The Explorer

by Katherine Rundell

Fred, Con, Lila, and Max are on their way back to England from Manaus when the plane they’re on crashes and the pilot dies upon landing. For days they survive alone, until Fred finds a map that leads them to a ruined city, and to a secret.

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure, Fiction, Childrens, Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Survival

416 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2017

About the author

Katherine Rundell was born in 1987 and grew up in Africa and Europe. In 2008 she was elected a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. Her first book, The Girl Savage, was born of her love of Zimbabwe and her own childhood there; her second, Rooftoppers, was inspired by summers working in Paris and by night-time trespassing on the rooftops of All Souls. She is currently working on her doctorate alongside an adult novel.

Source: Katherine Rundell

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two great stories are at work here. The first is the story in the book, followed closely by the story about how this book came to be. Let’s start with the story in the book.
Katherine Rundell told Booktrust.org, “I wanted … to try to help children imagine the beauty of the world just a little more sharply: to add one more landscape to their vision of the world.
Most of all, though, I wanted to write a book in which the children learn that they are braver they think they are. I wanted to write about children discovering that the world is more beautiful and more complicated than they had ever imagined.”
We are lucky to live in a time when Katherine Rundell is writing children’s books, and all her stated best intentions are fully realized in The Explorer.
Four children ranging in age from pre-teen to barely-teen find themselves together in a small plane readying for takeoff at a somewhat makeshift airport. They are a randomly formed group returning from visiting family who work in and around the Amazon region. They are here for the connecting flight over the heart of the Amazon to a larger airport in an actual town, where they will disperse to scheduled airlines destined for cities and schools. At the moment, they are trying not to breathe on each other or touch each other in the cramped cockpit. They are dressed for travel and not survival. And they are certainly not expecting the plane’s only pilot to begin dying in mid-air and, as a final act, to try his best to offer them some semblance of a survivable crash landing. The Explorer is about what happens after four children survive an Amazon plane crash and look for a route home. Along the way they are faced with the paradox of whether it is all right to keep a secret despite best intentions to the contrary.
How did The Explorer come about? Rundell earned the Waterstones prize for children’s fiction with her previous novel (Rooftoppers). She used the £5,000 that came with the award to travel to the Amazon, where she hired a guide to teach her jungle survival. Almost every chapter is based on something she experienced from building a fire in the rainforest to eating the grubs in cocoa pods. Seventy mosquito bites and a close call with a caiman later, Rundell wrote The Explorer.
The Explorer is an accelerated reader appropriate for grades 4 to 8, nd the Lexile measure is 600L --Steven S.

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable middle grade with survival at its core. I haven't read anything that puts children in quite a dangerous position, and it was nice to see how realistic it came across for the most part. The realness of the situation was helped by the realness of the characters. I really enjoyed them, and they each added something to the story. Max, though, is such a little cutie! Also loved Baca the sloth. Writing was fantastic and kept me engaged the entire way through.

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I can absolutely see why this has been so popular.

It's a great lost in the jungle adventure story. I just couldn't warm to some of the characters. In fact a couple got on my nerves. I know I know! They are kids lost in the jungle and they are scared and upset so they are bound to get a bit whiny. Lastly, 'The Explorer' annoyed me to no end. A case of not for me.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I read her award-winning novel, “The Rooftopper,” Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I thought I would also enjoy reading this one.

This children’s book was quite the adventure. Four children crash-land when their pilot suffers a heart attack. They are alone and in peril in the lush Amazon rainforest. How will they manage on their own?

What the author does is provide a rich scene which will mesmerize young readers. Swimming with river dolphins. Discovering a ruined city. Eating bugs. What more could they ask for? Perhaps a mystery in which a map is discovered that the kids can follow?

