Botswana

Gr 4–8—Twin teens explorers various locations and introduce readers to the wonders, animals, and people of the places they visit. Gannon is the impulsive, personable brother and Wyatt is the more scientific. In Botswana, they try to save a lioness and her cubs from poachers. In Rainforest, they go in search of the mythical spirit bear but become lost in a forest full of danger. The stories are related as a series of journal entries from the boys' perspectives and highlight the inherent beauty as well as the perils of each locale. The books have a strong conservationist point of view, and the siblings encounter trouble not only from their natural surroundings but also from man-made threats to themselves and the environment. Each book also contains native people who help Gannon and Wyatt understand the areas they are exploring and, in some cases, help them survive. The brothers are based on a real-life twins. At the beginning of Botswana, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the two boys, but the authors find their voices about halfway through and it is clear from that point going forward. The action picks up in the second title, which is marginally better than the first, but the books focus primarily on painting a picture of the boys' travels and surroundings, and they do this well. The novels offer good entry points into these exciting worlds and should be enjoyed by anyone who likes reading about adventure and discovery.—Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX