Two Wolves by Tristan Bancks, good for older, struggling readers
The Fall by Tristan Bancks
Detention by Tristan Bancks, lots to discuss
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Jack Heath’s Minutes series e.g. 300 Minutes Of Danger
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Bear Grylls: Spirit of the Jungle, harder to get now
The Centrality Of The Adventure Story
Header illustration was made in Midjourney using the prompt: action adventure, middle grade novel, cover
On paper, things look fine. Sam Dennon recently inherited significant wealth from his uncle. As a respected architect, Sam spends his days thinking about the family needs and rich lives of his clients. But privately? Even his enduring love of amateur astronomy is on the wane. Sam has built a sustainable-architecture display home for himself but hasn’t yet moved into it, preferring to sleep in his cocoon of a campervan. Although they never announced it publicly, Sam’s wife and business partner ended their marriage years ago due to lack of intimacy, leaving Sam with the sense he is irreparably broken.
Now his beloved uncle has died. An intensifying fear manifests as health anxiety, with night terrors from a half-remembered early childhood event. To assuage the loneliness, Sam embarks on a Personal Happiness Project:
1. Get a pet dog
2. Find a friend. Just one. Not too intense.