Readers will enjoy the 4 young characters as they take off on their journey of self-discovery and immense bravery to tackle the unknown. There is a sense of warmth, love, hope and courage that permeates throughout the pages that makes this an enticing read.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one beautiful book about an English boy Fred,an English girl Con and a Brazilian girl Lila and her little brother Max who find themselves lost in the Amazon rainforest after a plane crash. Each one is a complex character Fred is a wannabe explorer who has read a few books and is desperate to impress his father, Con has lived a prim and proper life where you sit still and everything is clean, and Lila is filled with the most powerful protective love towards her brother, whilst Max is a lovely young boy with so much to live for. Watching these characters grow and come together is amazing. To see them grow emotionally is incredible. Each character is lovable in their own way.

The story has several unexpected twists and turns. It builds and builds, and gets better and better. I made a lot of highlights during the second half of the book. There are several unexpected moments.

The writing in incredible. The description of the location puts you in the amazon rainforest and you see it for the beauty and the danger its offers. But, you see it as something to love as something worth protecting.
There are many messages in this book and its hard to say what they are without spoiling the book, but there is the message of love being important, the important of caring for people, and the message that you are perfect just the way you are - never let anyone change you.
There are many, many quotes I love from this book. My favourite though is this

"You don't have to be in a jungle to be an explorer"

For me this book touched my heart. It made me think about things, and it changed my way of thinking about things. This is a very beautiful story

Having previously read Rooftoppers and Wolf Wilder by the same author as I have to say I love how different each of her books are and yet they are all brilliant..

[Maria Olga Lectoraapasionada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro con etiqueta de infantil, pero como ya dije más de una vez creo que los libros no tienen edad, fue una fantástica lectura, que devore ágilmente, trasportándome a la selva amazónica.

Nos mostrara que todas las personas sacamos fuerzas de donde desea para sobrevivir, que a veces viviendo situaciones adversas aparece como por obra de magia una capacidad de afrontarlas y superarlas.

Disfrute de una gran aventura leyendo la historia de estos pequeños, párrafos llenos de mensajes, una lectura agradable y amena con datos muy interesantes de esta maravilla de selva, la cual debemos cuidar y sobre todo respetar.


Posdata: Pero nunca olvidéis que la historia que cuenta un libro no siempre es igual.

[Katerina Kondrenko · Rating 2 out of 5]

5.5 out of 10

I compare this story with middle grade books from my childhood (I mean Treasure Island and such) and The Explorer is not that good. I wanted more dangerous situations, more friendship, and adventure.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gloriously wonderful book. The completely absorbing story of four children whose plane crashes in the Amazon jungle, they are utterly alone and learn to survive using common sense and good luck. The pace is great, the things that happen to the children all seem to fit with the situation even though they are completely fantastic. They decide to try to get home using a map they've found, strap a raft together using intuition and set off to try and escape their situation. The river carries them to meet The Explorer, a man with no name and a mysterious past. He is vastly irritated to have these children turn up in his space but ends up being their saviour.

The detail in the book is just wonderful, the food that they children survive on, tarantula eggs and other jungle treats! The sounds of the animals and birds are beautifully described. The writing just carries you away into the world of the Amazon. There are lots of wonderful moments. The children are perfectly described and The Explorer is so cleverly done, the lonely man with no need for the outside world an fighting to right the damage that has been done to the environment. I found myself highlighting lots of lovely passages. I found myself quite emotional at time the story quite moved me, the parting words of The Explorer as the children begin their journey back to civilisation are just gorgeous.
'And all of you - do not forget that, lost out here, you were brave even in your sleep. Do not forget to take risks. Standing ovations await your bravery,' Con swallowed. 'But I'm afraid,' she whispered. The Explorer nodded, scarred and dusty and matter-of-fact. 'You are right to be afraid. Be brave anyway.'

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for giving me access to this book. I'll be buying multiple copies for school, the students who've loved survival stories like Hatchet will love this.

[Robin Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katherine is one of the best writers in children's literature at the moment, and this is another tour de force from her. Lush, beautifully imagined, heartfelt, wildly exciting, it transported me to the Amazon and made me live with its characters until the end (although I was crying so hard during the last ten pages that I may have missed small details).

