Book review: The Famous Five’s Survival Guide

Author

It's written by the Famous Five - they were created by a famous author called Enid Blyton, back in the 1940s!

Publication date

Out now

Characters

The Famous Five are back! This time we catch up with a mystery back in 1959, with a lost treasure - the Royal Dragon of Siam.

There's Julian, who's very sensible, Dick, who likes gadgets and huge bits of chocolate cake, Anne, who prefers preparing picnics to getting dirty and George, short for Georgina, who's always getting into scrapes.

And of course, don't forget Timmy the dog, who's got a brilliant knack of helping the kids find vital clues.

Plot

Time for another adventure with lashings of ginger beer and plenty of spiffing scrapes!

A mysterious reporter turns up at Uncle Quentin's house asking about a shipwreck that happened years ago - and in which a precious jewel was lost.

Of course, this sparks a huge adventure for the Famous Five - with secret rooms, spooky towers, a train drama and camping peril.

Great guides

This book is written through diary extracts from the four kids, plus their drawings, photos and graphics of clues that they find on their exciting adventure.

And as well as the story, the book includes useful advice on topics such as code breaking, using a compass, building an escape raft, first aid, camping, and much more.

And it's left for you to actually solve the mystery yourself by following the clues included in the book.

Highlights

Using the decoder to reveal the real message in a long-lost letter is really cool, plus George's escape from capture is VERY dramatic.

And, as the book is written in the style of the Famous Five, it's quite funny!

Any weak bits?

Sometimes you can't decide whether to skip to the next bit of the story to find out what 's happening or read the guides - but this is a good thing really!

Unputdownable?

This is a great book for boys and girls and even when you've read the story, the adventure advice will be something you can dip into again and again.

NR rating:

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Your Comments

"This book was truly amazing. I could hardly put it down. I got it yesterday night and finished it today. The only thing I don't know is if the Famous Five were real kids or made up. It seems they are real but the adventure is a bit abstract. But it was still brill. 10/10."

Emma, 10, Northern Ireland

"I love the books of the Famous Five so when I read the book I found it interesting and helpful as well as fun. I also enjoyed it as I do Guides, so it is helpful there, too."

Charly, 11, Southampton, England

"I love the Famous Five books so when I heard about this new Famous Five survival book I was very excited. I am reading it now and I would give it 10 out of 10."

Lucy, 10, Newcastle, England

"WOW, it's good! People who have never read Enid Blyton's books: THEY ARE BRILL! My fave character is George; she's tom-boyish (like me), though she's more than a tom-boy - she WANTS to be a BOY!"

Cally, 11, Scotland

"Well, to be honest there are only four words to describe it: BRILLIANT!! ENID BLYTON ROCKS!!"

Georgia, 9, Warrington, England

"I think it's sexist the way that Anne does all the cooking and cleaning and none of the exciting stuff just because she is a girl. "

Riana, 13, Norfolk, England

"I think it was super duper."

Cameron, 10, Wales

"It was very good; sort of a mystery adventure / survival guide. I give it a five star rating!"

Alicia, 12, Sussex, England

"I really like Enid Blyton's books. I like the new ones better, though!"

Matthew, 10, Manchester, England

"I think the Famous Five are extraordinary and always have interesting names for the chapters."

Jonathan, 8, Newcastle, England

"I think the Famous Five's Survival Guide is a great book; I got the old books from my mum and I got the new books for my birthday. I love Enid Blyton, she is a great writer and I wish that I could have all her books!"

Gabriella, 8, Dundee, Scotland

"I liked the first Famous Five book, but I don't think there should have been another one because the ideas are not as good."

Mary, 10, Crewe, England

"My mate had this book and said he didn't like it and gave it to me. So I read it and thought WOW!!! It's full of fun and mysteries. I personally love it, it rocks my socks."

Sophie, 11, Cornwall, England

"I think the Famous Five are brilliant, so quick, run to the library for it."

Alima, 8, Ireland

"I think this book is great for people aged 8-14. My sister and my brother and I found it really good. We couldn't put the book down and fought whenever we could read because we all wanted to read it."

Emily, 12, Oxford, England

"I have read all of the Famous Five books and would recommend the books to all children who like adventures."

Charlotte, 10, Norfolk, England

"Enid Blyton books are great. Some of the modern books you get now are so boring!! I love the classics, but hate the reproductions!! They're really good because you have no idea what's going to happen!!"

Anthony, 11, Scotland

"My dad gave me all his Famous Five books from when he was a kid and I think they are great. I love Enid Blyton."

Niamh, 11, London, England

"Wowee!!! I love, love, love Enid Blyton! A must-have book, I tell you!"

Flo, 10, Norwich, England

"The thing about the Famous Five is that it's good - but not if you read it too much. Somehow it's just too far-fetched."

Anett, 11, London, England

"It was a brilliant book and I loved it."

Marcus, 8, Warrington, England

"I think this book is great and is filled with mysteries and drama."

Brandon, 10, Bournemouth, England

"The Famous Five is really good - but only if you don't read it too much! One of its main main problems is that it is just so far fetched and the characters are just somehow ... somehow not real!"

Anett, 12, London, England

"This book is the best book ever, it was so brill."

Jen, 12, Ireland

"I don't think they should try and modernise all Enid Blyton's old classics. Sure, read the books, I spent my entire 6-10 year old life doing it, but when they try to modernise it they lose the whole essence of the book."

Alice, 13, Cumbria, England

"I have got the whole set of Enid Blyton books, they are great and I would definitely recommend this one."

Mary, 10, Farnham, England

"It is good but should be more exciting. That's all I think!"

Emma, 10 Cardiff, Wales