Olly hates activity camp and its pointless activities. Why should he bother building a stupid shelter or foraging for food with his teammates - he'd rather be at home in the warm and dry, where the sofa and the video games are.
But then Olly gets given a compass with a mysterious fifth direction. When he follows it, he's magically transported to a high mountain range where he meets survival expert Bear Grylls. With his help, Olly must learn to survive in sub-zero temperatures, including what to do if the ice cracks when you're crossing a frozen lake, or a blizzard sets in . . .
But can his adventure with Bear Grylls change Olly's mind about teamwork and perseverance? And who will Olly give the compass to next?
This is the first of a 12 book series written for younger readers, each with a new hero who is given the magical compass to follow on an adventure. Well-written, full of survival information embedded in the narrative and illustrated, it is perfect for inspiring the independent young reader to not only read but perhaps to also experience the outdoors for themselves. Using just their knowledge and wits rather than magic, super powers or fantastic creatures to get themselves out of trouble this is a down-to-earth series that kids can really relate to. This is something THEY can do and they can be their own hero.
While Miss 11 and Miss 6 might not be the female Bear Grylls, both adore their burgeoning Scouting journey and these books are going to be perfect additions to their bedtime reading routines as well as giving them even more knowledge and skills to build on for their next adventure.
128 pages 9781786960122 Ages 8-12
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