Beautiful, beautiful stuff. Bravo! 8+

*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*

[Cori Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would have blown 10 year-old Cori's MIND. A group of (reluctant) friends surviving with nothing in the Amazon? Sign me up!

Super enjoyable, I will definitely be sharing this story with kiddos in my life.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the January selection for my kids' bookclub that they participate in through a local independent bookstore. It's an interesting survival story about 4 kids who end up stranded in the Amazon outside of Manaus.

I liked the level of cooperation and growth by the kids. It was so much better than if it had turned into some Lord of the Flies type scenario. Rundell wrote in a blog post that all the things described in the book were things she saw and experienced in the Amazon herself, so that was neat to think about as we were reading it.

I was able to get this as an audiobook from the library for us to listen to rather than (as usual) reading it aloud. The narrator was good, and did a decent job with the voices of the various characters.

I thought the last few chapters in particular were very good, and I loved the way the ending was written. It isn't a surprise, or incredibly exciting, but it was quite moving.

[Berfin Kanat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rundell'in Feo ve Kurt adlı çocuk kitabını gerçekten çok sevmiştim. Rusya'nın soğuğunda geçen harika bir kış masalıydı ve özellikle kız çocuklarına okutulmasını istediğim bir hikayesi vardı. Kaşif kitabında yine doğa ve çocuk ilişkisinin olduğu bir kurgu var. Yazar bu sefer Amazonlar'da geçen bir macerayı ele almış. Uçakları Amazon ormanlarının derinliklerine düşen 4 çocuğun hayatta kalma ve doğayı keşfetmesi üzerine kurulan kitabın en güzel yanı karakterleri. Her karakter kendine özgü ve özellikle en küçükleri olan Max çok sevimli. Çocuk kitabı olsa da vahşi doğada hayatta kalmak için verilen mücadelenin sansürsüz anlatılmasını çok başarılı buldum. Feo ve Kurt kadar beğendim diyemem ama 12 yaş üstünün çok severek okuyacağından eminim.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the book for fans of My Side of the Mountain and Hatchet. I am glad I have read the Lost City of Z: I still have a bit of Amazonia in my mind. It's such a thrilling adventure with just enough humor, and I love the way Rundell has with description. She managed to convey quite a bit of what bugs and spiders taste like.

Library copy

[HP Saucerer · Rating 5 out of 5]

After their plane crashes in the Amazon, Fred, Con, Lila, and Lila’s five-year-old brother, Max must face predators and growing hunger and learn to navigate treacherous trails and conquer their fears, as they bid to find their way back to civilization.

A mysterious map, found by chance, charts their course, leading them to a ruined city of secrets, where they soon discover that they were never alone out there in the jungle; someone has been watching them, and it’s only a matter of time until their paths cross.

There’s a convincing depth to each of the characters in the story; the more time we spend in their company, the more we become attached and concerned about their plight. Con, in particular, is a character whose arc I especially enjoyed reading.

Overall, I really loved this story. The Explorer is a book to kindle imaginations; it’s an exhilarating story of pure adventure with a classic feel, a lot like Eva Ibbotson’s Journey to the River Sea. I found this book utterly wonderful and definitely one I would recommend you take the time to read.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending almost brought me to tears, it was so sweet!

[Karina Dewi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad that I finally got rid of my reading slump and all thanks to this book!

The Explorer is about four children, Fred, Lila, Con, and Max, who had an aircraft accident and got stranded in the Amazon Jungle. And the book is telling a story about how these four kids survived in the jungle, despite all the challenges and troubles.

I don’t want to get too much into the spoiler zone, but this book is written so beautifully and in such a way that makes me feel like I’m also in the adventure with them. And even if it’s a middle grade book, I still think that adults like me could very much enjoy the book. It even triggered my curiosity about Amazon jungle and the river, and I ended up watching a full 30 minutes of documentary about the jungle on Youtube (which has successfully made me terrified of Anaconda 😐).

