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Survivor Diaries
Lost!
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.
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.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 3, 2018
About the author
Terry Lynn Johnson
12 books335 followersTerry Lynn Johnson writes outdoor adventures inspired by her own team of eighteen Alaskan huskies. Her passion for adventure has provided her with a rich background to write from.
When she's not writing, Terry enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, and kayaking. She works as a Conservation Officer (Game Warden) in Whitefish Falls, Ontario.
She is represented by Caryn Wiseman of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
When she's not writing, Terry enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, and kayaking. She works as a Conservation Officer (Game Warden) in Whitefish Falls, Ontario.
She is represented by Caryn Wiseman of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 15, 2018
Set within the Costa Rican rainforest, this is more than an action-packed survivor adventure....this highly engaging tale is also a journey that have both characters digging deep inside themselves and discovering surprising things about themselves.
This selection in the highly engaging ‘Survivor Diaries’ by the author does not disappoint and will leave the reader gripping page after page .... until the last sentence!
Highly recommended for grade 4-7
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This selection in the highly engaging ‘Survivor Diaries’ by the author does not disappoint and will leave the reader gripping page after page .... until the last sentence!
Highly recommended for grade 4-7
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 4, 2018
Carter and Anna set out down a path through the rain forest of Costa Rica to see a statue next to a waterfall. When loud noises send them running through the brush, they end up lost and confused. Carter has his emergency kit and Anna has a machete, so things don't seem so bad, until a monkey steals most of the emergency supplies, leaving the children with just the machete and a garbage bag. Somehow the two must find a way to survive the multiple dangers of the rain forest until help finds them or they find help. Carter deep-seeded anxieties don't help the situation any, but he remembers some of the things he's read in his efforts to deal with his anxieties. I liked the survival details, they were fascinating. But I also liked the fact that both Anna and Carter had to deal with internal conflicts as well as the outward ones in order to survive. Young readers who enjoy the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis are probably going to like these as well.
May 15, 2018
"Lost!" is an adventure story for children ages 7-10. The story follows the 11-year-old hero and a slightly older heroine when they accidentally leave the trail and become lost by themselves in the jungle. The boy, Carter, suffers from anxiety and deals with this by knowing all the possible dangers around him and how to survive in bad situations. The girl, Anna, stays calm and helps Carter with his plans, but she's dependent on his knowledge to get them out. Carter must overcome his anxiety and use his knowledge to get them to safety. The author included real information about how to survive when lost in a jungle. I'd recommend this interesting adventure and quick read.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
August 17, 2018
What would you do if you were lost in a rainforest and needed to find your way back to safety? That’s the scenario presented in Lost!, a title in the Survivor Diaries series. Drawing on true stories of people who wandered off the path and lost their way, author Terry Lynn Johnson creates a tale that’s both a page-turner and how-to survival guide.
Carter and Anna are two pre-teens vacationing with their parents in Costa Rica. After they follow a well-known path away from their resort to find a legendary statue, they get spooked by howler monkeys and run off into the jungle. Once they stop they find they have lost the path, and the density of plant growth keeps them from seeing which way they came from.
Carter knows a lot about the rainforest, and he even has a survival kit, a precaution that helps tamp down his anxiety. But monkeys steal the kit, and the two find they are on their own. By pooling their knowledge and working together, they eventually find their way out of danger and back to their parents.
Survivor Diaries: Lost! is a great book to help young readers consider what they would do if they ever needed to survive on their own. There’s even a game they can play online at survivordiaries.com to help them figure out how prepared they already are, and what kinds of knowledge and supplies are useful to have. Just visit the website and click on “Play the Game” for any title in the series already published.
The author is a survival expert who researched true stories from multiple sources, including books, videos, articles, and journals to bring Carter and Anna’s story to life. It’s a gripping tale sure to spark the interest of readers aged 9 to 12.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Carter and Anna are two pre-teens vacationing with their parents in Costa Rica. After they follow a well-known path away from their resort to find a legendary statue, they get spooked by howler monkeys and run off into the jungle. Once they stop they find they have lost the path, and the density of plant growth keeps them from seeing which way they came from.
Carter knows a lot about the rainforest, and he even has a survival kit, a precaution that helps tamp down his anxiety. But monkeys steal the kit, and the two find they are on their own. By pooling their knowledge and working together, they eventually find their way out of danger and back to their parents.
