(Survivor Diaries) Lost! by Terry Lynn Johnson

A high-stakes survival series perfect for fans of the I Survived series and Hatchet.

Stay calm. Stay smart. Survive.

An ancient myth about a statue leads eleven-year-old Carter and twelve-year-old Anna down a trail deep into the Costa Rican jungle. They get turned around, then chased by howler monkeys. Carter and Anna try to find their way back to the familiar path, but the tangle of vines and trees all look the same. They are . . . lost!

With seventeen years of hands-on experience and training in remote areas, survival expert Terry Lynn Johnson ( Ice Dogs; Sled Dog School ) creates on-the-edge-of-your-seat storytelling featuring real skills to prepare kids for surviving a disaster. This book includes tips from the Canadian Red Cross on how to make your own survival kit. After reading this book, you'll be better prepared for surviving a real-life disaster.

Hardcover, 112 pages

Published July 3, 2018

 by Clarion Books

4/5 stars

Terry Lynn Johnson is one of my favourite Canadian authors for middle grade stories. She lives up in northern Ontario. I first discovered her through her book Ice Dogs.  Recently, she started a new series called Survivor Diaries where each book focuses on different survival tips in various situations. Lost is all about surviving in the Costa Rican rainforest.

The story follows 12-year-old Anna and 11-year-old Carter as they get lost in the rainforest while on vacation with their family. It's a short read, just over 100 pages, but it's packed with survival skills specific to that area. Plus, it's a great story about the relationship between Anna and Carter, who weren't really friends before they got lost.

As an adult reader, I breezed through the book pretty quickly, but I think it would be a fun one to share with kids. The other books in the series include Overboard, Avalanche  and Dust Storm.

If you're interested in Terry Lynn Johnson's other books, be sure to check out her website for more information. She's a talented writer and does some cool stuff outside of writing too.

This book was part of my 2023 reading off my shelf challenge and it's book number 40.