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Can You Survive...
Can You Survive in the Special Forces?: An Interactive Survival Adventure
Your survival depends on making the right choices in key moments. Which path to take? Readers use their wits and knowledge in these nonfiction adventures, learning about survival skills in various settings and making choices that will lead to either survival or doom. Talk about narrative nonfiction!
- GenresNonfiction
112 pages, Library Binding
First published July 1, 2012
220 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Matt Doeden
458 books26 followersMatt Doeden was born in southern Minnesota and lived parts of his childhood in Golden Valley, Minnesota, and Madison, Minnesota. He studied journalism at Mankato State University, where he worked at the college newspaper for three years. In his senior year, he served as the paper's Sports Editor, which put him in charge of the entire sports section, the sports writers, and the photographers. He covered mostly college sports, but also the Minnesota Vikings, who held training camp at MSU.
His work allowed him to meet and interview people like Dennis Green, Cris Carter, Robert Smith, and more. Matt went on to work as a sports writer for the Mankato paper, and then he got a job as an editor with a small children's publisher called Capstone Press, and in 2003 he decided to start his own business as a freelance writer and editor.
Since then, Matt has written and edited hundreds of books. Lots of them are on high-interest topics like cars, sports, and airplanes. He also writes and edits on geography, science, and even math.
His work allowed him to meet and interview people like Dennis Green, Cris Carter, Robert Smith, and more. Matt went on to work as a sports writer for the Mankato paper, and then he got a job as an editor with a small children's publisher called Capstone Press, and in 2003 he decided to start his own business as a freelance writer and editor.
Since then, Matt has written and edited hundreds of books. Lots of them are on high-interest topics like cars, sports, and airplanes. He also writes and edits on geography, science, and even math.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 29, 2024
I love choose your own adventure type books. They are so fun to read. I was a navy seal and I helped take out a terrorist. We were successful, of course. How could we not be? The United States Navy Seals rock!
January 12, 2023
I got this book along with a few others in the same series for my 7th grade classroom. I wanted more realistic/non fiction type books and these are a great resource for a short read for reluctant readers or after a test/quiz.
September 7, 2021
Apparently I could not only survive, I could thrive! Who knew?
October 21, 2020
Very good book
I loved that this was a good book to read while going to bed! It was very entertaining to read
I loved that this was a good book to read while going to bed! It was very entertaining to read
February 10, 2015
If you want to raise a child desensitized to violence -- all in the name of "good versus evil" then this is the book for you! My son brought this book home from his school library, and I tried to be open minded... However, as I flipped through the pages, this is the first passage I landed on (page 25):
[...A terrorist is standing there, holding one of the hostages in front of him. He’s using the hostage as a shield.
“You are too late,” the terrorist says in broken English. “We already killed one of your diplomats. Drop that weapon, or I’ll kill this one too.”
You could take a shot, but it will be risky. You could hit the hostage. Or the terrorist could pull the trigger on his weapon before he falls.]
At this point the reader is given two choices:
[To take a the shot, turn to page 34.
To try to negotiate with the terrorist, turn to page 37.]
If you “take the shot,” your child will read this:
[Quickly you raise your Beretta M9 pistol and fire. The shot hits the enemy squarely between the eyes. He topples over, releasing the hostage, who rushes to your side.]
If your child thinks you should “try to negotiate,” here is what follows:
[“Easy now,” you say. “We can talk this out. Why don’t you start by letting go of the hostage?”
Before you realize what has happened, you hear a shot. You feel the strength in your legs suddenly leave you. You slump to the ground, noticing a strange feeling in your abdomen. You clutch your stomach and look down. Your hands are covered in blood, The terrorist shot you!]
It devolves from there into your realizing, as you lay dying on the ground, that you made a stupid mistake and that you hope the rest of your team and the remaining hostages will make it out alive.
I was speechless. I couldn’t image a more INAPPROPRIATE book for an elementary school student, and I was stunned our school allowed it into our library.
My scathing review is likely read as a ringing endorsement for some people. I realize there are all kinds of parents out there who have varying ideas of what is best for their children to fill their minds with. I support our military and value each an every soldier’s service to our country -- I just think filling a young child’s mind with even a small taste of the violence that all too often sends grown men home with PTSD is just pure insanity.
There is enough in our society today challenging the ability of a child to stay innocent -- much of it is out of a parent’s control. But if you can help it, let children be innocent until they grow up. You can teach children about “good versus evil” and instill strong moral values without exposing them to to the kind of violence and warped mindsets portrayed in this book.