Survivor Diaries: Lost! is a great book to help young readers consider what they would do if they ever needed to survive on their own. There’s even a game they can play online at survivordiaries.com to help them figure out how prepared they already are, and what kinds of knowledge and supplies are useful to have. Just visit the website and click on “Play the Game” for any title in the series already published.
The author is a survival expert who researched true stories from multiple sources, including books, videos, articles, and journals to bring Carter and Anna’s story to life. It’s a gripping tale sure to spark the interest of readers aged 9 to 12.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 25, 2019
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”
They are an unlikely pair: Carter is an 11-year-old that suffers from panic attacks because of extreme anxiety. In order not to be so scared, he reads as much as he can about any place before they visit. That helps him deal with his worries. On the other hand, Anna seems like she’s fearless. After all, she’s the one that suggests they go exploring and find the waterfall with the statue. “Legend has it, if you lick the statue there, you’re blessed with strength.”
Startled by Howler monkeys that she thinks might be La Mona, the legend of a monkey-witch searching for her children, Anna runs off the trail and into the jungle. Carter follows, trying to get her to STOP: Stop, Think, Observe and Plan, but before she listens, they are lost. Fortunately, Carter has an emergency kit with everything they’ll need to survive. Unfortunately, it is stolen by White Faced Monkeys. Now what do they do?
It’s going to take both of them, Carter, the knowledge warrior and Anna, the brave, to survive. “Out there, my smaller worries didn’t seem as scary anymore.”
A good adventure novel for younger readers ... 2nd, 3rd, maybe 4th.
They are an unlikely pair: Carter is an 11-year-old that suffers from panic attacks because of extreme anxiety. In order not to be so scared, he reads as much as he can about any place before they visit. That helps him deal with his worries. On the other hand, Anna seems like she’s fearless. After all, she’s the one that suggests they go exploring and find the waterfall with the statue. “Legend has it, if you lick the statue there, you’re blessed with strength.”
Startled by Howler monkeys that she thinks might be La Mona, the legend of a monkey-witch searching for her children, Anna runs off the trail and into the jungle. Carter follows, trying to get her to STOP: Stop, Think, Observe and Plan, but before she listens, they are lost. Fortunately, Carter has an emergency kit with everything they’ll need to survive. Unfortunately, it is stolen by White Faced Monkeys. Now what do they do?
It’s going to take both of them, Carter, the knowledge warrior and Anna, the brave, to survive. “Out there, my smaller worries didn’t seem as scary anymore.”
A good adventure novel for younger readers ... 2nd, 3rd, maybe 4th.
December 3, 2018
Lost! is another thrilling chapter book in Terry Lynn Johnson’s Survivor Diaries series. It is inspired by true stories of hikers lost in the rainforests of Costa Rica. The plot is riveting, exciting and fast-paced. I like how it makes kids think about what it would take to survive a difficult situation.
It would be challenging to stay calm when you know you may not make it out alive.
The main character, Carter, has a problem with anxiety and panic attacks. His anxiety is a major reason Carter has become such an expert about survival in the jungle. It may seem obsessive, but in Carter’s case it is empowering because he prepares for every “what if” situation he encounters. When his emergency kit is stolen he learns to learn to trust himself and use the tools he knows to survive. If he can survive a scorpion bite, he can survive anything. Anna is a nice balance to Carter. She’s a year older, taller, stronger, bossy and wants to control the situation. But she is out of her element when it comes to survival and has to depend on Carter.
The Lost! Survivor Diaries will have huge kid-appeal because the element of danger and the universal need to know what to do if you are unexpectedly caught in a situation where your life depends upon what you know. Johnson’s words of real-life advice echo loud and clear: Stay calm. Stay Smart. Survive. After reading this book, you’ll be better prepared for surviving a real-life disaster.
It would be challenging to stay calm when you know you may not make it out alive.
The main character, Carter, has a problem with anxiety and panic attacks. His anxiety is a major reason Carter has become such an expert about survival in the jungle. It may seem obsessive, but in Carter’s case it is empowering because he prepares for every “what if” situation he encounters. When his emergency kit is stolen he learns to learn to trust himself and use the tools he knows to survive. If he can survive a scorpion bite, he can survive anything. Anna is a nice balance to Carter. She’s a year older, taller, stronger, bossy and wants to control the situation. But she is out of her element when it comes to survival and has to depend on Carter.
