Mark can’t think of anything better to do with a beautiful day – go tramping. He texts his mates, and one replies, also keen for an overnight stay in the Tararua Ranges.

Experienced and excited, Mark packs quickly and efficiently, sitting down to wait for his friend James to arrive. Meanwhile, James is wondering what to take, both at home and then at the supermarket. By the time he finally gets to Mark’s place, half the day is gone and Mark is fuming.

This is where the reader becomes part of the story, choosing a path for the friends to take. Which car will they take and who is going to drive?

My first choice on this pick-a-path doesn’t end well, but immediately I am given another option at the bottom of the page. I take it, relaunching the story and Mark and James into the New Zealand bush.

As in a real tramp, there are many important decisions to make, and not being a tramper myself, I often made the wrong one. Again, I took another offered option and continued in the story.

Many things can affect a tramp and the simplest things are often the most important. Both Mark and James make wrong decisions too, even before they leave town. This emphasises the importance of pack preparation.

Once again, I picked the wrong path and propelled these friends into trouble. I was relieved to be able to have another go at keeping them safe, surprised at how quickly things can go wrong in real life. I kept reading and choosing paths until I knew they were both going to be okay, but the choices are on a knife edge, making my heart pound with their lives in my hands.

This pick-a-path adventure story is perfect for children and teens who enjoy or who are about to go on a tramp.

Not only is it an exciting read, there are paths that you definitely don’t want to pick, and paths that will save your life or the life of another on the tramp with you.

The choices I made showed me much about what to do and definitely NOT do whilst preparing, and on a tramp. Even when in trouble, there are good and bad choices to make.

In the rear of the book there are websites and apps to check out, and The Land Safety Code with detailed advice to make your tramp safe and fun.

Written with the guidance of NZ Land Search and Rescue, this entertaining pick-a-path novel is the real deal.

Author – Caz Bartholomew

Illustrator – Garry Fox

Age – 10+

(2024, NZ Land Search & Rescue, Tramping, Bush, Pick-a-path, Choose your own adventure, Aotearoa New Zealand, Tararua Ranges, Storm, Rescue, Mistakes, Action, Friendship, Adventure, Nail Biting, Wrong choices, Complacency)