What is also interesting about this book is that the timeline is ambiguous. The author didn’t really set the story on a certain period of time, but from the background of the story and from the author’s note about the explorer in the end of the book, I’m guessing it’s around 1920-1930s.


Overall, I recommend this book to everyone who likes to read about adventure, friendship, love and how scary Amazon can be. Moral of the story? Don’t get lost in the Amazon 😂


Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for giving me this book for free in exchange for a review, and if you’re living in Indonesia you can get this book in Periplus Book Store or online here: https://www.periplus.com/p/9781408882...

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should be saying that I think Rundell is one of our finest and I hope she stays in the field of children's literature and does not leave. She has a style and heart which is so well suited to the genre - she never writes down and she writes with passion and humour which children will intrinsically love. Yet, the Explorer wasn't as strong, for me, as some of her other work - notably The Wolf Wilder, which is one of my favourites.
I think I struggled to understand what the story was about - whether it was one of conservation or one of voyage and return. The concept itself was wonderful and I have no doubt that children will love getting lost in the jungle with Fred, Lila, Max and Con but I just couldn't connected with the characters themselves and wanted to - characters are what Rundell excels at.
This is not to say that I did not enjoy it - I did and know that children will too but there wasn't the depth and drive in Rundell's characters that is usually there - was this because there was a greater focus on the character of the Amazon itself?

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Прекрасна книжка за деца, а и не само. Истинско приключение е.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 17/20

3.75

This had all the warmth and wit of Katherine Rundell’s previous books. I adored Rooftoppers, and I liked this one too. Perhaps not as much, though - this one didn’t feel quite as effortlessly funny and unique. However, that being said, my overall experience of reading this book was pure enjoyment, and I think it is a book that lots of young readers will really love. I would say that this is a children’s book written with children in mind.

I think Rundell’s biggest talent is her lush, quirky writing. Immediately present from the first pages, the writing is a beautiful compliment to the story, and perfect for readers of all ages. The charming humour is woven into the prose with a lot of skill, and it brought back memories of reading Rooftoppers, which was a completely different story but had a similar story. Rundell’s writing is easy to spot - it is bright and bold and colourful and fun. I also think that this book as effective with the fast paced story line. It is a relatively long book, but the story is swooping and really makes it a quick read. This is something that you can just sit down and get all the way through. I also think it would make a perfect read out loud story. Although I can definitely see the story is aimed at younger kids, as there never really seems to be that much of a threat, and the dangers of the jungle are never really present. This is a light positive read that will make you smile.

I do think that in places it was trying a little too hard to be bold and bright. Some of the scenes and funny moments felt a little unnatural. And sometimes they were overcrowded, which I think was an attempt to try and make the book as quirky as possible. Paired with extremely bold setting, this was just a bit too much for me, though I know some readers will adore that kind of stuff. I wasn’t 100% impressed with the characters either. The whole thing is told from Fred’s POV, which can get a little tiring when you realise that you are stuck with a book that is just a brave, heroic, stereotype. The two girls didn’t really step outside of their allocated boxes much either - though I did like Con. And Max grew a little grating after reading about the same irrating things that he did over 300 pages.

All in all, I thought this was fun ride. Not as good as Rooftoppers, but still a book I think that many people will love. Rundell’s lovely writing is all there, and though this was maybe trying a bit too hard, I think some readers won’t mind that. I liked this book, and left it feeling pretty satisfied.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't remember the last time I read anything about a plane crash. But Somehow I managed to pick up two totally unrelated books in a row that start out with a plane crash! So...random! And since I'm flying out of town next week, I'm hoping this isn't foreshadowing here! lol In case you're wondering, the other book was The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane.

But about THIS book...

Oddly, I had a really hard time getting into this one. It's right up my alley, so I'm not sure exactly why that was. My best guess is that this book read just like watching a movie. You could see every move people made, and hear what they said, and experience what they saw...but it didn't have the depth that I expect in a book. Yes, even a middle-grade book.

And speaking of middle-grade books. I take issue with the use of foul language here. It's one thing to refer to someone as swearing. I can handle that in a middle-grade book. But please don't actually type out the word. It makes it so I can't recommend the book to some kids. This book also included kids smoking, drinking, and giving themselves tattoos. Ummm...yeah...no.

Oh. and one more thing. I didn't like the ending. I suppose they wanted us to still feel the mystery, but I felt it was frustrating to feel like the answer to the mystery was RIGHT THERE and they wouldn't tell us. Annoying.

Basically, this book isn't good enough to offset the overly adult content here. This IS still a kids book, people. The characters are preteens and a FIVE YEAR OLD! Please keep the content appropriate.

[Carrie Brownell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. Conservative reader alert: there are two instances (if I recall correctly) of a bad word being dropped. The Lord's name is taken in vain about 4 times. Otherwise, it was awesome.

Favorite quotes:

I just like the idea that there's still things we don't know. At school, it's the same thing, every day. I like the idea that it might be all right to believe in large, mad, wild things."
****
It looked, Fred thought, like someone had designed it with a purpose in mind: someone who wanted the world to be as wild and green and alive as possible.
*****
"Take risks!" said the explorer. "That's the thing to do. Get to know what fear feels like. Get to know how to maneuver around it. But!" He paused to drink again."But?" asked Lila."But make sure the risks you take aren't taken to impress someone else."

[Sandra Koka (pielasit_sirdi)]

Piedzīvojumu grāmata bērniem. Pēc lidmašīnas avārijas bariņš bērnu mēģina izdzīvot džungļos.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good wee story about a group of young people who survive an airplane crash in the Amazon jungle. You usual survival story of brave children but the events lead to a surprising discovery which brings in some big questions about the impact of mankind on the environment. Suited to gentle readers, enjoyed it but didn't love it.

[Simay Yildiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katherine Rundell ilk başta Gökyüzü Çocukları isimli kitabıyla tanıştığım ve sonrasında “bu kadının beyninden daha neler çıkar acaba?” heyecanıyla takip ettiğim bir çocuk kitapları yazarı. Şimdiye kadar üzmedi de gerçekten. Hâlâ daha en sevdiğim ilk kitabı olan Gökyüzü Çocukları ama Kâşif de ikinci sıraya yerleşti diyebilirim. İlk başlarda “Eyvah! Sanırım Sinekler Tanrısı’na bağlayacak bu” diye düşündüğümü itiraf edeyim ama devamında öyle olmadığını kanıtladı. Çocuklara sorunlarla başa çıkabileceklerini, doğayı sevmeyi ve keşfetmenin heyecanlı bir şey olduğunu öğretecek bir kitap bence Kâşif.

Üçü kurgu olmak üzere toplam dört kitabını okuduktan sonra yazarın farklı yerlerde yaşamış olmasının ve kendi keşiflerinin de kitaplarına yansıdığını düşünüyorum. 1987’de, İngiltere’nin Kent ilçesinde doğan Katherine Rundell babası diplomat olduğu için on yıl Zimbabwe’de yaşamış. Rundell on dört yaşındayken ailesi Brüksel’e taşınmış. Zimbabwe’de ayakkabı bile giymediği, arkadaşlarıyla birlikte ağaçlara tırmandıkları ve yüzme yarışları yaptıkları bir dünyadan Brüksel gibi bir yere gidince büyük bir kültür şoku yaşamış tabii. İngiltere’de, üniversitede okurken ise bir kitaptan esinlenerek “rooftop climbing” denen, kişilerin yüksek binaların tepesine tırmanarak fotoğraf ve özellikle selfie çektikleri aktiviteye merak sarmış. İngilizce, orijinal ismi Rooftoppers olan Gökyüzü Çocukları’nın da bu süreçte keşfettiklerinden esinlendiği de kesin zaten bana sorarsanız.

Devamı: https://zimlicious.com/katherine-rund...

[Booklunatic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Nice story, beautifully illustrated. But it can't measure up to the wonderful "Rooftoppers"...

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

How CAWPILE didn't come out as five stars I don't know. This book isn't perfect but it's pretty damn close!

I love adventure and survival stories and this book is the perfect combination of both genres. Following four children who are stranded in the Amazon jungle after their plane crashes, The Explorer is an action-packed and thrilling tale of friendship and exploration.

I loved the way this narrative ran, it was a classic survival-in-the-wild style story but then we are introduced to a mysterious man called 'The Explorer' (I must not have read the blurb because this aspect was a surprise to me!). I loved this element of the story especially since this figure felt sinister at first but his development revealed hidden depths and a heart-warming relationship with one of our protagonists.

At its heart, this story was one of human connection and how even in the hardest of times people can get through with teamwork and helping each other out. Some of the characters were difficult to connect to at first which is perhaps why my rating didn't come out as higher however I would like to draw attention to how Rundell masterfully displayed character growth and by the end of this book, I was enchanted by each and every character.

Ultimately, this book is fun. A fun story with well-developed characters (even when their unlikable qualities were at the forefront of their actions). I would definitely recommend this to children and adults alike.

[Karissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was reading this with my eleven year old son and we made it to about page 130 before stopping. There was just absolutely no interest in continuing the book for either of us. I think the main problem was just that the story moved really slow and just wasn’t that interesting.

The premise of this book is that four kids survive a plane crash but end up stranded in the Amazon jungle. They are struggling to survive and find their way out to a major city so they can get home.

The characters are overly characterized and one dimensional which made them hard to engage with. You very obviously have a brave kid, a smart kid, a whiny kid, etc. Their struggles in the Amazon forest are typical of numerous other survival books.

Overall no one in my family enjoyed this story. While it was technically written fine; the characters, pacing, and plot left a lot to be desired.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic adventure book. What I love about Katherine Rundell's books is the way they tell an amazing tale, yet weaves in themes ideas that make you think about how you do things. Hand this book to kids who love Hatchet and Watt Key's books.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because ? it was brileant

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auf "Mitten im Dschungel" war ich schon sehr gespannt, da ich Survivalszenarien schon immer sehr gern gemocht habe. Hier habe ich mir eine Geschichte voller Abenteuer gewünscht und diese auch bekommen, sodass mir das Buch gut gefallen hat.

Katherine Rundell erzählt die Geschichte sehr lebhaft und wortgewandt, gleichzeitig ist ihre Sprache auch altersentsprechend, sodass diese nicht nur gut zu den Figuren gepasst hat. Wunderschön sind auch ihre Beschreibungen zum Dschungel, denn hier konnte ich mir die Natur, den Amazonas und auch die Tiere sehr gut vorstellen.

In "Mitten im Dschungel" kommt es zum Flugzeugabsturz, denn eine kleine Propellermaschine stürzt mitten im Dschungel ab, sodass Fred, Con, Lila und ihr kleiner Bruder Max allein und komplett auf sich gestellt sind, da der Pilot den Absturz nicht überlebt hat. Trotz ihrer Lage behalten sie einen relativ kühlen Kopf und machen sich schnell ihre Gedanken, wie es weitergehen soll. Dabei spielt nicht nur der Zusammenhalt eine große Rolle, sondern auch ihr Überlebenswille, es wieder heil aus dem Dschungel zu schaffen.

Dabei wird der Zusammenhalt der Kinder sehr gut beschrieben und man lernt auch die Kinder und ihre Zeit vor dem Dschungel kurz kennen, sodass man durchaus eine Entwicklung bei ihnen ausmachen kann. Zwar hat es mir hier und da ein wenig die nötige Tiefe bei ihnen gefehlt, allerdings ist dies zu verschmerzen, da die Thematik hier überzeugen kann.

Kurz gesagt: "Mitten im Dschungel" ist ingesamt eine schöne Geschichte, die mit einer tollen Sprache und interessanten Figuren Abenteuerlust weckt und dafür sorgt, dass man selbst zum Amazonas reisen möchte. Ich kann das Buch somit nur empfehlen.