The Lost! Survivor Diaries will have huge kid-appeal because the element of danger and the universal need to know what to do if you are unexpectedly caught in a situation where your life depends upon what you know. Johnson’s words of real-life advice echo loud and clear: Stay calm. Stay Smart. Survive. After reading this book, you’ll be better prepared for surviving a real-life disaster.
September 29, 2018
Lost in the jungle of Costa Rica---filled with Howler monkeys, killer snakes and who know what else--will Carter and Anna survive? Page-turning fun, great for reluctant readers. I'm enjoying this series.
October 6, 2018
Love this series! Love that they originally are based on tfue stories of survival!
April 20, 2021
I loved this! It was exciting, humorous and thrilling! Once your done with this book, and then I think you should read the rest of the stories!
September 5, 2018
Stories for 7-10 year old children but a bit educational and enjoyable stories for anyone. Two children are lost in a jungle. Can they work together to find their way out, even though one has panic attacks and doesn't think he has anything to contribute.
September 23, 2019
This is a great series for 4th-5th graders. Carter and Anna are staying at a resort in Costa Rica. Anna convinces Carter to take a short hike into the forest. A group of loud howler monkeys scares Anna and she runs off the trail to get away from them. The next thing they know they're lost. Carter uses his survival knowledge and Anna uses her fearlessness to get themselves out. A lot happens in this short book. The worst is when Carter gets bitten by a scorpion. Kids will learn some great survival skills that they just might need to use some day. Easy read, but highly recommend.
April 18, 2018
I like when the boy got stung by the Scorpion
May 7, 2019
I love this series, suspenseful and practical. Just right for kids to think ahead and not panic in a similar situation.
June 4, 2023
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.
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.
May 11, 2022
Read this as part of our library staff’s book club. We read books of any kind based around a monthly theme, and this month is the Great Outdoors.
I thought this was a perfect early middle grade fiction book for fans of I Survived. The characters were relatable, and the action non-stop. Illustrations added nicely to the narrative. I loved the survival kit tips at the end. I’ll definitely recommend to parents and children in the library.
I thought this was a perfect early middle grade fiction book for fans of I Survived. The characters were relatable, and the action non-stop. Illustrations added nicely to the narrative. I loved the survival kit tips at the end. I’ll definitely recommend to parents and children in the library.
November 15, 2023
Another short, fast read from the Survivor Diaries series. I did not like this one as much as Avalanche! the kids made more questionable choices and their eventual survival seemed a lot less likely, but I did like the focus on dealing with anxiety and worries that could carry over into the everyday life of many children.
October 19, 2018
Meh... it was just okay. Won't look into rest of the book in the series. They all probably start in the same annoying way, with a reporter asking the kid questions, and the kid launching into the middle of the story, and the reporter saying to tell it from the beginning, and the kid saying, "It all started with the [something ridiculous]". 😕
August 1, 2019
I really like how this series is just scary enough to keep reluctant readers going while still providing useful information and an interesting plotline, to say nothing of the assurance of a safe ending for the protagonists.
August 8, 2018
Location: Costa Rica
Birding
Birding
December 23, 2018
Another series for fans of Lauren Tarshis's I Survived.
February 6, 2019
Terry Lynn Johnson has done it again she has written another great book about survival. This time in the jungle.
October 14, 2019
Fun, easy read. Appreciated the struggle the main character had with anxiety. It was well written and not something you see a lot in books for this age level.
March 22, 2020
Cute educational fiction. Loved the birds/nature stuff.
March 22, 2020
Quick read. Good level fro 3rd graders who like science and adventure. Part of a series
August 29, 2020
What a stupid story. I was rooting for the jungle.
September 27, 2021
It was good but not he best
July 1, 2019
If you like survival TV, like “Man Vs. Wild,” this is the book for you. Carter and Anna go on a hike in the Costa Rican jungle, end up lost, and must find their way out. Carter has an anxiety disorder, which is dealt with matter-of-factly, and Anna comes to appreciate his survival knowledge as he learns with each challenge that he can endure more than he thought he could. Fast-paced adventure. Cool survival tips in the back of the book.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews