SPIN TO SURVIVE: PIRATE PERIL, by Emily Hawkins and Ruby Fresson, Wide Eyed Editions, Sept. 26, 2023, Hardcover, $29.99 (ages 8 and up)
Spin to Survive: Pirate Peril, by Emily Hawkins, is a choose-your-own adventure of sorts that transports readers into the past and onto the high seas.
Your father, the good-hearted pirate Captain Samuel Swift, has entrusted you with his cutlass and the tattered map leading to his buried treasure. But this is the Caribbean in the 18th century; danger is on the horizon, just below the surface, and perhaps even on board your very own ship…
Will you head out to search for the treasure, sign on with a crew of pirate-hunters, or embark on the riskiest course of all: joining forces with the pirates who betrayed your father?
With your trusty Survival Spinner (included), make your choice and spin to survive. As you play through a new adventure with every read, each scenario might lead to certain death, fame and fortune, or any number of unexpected surprises. On every page, explore a lawless world where ruthless colonizers clash with oceanic outlaws and loyalty is bought for a few pieces of eight. Discover tips for surviving at sea, and put the story in context with historical facts and illustrations.
Play your way past a barrage of dangers as you fight to survive, facing off against hurricanes, sharks, cannon-fire, and cut-throats. Prepare for adventure… the journey is bound to be stormy! —Synopsis provide by Wide Eyed Editions
Spin to Survive: Pirate Peril is the third book in Wide Eyed Editions’ Spin to Survive series. The other two books are Deadly Jungle and Frozen Mountain.
The concept behind Spin to Survive: Pirate Peril is fantastic. The text is separated out across the spreads, inviting readers to explore the whole page. There’s a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek tone to it that makes it fun to read. The illustrations have a stylized, cartoonish look to them that fits perfectly with the subject matter.
At a list price of $29.99, Spin to Survive: Pirate Peril is a pricey proposition, and it mostly warrants that price. The writing and illustrations are phenomenal, and kids are going to love it. However, the compass initially didn’t spin very well. It took me playing with it for a good 2 minutes before it became loose enough. After that, it’s great.
Copyright © 2023 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
