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Review: 15 Secrets to Survival

15 Secrets to Survival
By Natalie D. Richards
New York: Delacorte Press, 2023. Fiction. 376 pages.

Even though their parents are close friends, Baxter and the 3 other members of the so-called "Getalong Gang" rarely see eye-to-eye. After being disqualified from a school trivia competition because of the unkind messages they were sending each other, they are sent to a complete a wilderness survival course with Baxter's great-uncle Hornsby. When the course goes awry and Uncle Hornsby goes missing, though, the four middle schoolers are forced to learn how to work together and leverage their individual strengths to survive the Montana winter wilderness with Baxter's 18-month-old sister while also trying to rescue their missing instructor.

Baxter and his companions face several wilderness dangers, including hypothermia, avalanches, and dangerous wildlife. The fast-pace of the narrative will have readers hooked to the very end, while the team learns to work together and become friends despite their differences. The Uncle Hornsby Survival Secrets the group discovers throughout the book contain wilderness facts that will also intrigue nature lovers. Highly recommended for readers that love adventure stories or are interested in wilderness survival.

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