amazon is a scary place, especially if you don't read all of the important information in the back of the book before you start. I love a choose your own adventure book. It's so fun to make the different decisions and see if you live or not. FUN!
April 3, 2018
This is a fun, interesting, factual adventure set in the Amazon. You first read survival tips and than have them challenged in story format. Many aspects of the story reminded me of my own time in the rainforest.
August 10, 2012
Fun read. Learn facts first in the file at the end and test yourself in the adventure.
November 28, 2012
This book was interesting. One giant choose your own adventure story.
June 9, 2014
I made it on the first try! This was fun and helped reinforce the feeling that I have no desire to visit a rain forest. I much prefer the small bugs.
July 25, 2014
Tbis series flies off of the library shelves! Wish there were more!
February 10, 2014
Growing up, I devoured choose-your-own-adventure books. This one is an interesting update on the concept.
You are a teen chosen for an expedition along the Amazon River. The choices you make along the way determine whether you will make it to the end of the expedition or even survive to see your home again. For an adult reader, the survival choices are a bit too simplistic. However, this book would definitely appeal to younger readers.
The graphics are well done and engaging, and there are some interesting facts about life in the rainforest and why it is important to preserve these natural habitats for posterity.
You are a teen chosen for an expedition along the Amazon River. The choices you make along the way determine whether you will make it to the end of the expedition or even survive to see your home again. For an adult reader, the survival choices are a bit too simplistic. However, this book would definitely appeal to younger readers.
The graphics are well done and engaging, and there are some interesting facts about life in the rainforest and why it is important to preserve these natural habitats for posterity.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews