Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Bickering companions Carter and Anna quickly find themselves lost in the Costa Rican rainforest during a birding trip, struggling to make it back to safety in this survival thriller for young readers. Real-life survival expert Johnson brings her decades of experience in various extreme habitats to bear in this third volume of the Survivor Diaries. Eleven-year-old Carter serves as the whiz, with a deep Rolodex of information on the animal species of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula and a keen sense of survival knowledge. Twelve-year-old Anna considers him a bit of a "nerd alert," but readers learn that Carter's commitment to preparedness is a means for him to contend with his anxiety, which has induced panic attacks in the past. Anna is the impulsive trailblazer with equal shares of bravery and naivet, and she's enamored with the myth of a monkey statue that imparts protective strength with a lick. Although the storyline is predictable, Johnson accents the tale with a surprising amount of depth as the two adolescents learn to find their strengths in each other. Descriptions of types of snakes, monkeys, birds, and insects give readers an informative understanding of what's found in the Costa Rican jungle. Orban depicts Carter as black and Anna as white in her occasional black-and-white full-page illustrations.A strong addition to this new, emerging series. (author's note, survival tips, further information) (Adventure. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

School Library Journal
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Gr 3-5-Carter meets Anna while their families are on vacation in Costa Rica. Carter does not take chances; having anxiety means he plans ahead and is ready for any contingency. Anna seems more adventurous, at least at first. The two decide to do some exploring when Anna becomes frightened of the loud howler monkeys and runs into the jungle. Before they know it, the pair is lost. They must use their knowledge and what's left of Carter's survival kit to stay alive and find their way back. Johnson uses her personal experiences as a conservation officer in Canada to add credibility to the story and craft a realistic setting. Back matter includes detailed information on making a survival kit. VERDICT A quick and exciting read. Kids who love the "I Survived" series will enjoy this nail-biting tale.-Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.