Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Adventure In Africa

Author: Connie Lee Berry

ISBN: 978-0-9772848-2-5

The book starts out with “fun facts about Africa.” Did you know that there were five fastest land animals – and Africa was home to four of them? Did you know that Africa had the world’s largest beetle and the world’s tiniest butterfly? These are just come of the facts presented – all will be interesting to the reader.

Summer camp, magic ink and guilt – what a combination! After plotting to write a desperate message in invisible ink to scare the nightly cleaning woman, the children can’t bare to go through with it – certainly not after their teacher praises them for being such good boys and girls while she was in the nurse’s office with an asthmatic classmate. In fact, she thinks they were so well behaved that she rewards them with cold ice-cream bars.  While the teacher is retrieving the snack, the class sets about scrubbing the wall. All in a day at summer camp!

Next, it’s an assignment to write about two animals one would find at a zoo. Sam writes about the hippopotamus and cheetah. Then, Mr. Clark, the animal trainer at the local zoo, came to scare the daylights out of the children – three chose pottery class over seeing film footage of a lion attack on a cameraman.  He had the class’s attention when he proceeded to explain on of the gentlest animal kingdom members – the gorilla.

Max and Sam were soon off to Africa. On the plane, Sam brings out the map first discovered in The Criminals in the Caymans.” There, a mysterious letter had appeared on the map – a “W.” In Treasure in Tahiti, the letter “I” had just as mysteriously appeared on the map. Now, Sam discovers that an “S” has been added. What a clever idea of the author’s to encourage children to read in order to discover the secret message when the link the letters from each book.

They arrive in Africa and the safari bus for Sam and Max is waiting. Mom and Dad would be working in the village, helping to build a new school.  Seven whole days apart – one can only imagine what mystery and mischief will take place. The good-byes are said and the boys are off on the bus with Ms. Sarah as their tour guide. All of a sudden, Ms. Sarah steps on the brakes, throws the bus into reverse and stops to show the kids a big lion. She explains that the lions are free to roam – and don’t have to hide because other animals are afraid of them. Max and Sam recall the film in summer camp only days earlier – they wonder if magic ink would help make them invisible enough to make it out of this place alive.

The bus pulls inside a fenced compound. The boys are excited to see familiar faces as they get off the bus – those of family and friends. They also meet Mr. Wilson – Ms. Sarah’s boss and who is probably wilder and meaner than any lion. A snake alert sends the group into a chaotic frenzy. The children have a fitful night, thinking about the snake loose in the area.

The next morning, Ms. Sarah takes the crew on a bus ride – she explains that they are safe inside the bus. She tells them about the zebra and other animals. And, she talks about insects native to Africa. The bus is giving Ms. Sarah trouble, but she says she is a good mechanic. As she leaves the bus to check under the hood, she instructs the children to remain on the bus. After a period of time, Ms. Sarah disappears from sight. Max decides to have a look, only to find Ms. Sarah laying on the ground a large snake slithering away.

No one knows how to work the radio – the kids are stranded (or so it seems). Sam runs towards a group of elephants. Instead of being readily accepted, the lead elephant sees Sam as a threat and charges. Sam drops to the shaking ground – terrified that he will be stomped into dust. But the elephant senses his fear and lifts him up and onto her back. Max is not far behind and takes a seat on the elephant’s back. Now, they needed to steer the giant to where Ms. Sarah is laying helpless.

Charger, as the boys nicknamed the elephant, carried Ms. Sarah to the nearest village where she would recover from a Mamba’s bite. But the adventure wasn’t over – at least not for Max and Sam. They will rescue a baby elephant; leave two poachers locked inside a cage; and meet up with some amazing animals.  

A lesson on animals and geography could not be more entertaining.

Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Adventure In Africa

The above review was contributed by: Sue Vogan: Sue is a Writer & Author of NCO-No Compassion Observed: To read more of Sue's reviews Click Here 

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