Can You Survive The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes?: A Choose Your Path Book

Choose Your Path #4

by Ryan Jacobson, Deb Mercier

You are Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective. You have been approached by three desperate clients, each of whom presents a compelling case for you to solve. Choose which mysteries are worth investigating and which might be too dangerous. Use your
cunning to search for evidence, follow the clues, and survive such perils as vile criminals, clever traps, and even wild animals.

Can You Survive the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes? adapts the classic collection of short stories into a Choose Your Path book for kids. The survival story puts readers in control of the action. Do you have what it takes to solve three of Sherlock Holmes’ most puzzling cases? Or will the villainous plots lead to your doom? Step into this mystery, and choose your path.

Interactive books for kids are more popular than ever. Create your own adventure with the Interactive Classic Literature book series. You’re the main character. You make the choices. Can you survive?

Genres: Choose Your Own Adventure, Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[Gmr · Rating 3 out of 5]

By Jove, it's bloody hard to not slip into the language and accent we associate with this infamous ficticional detective when reading anything remotely associated to him. Never was there another "man of reason" purely the creation of one man's mind that has stayed with us generation after generation with such magnitude. In his more recent reincarnations, we've found his days as a young lad being explored more and more in an effort to bring his mysteries to the younger audience. This book however remains true to the originals in both time and age but introduces them to the audience in a new way....the choose-your-own-path book.

That's right. You get to play detective as you follow (or not follow) the clues laid before you in an effort to determine the who, what, when, where, why and how of each potential case. There's even an oddball one inserted as a potential trap by his adversary Dr Moriarty. Can you determine which is which? You best hope so or you might find yourself in more than a pickle...as I may have once or twice ~whistles~…hey, that's the fun of these stories, right? Never knowing which road is absolutely the right choice but giving it a go anyway and seeing just where you end up....that's what choose-your-own-path books are all about.

I've read one in this series previously (Jack London's CALL OF THE WILD....the review for which can be seen by searching my site) and found the interpretation carried off rather well. So how did the man of pipe and violin fair against the mighty pen? Just as good if I do say so myself....and I do. It gives you a taste of Holmes' world without the full entrée thereby allowing readers of all ages the chance to explore this timeless classic, see how it stacks up to their expectations and explore further with a read of the actual novel once this adventure is complete.

In my mind, anything that helps captivate the imagination of other readers or nonreaders, is a welcome addition to the bookish scene. This book would serve younger readers wonders as it breaks the ice between the classics and today's youth...but even my adult eyes were entertained and reminded of the magic that a few strokes of the pen can make. This author duo did a splendid job of sampling the originals while creating something unique enough to stand out from the crowd. Highly recommended to MG readers through adults for an adventure of mammoth proportions in the heart of jolly old England. Be sure to bring your thinking cap....you're gonna need it.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading many Choose Your Own Adventure books as a child so I thought it would be fun to review one as an adult. In this book you are Sherlock Holmes and trying to solve the mysteries. I learned that I'm a lousy detective! There are 3 mysteries to solve in this book that have been adapted from the original 12 mysteries in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I didn't solve even one of them correctly on the first or even second try. Although I'm obviously not cut out for detective work I did enjoy reading this book and will be passing it on to my 9 year old son who I am sure will turn out to be a better crime solver than I am. I'm sure he'll end up on the dreaded page 68 much less often than I did!

This book would likely be a hit with reluctant readers especially middle grade boys.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Choose your own adventure is still not my thing--even 30 years later.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Speckled Band" was my favorite out of the three cases. I felt in some options, I wasn't given enough information to make a proper choice. It was also hard to keep track of the weapons as you go the same result for two weapons every time.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved 'Choose Your Adventure' books even since I could understand what they were, though unfortunately they don't make as many as I'd like. And I haven't read one in years, as they're mainly geared toward elementary school kids. But this Sherlock Holmes edition is one I think can be enjoyed by a variety of ages, because while the wording is simple enough to be understood by children, the themes and stories can be appreciated by teens and adults as well.

I breezed through this book, finishing the entire thing in just over an hour. I loved being able to go back again and again to choose different paths for myself, because I seem to have a knack for making exactly the wrong decisions. Maybe I wouldn't be such a great detective after all.

What I love about this is that you're actually Sherlock Holmes, because the book is written in second person. That means 'you' are being addressed, so you're also given responsibility for your life. (And Watson's, sometimes. I have to apologize because I ended up killing him, more than once.)

It's simple good fun. Nothing deep or dragging about it, which I actually liked. And the three stories involved are actually based off Sherlock Holmes tales. So if you need to get someone to start reading classic literature, this is one way to start them on it.

MYSTERIOUSLY CAPTIVATING. 4/5 stars

[Lisa Calvert]

in a sentence or so: a choose your path book where you get to be one of the most famous detectives of all time. choose carefully because surprises, and danger, lurk around every turn.

you're in a strange room in your uncle's house, spending yet another night trying to power through that stupid math homework.

seriously. math is the worst.

and then, quite unexpectedly, you find yourself in the place of the famed Detective Holmes. Watson briefs you on three cases that need the good inspector's eye. two of them are innocent enough...but one of them is a trap that just may cost you and Watson your lives. will you be able to make the right choices to solve the cases and save your lives?

man, i forgot how fun Choose Your Own Path books can be. this was a super fun book with legit mystery and detective skills. while obviously a middle-grade book, this is certainly one i could bust out with friends and have fun with.

and of course, i cheated like crazy. i died no less than 6 times.

for a fresh and fun way to experience Sherlock Holmes, i definitely recommend this book! it's a great one to enjoy with friends or kiddos.

fave quote: "Anything is better than math homework." (7)

fix er up: nothing. this was quick and fun and just right!

[Jen Bojkov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good alternative to the Choose Your Own Adventure series or maybe even the I Survived series. This series explores different classic novels and allows the reader to decide on the course of the story.