Looking For a Good Book

I am a big fan of the Choose Your Own Adventure concept and series of books.  This is only slightly unusual because when the series brand was publishing, in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, I was not doing very much reading. But the idea of a reader getting to dictate the path of a journey is appealing to me (why are all these books targeted to young readers – do adults not want to choose a path?).

When I saw this new Choose Your Own Adventure book, I was eager to get a copy. What I didn’t realize was that this was a graphic novel, which, when I opened the book, I thought was going to be distracting. But it’s quite the opposite. Adding the art enhances this!

It’s hard to define the story when the book is actually many stories in one but the general concept, as you might guess from the title, is an undersea adventure. From the natural world of large aquatic animals to the fantasy world of underwater bipeds and their kingdoms, these adventures can take you to many places.

I did not read this book cover-to-cover, but I did read through a few different paths. Sometimes the journey was brief, sometimes a bit longer. The excitement level varied but mostly based on my choices.

Combining the popularity of graphic novels with the tried-and-true success of the Choose your Own Adventure series is pure gold. These will likely be popular additions to school and personal libraries. I look forward to some more exciting adventures.

The artwork is appropriately exciting without being too specific to a style or artist.

Looking for a good book? Choose Your Own Adventure: Journey Under the Sea by Andrew E. C. Gaska and E. L. Thomas, with art by Dani Bolinho is an exciting return to the Choose Your Own Adventure series, now as a graphic novel.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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Choose Your Own Adventure: Journey Under the Sea

authors: Andrew E.C. Gaska & E.L. Thomas

artist: Dani Bolinho

publisher: Oni Press

ISBN: 1620109840

paperback, 134 pages