Finding a way into reading is often as simple as connecting with the right book, and there are so many options as to what that right book might look like!

This year I’ve had a number of requests from students for plot-your-own stories (also known as choose your own adventure, or pick-a-path stories). These have been around for years, and happily, they are still being produced. These books have multiple pathways and endings and the reader chooses which way the story goes. 

They are heaps of fun to read (I remember loving them!) and they are also great for reluctant readers, or students who find reading more challenging, because they can be read multiple times, but with different outcomes. 

This means there is quite a bit of repetition and reinforcement, which can be helpful for those who find getting into a new book hard. Of course, they can be enjoyed by readers of all abilities, and happily, there is a range of series and themes in this genre. Some of the series we have are:

• Decide and Survive series (various authors): this illustrated series focuses on historical events such as the destruction of Pompeii and the attack on Pearl Harbour.

• I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis: Another illustrated series based on historical events such as the Hindenburg Disaster and the Great Chicago Fire.

• You Choose series, by George Ivanoff: This illustrated series tends to lean towards spooky stories.

• You Choose if you Live or Die by Simon Chapman:  This series focusses on survival skills and escaping dangerous situations.

• Can You Survive series (various authors): This series also focuses on survival but features photographs and maps and features real situations like escaping tornados and earthquakes.

• Lost series by Tracey Turner: This highly illustrated series features lots of factual information about the terrain the story is about, and centres around getting lost somewhere dangerous, such as a swamp or the ocean. 

• Countdown to Danger series by Jack Heath: This series counts down in time until time runs out.

• Choose Your Own Path Football by Lisa M Bolt Simons: This series has lots of football action and a game component.

• Twisted Journeys series by Justine and Ron Fontes: This series is illustrated in colour and is part graphic novel, part text.

• A Funny Thing Happened to Simon Sidebottom series by P Crumble: a humorous plot-your-own series.

• The Week Before by Scott Cawthon: a stand alone novel set in the Five Nights at Freddy’s world, good for horror fans and much longer than the typical plot-your-own book.

Scorpio Books has a really good selection of these stories, but there are plenty on the shelves in the Library of St Bede too!