Rain Forest Relay

Gr 2–4—When Russell and his four friends enter The Wild Life Rain Forest Relay competition deep in the Amazon, he assumed that they would be teamed together. The prize is one million dollars, but now he is halfway across the world and his friends have been put on another team. With each clue comes survival challenges, brain puzzles, and adventure. Russell must rely on his skills and those of his team members to survive. To make matters worse, the boy discovers that his friends have been spying on him and cheating. Feeling betrayed, RusseIl doesn't know what to do. Should he tell his team members? Some of the words seem a little forced and the author tells more than she shows. The plot, however, is well-paced and engaging. The facts used to solve the clues are fun but not overwhelming, and even provide a few twists. Illustrations are detailed and complement the text. Characters are likable, if a bit flat.