[...A terrorist is standing there, holding one of the hostages in front of him. He’s using the hostage as a shield.
“You are too late,” the terrorist says in broken English. “We already killed one of your diplomats. Drop that weapon, or I’ll kill this one too.”
You could take a shot, but it will be risky. You could hit the hostage. Or the terrorist could pull the trigger on his weapon before he falls.]
At this point the reader is given two choices:
[To take a the shot, turn to page 34.
To try to negotiate with the terrorist, turn to page 37.]
If you “take the shot,” your child will read this:
[Quickly you raise your Beretta M9 pistol and fire. The shot hits the enemy squarely between the eyes. He topples over, releasing the hostage, who rushes to your side.]
If your child thinks you should “try to negotiate,” here is what follows:
[“Easy now,” you say. “We can talk this out. Why don’t you start by letting go of the hostage?”
Before you realize what has happened, you hear a shot. You feel the strength in your legs suddenly leave you. You slump to the ground, noticing a strange feeling in your abdomen. You clutch your stomach and look down. Your hands are covered in blood, The terrorist shot you!]
It devolves from there into your realizing, as you lay dying on the ground, that you made a stupid mistake and that you hope the rest of your team and the remaining hostages will make it out alive.
I was speechless. I couldn’t image a more INAPPROPRIATE book for an elementary school student, and I was stunned our school allowed it into our library.
My scathing review is likely read as a ringing endorsement for some people. I realize there are all kinds of parents out there who have varying ideas of what is best for their children to fill their minds with. I support our military and value each an every soldier’s service to our country -- I just think filling a young child’s mind with even a small taste of the violence that all too often sends grown men home with PTSD is just pure insanity.
There is enough in our society today challenging the ability of a child to stay innocent -- much of it is out of a parent’s control. But if you can help it, let children be innocent until they grow up. You can teach children about “good versus evil” and instill strong moral values without exposing them to to the kind of violence and warped mindsets portrayed in this book.
October 8, 2015
This is part of the You Choose/Can You Survive series of adventure books that puts the reader in the middle of the action. This time the reader is an elite member of the U.S. Special Forces and must make choices that will hopefully lead to survival.
At the end of the first chapter, readers get to choose three different Special Forces options to try to survive: (1) join the Green Berets on a dangerous rescue mission, (2) join the Army Rangers and seize an enemy airstrip, or (3) join the SEALS and try to capture a terrorist leader. Then there are numerous possible outcomes for each of the military options that will lead you to survival or death.
My middle school students will love this adventurous tale that's full of action and the bonus is that they will also learn real information about the elite warriors of the Special Forces, along with some great pictures and illustrations that match the story. For example, readers learn that the U.S. military is made up of nearly 1.5 million people.
The book ends with additional useful information, including: survival tips, a timeline of the Special Forces, real missions done by the Special Forces, more books to read, the Fact Hound website code to find out more internet resources on the Special Forces, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
At the end of the first chapter, readers get to choose three different Special Forces options to try to survive: (1) join the Green Berets on a dangerous rescue mission, (2) join the Army Rangers and seize an enemy airstrip, or (3) join the SEALS and try to capture a terrorist leader. Then there are numerous possible outcomes for each of the military options that will lead you to survival or death.
My middle school students will love this adventurous tale that's full of action and the bonus is that they will also learn real information about the elite warriors of the Special Forces, along with some great pictures and illustrations that match the story. For example, readers learn that the U.S. military is made up of nearly 1.5 million people.
The book ends with additional useful information, including: survival tips, a timeline of the Special Forces, real missions done by the Special Forces, more books to read, the Fact Hound website code to find out more internet resources on the Special Forces, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
April 5, 2016
can you survive in the special forces?
puts you in situations where you have to choose what to do with its forty-three choices to choose for three of the story paths and it's 17 endings you can really have a blast. Matt Doeden really put hard work into a book as interesting as this. I enjoy these kinds of books because you can choose your own endings and change the story to the way you want.
Matt Doeden gave you very important decisions to make that could leave straight to death or saving the day. My favorite story is when you have to rescue the hostages and not let the terrorists win. You could command your snipers to take the shot or tell your men to storm the compound. But there is two other stories like an airborne assault and one with counterterrorism.
I recommend this book to people who like choose your own path books, people that like military stories or both. I do so because I personally like it a lot you could take your time and choose all the endings and choices for the three paths but you don't have to. It always kept me in awe in every story no matter how much i change it. you don't need to be a really good reader to read it. It's very hard to predict because of its story choices I like this style of books cause I like to have things the way I want them.
puts you in situations where you have to choose what to do with its forty-three choices to choose for three of the story paths and it's 17 endings you can really have a blast. Matt Doeden really put hard work into a book as interesting as this. I enjoy these kinds of books because you can choose your own endings and change the story to the way you want.
Matt Doeden gave you very important decisions to make that could leave straight to death or saving the day. My favorite story is when you have to rescue the hostages and not let the terrorists win. You could command your snipers to take the shot or tell your men to storm the compound. But there is two other stories like an airborne assault and one with counterterrorism.
I recommend this book to people who like choose your own path books, people that like military stories or both. I do so because I personally like it a lot you could take your time and choose all the endings and choices for the three paths but you don't have to. It always kept me in awe in every story no matter how much i change it. you don't need to be a really good reader to read it. It's very hard to predict because of its story choices I like this style of books cause I like to have things the way I want them.
July 5, 2014
I wanna be an Airborne Ranger, I’m gonna read about a life of danger. Sound off….
If you haven’t noticed, I am a woman. Why that is important is because I will never be able to be in any kind of Special Forces. The closest I can get to it is reading about them. I think I might not be alone in my desire to see if I have sharp enough instincts to make it with these elite warriors.
The book is divided up into three missions and in each mission you are in charge of either a Special Forces team, a Ranger Team, or a Navy SEAL team. If you don’t know what any of those teams are don’t worry; this book explains what each specialty does and what would be the best way to go about your mission. This book is not for the faint of heart. There are options where you will fail your mission, you can get team members killed, and you can get killed.
Could I survive in the Special Forces? The answer is; “kind of.” I would do ok in Special Forces, I would make a terrible Ranger, but I would make an incredible SEAL. I had an extraordinary time making judgments for these Special Operation units. I hope you come in and tell me if you faired any better.
If you haven’t noticed, I am a woman. Why that is important is because I will never be able to be in any kind of Special Forces. The closest I can get to it is reading about them. I think I might not be alone in my desire to see if I have sharp enough instincts to make it with these elite warriors.
The book is divided up into three missions and in each mission you are in charge of either a Special Forces team, a Ranger Team, or a Navy SEAL team. If you don’t know what any of those teams are don’t worry; this book explains what each specialty does and what would be the best way to go about your mission. This book is not for the faint of heart. There are options where you will fail your mission, you can get team members killed, and you can get killed.
Could I survive in the Special Forces? The answer is; “kind of.” I would do ok in Special Forces, I would make a terrible Ranger, but I would make an incredible SEAL. I had an extraordinary time making judgments for these Special Operation units. I hope you come in and tell me if you faired any better.
December 25, 2012
After reading a brief overview of the United States's Special Forces units, readers choose from three different missions: the Green Berets on a rescue mission, the Army Rangers in an attempt to seize an airstrip held by the enemy, and the SEALS in an effort to capture the leader of a group of terrorists. As is the case with this type of interactive reading experience, there are several endings. By following certain paths and making certain decisions, readers will end up with failed missions that result in the deaths of some men or even themselves. Other choices end up with successful missions. It would be helpful to include tips on what choices to make since sometimes I had to rely on my own gut instinct about the right thing to do, and I wasn't sure if I chose right until I kept on reading. Still, this title, filled with photographs and realistic scenarios, gives readers a taste of what it's like to have to make split-second decisions.
February 13, 2015
Well this book was very interesting.Felt like you was actually telling your soldiers the commands they need to do.The navy seals sound really difficult to go in and graduate from.The marines are also very difficult to become one of them and serve.They all try to become and be the top of the list of the best they can be so they will become heroes to our country.
August 5, 2016
This is by far my favorite choose your own adventure book, besides also loving the Blackout one. It was very cool, even though all facts may not be accurate, to be put into a special forces situation, and having to deal with the problems and trials, and hopefully getting out alive.
2016-Summer-Reading-Review
2016-Summer-Reading-Review
February 24, 2015
it felt cool to be fighting or doing missions in the special forces. i love how Matt Doeden writes his can you survive books because he really sets the seen in the book.
~FluffyKitty#4
~FluffyKitty#4
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews