Adventure Kids: Campfire Crisis by Blake Hoena - Review + Giveaway!

Hi there!

Welcome back to the place that's right after your bookish heart...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  

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It's me, the Insatiable Reader.

Haven't seen you for a while...or at least it feels that way.

I know, I know...life gets in the way sometimes but to all of you still making SFIR a part of your day....my eternal THANKS.

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Today, we play host to a blog tour celebrating a newish release to the Children's Fiction world but written in a particular style many have come to love throughout the generations...choose-your-own-adventure.  Who DOESN'T like to get in on the action and help (or not...*gulp*) the characters make the right (or wrong...*double gulp*) decisions?  It adds another element of fun to a pasttime that is already brimming with entertainment...but this one puts a little twist on it all that readers of all ages (but especially the younger kiddos itching for adventure) are gonna love.  What is the twist?  You'll see but before the reveal, allow me to introduce today's blog tour guest and book of choice...

Adventure Kids:  Campfire Crisis

(A Choice Chapter Book)

by

Blake Hoena

You’re camping with your parents and two best friends. Pick your supplies, pack your bags, and have fun. But your outing turns dangerous when you’re caught in the middle of a forest fire! Do you know what to do? Put your survival skills to the test. If you make good decisions, you will rescue your friends from the Campfire Crisis!

No pressure or anything; you just have to save your friends from a raging forest fire.  *-*  Have you doubting the appropriateness of the book for the younger set?  Don't.  It's all a part of the twist I mentioned above.

Here we have a chapter book style adventure that places you, the reader, front and center in the decision making chair as you choose everything from what to pack to which way to go to who to send (or not) for help.  It's a perilous place to be, yes....but, should you make the wrong decision, you're not written out of the story.  Nope.  Surprised?  I was too when I first started reading because that's how all of the one's I've read in the past have been. One wrong page turn and the whole thing is over.  Not so here.  The author allows readers to make a mistake, expand their knowledge on a more applicable course of action, and continue forward in their journey.  It makes it almost an edutainment choice because after all, you are learning survival skills along the way and many kiddos flock to the appeal of a camping trip, so talk about real world application opportunity!  It also makes this a great option for those younger readers that are just starting to read books on their own giving them a chance to steer the story's course and yet not feel defeated if a wrong turn is made.  A great balance indeed.

As for the story itself, Carla and Mike are definitely a great pair to have as friends as well as wood traipsing companions.  Everyone gets a chance to shine as events unfold and strengths are put to good use.  There's even a chance to save a life...unexpected but once again, emphasizing the know-how that's important to a successful and fun night/day under the stars.  The author made sure to cover all the basics here while imparting little gems of wisdom along the way...and all at a level that will peak interest but not endanger should they wish to try the newly found skills at home.   A small warning for adult readers...you might want to have a good campsite picked out for your little adventurers because after this read, I see the potential for a trip in your future.

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About the author...

Blake A. Hoena grew up in central Wisconsin, where, in his youth, he wrote stories about robots conquering the Moon and trolls lumbering around in the woods behind his parents house, and the fact that the trolls were hunting for little boys had nothing to do with Blake’s pesky brothers. Later, he moved to Minnesota to pursue a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Since graduating, Blake has written more than fifty books for children, including retellings of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Perseus and Medusa myth. Most recently, he’s working on a series of books about two space alien brothers, Eek and Ack, who are determined to conquer our big blue home and adapting classic stories, like Treasure Island and Swiss Family Robinson, into chose-your-path books.

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Review copy received courtesy of author Blake Hoena.  (THANKS!)  For more information about this title as well as his growing body of works, be sure to visit his official website, like him on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.  This is the first book in his new Adventure Kids series, released a few weeks back via Lake 7 Creative and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you.  

For all those adventurers in the reading audience, I've got a special treat just for you.  Think your survival skills if put to the test would be up to par?  Now's your chance to find out.  Thanks to the author's generosity, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN a copy of this very title to call your own!  Pretty cool, right?  I definitely agree.

To enter, just fill out THIS FORM and you're in it to win it!

Open to US residents only; no P.O. Boxes please.  Entries accepted through midnight June 14th, 2013.  Winner will be contacted no later than Monday, June 17th, 2013 and have 48 hours to respond with their full name and mailing address.  If a response is not received within the given time frame, a new winner will be chosen.

Until next time...GOOD LUCK...and happy reading!