Escape from Cuttlefish Cove (Rachel Jackson, Riveted Press)

Debut author Rachel Jackson knocks it out of the park with Escape from Cuttlefish Cove, a choose-your-own-adventure story where the reader is the main character. Imagine waking up on an island with no idea who or where you are, why you’re there, or how you got there to begin with! That’s how this story starts, and it’s up to the reader to choose what happens next. Will you follow the sound (on page 50) or go in the opposite direction (on page 94)? With a handy tracker in the back to ensure you can record the various endings you might experience, Escape from Cuttlefish Cove will keep readers captivated as they decide which ending is the best. Jackson, a senior intelligence analyst drawing on her years of real-life experience, has crafted a fun and interactive book that engages readers with the story, as well as using various puzzles to advance the adventure. Fun black-and-white illustrations throughout add to the adventurous pirate theme and play into your decisions as the main character. Perfect for readers aged 8 and up, Escape from Cuttlefish Cove is the first in a planned series that will resonate with anyone who is already a fan of interactive stories, such as those by George Ivanoff and R A Montgomery.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Anneliese Gates is a writer and works in a primary school library. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Reviews