It has been so long since I had a chance to read a Choose Your Own Adventure book, but I devoured them when I was younger! My favorite part was about them was getting to be a part of the story. Ryan Jacobson has brought this series back in a really big way! I love that Sherlock Holmes gets to be one of the main characters that readers will follow. What a great way to bring a classic story back to life!

Let's be honest, I'm obviously not cut out to be a detective. This book proved to me that in Sherlock Holmes' shoes, I'd probably be meeting my doom. However, this was a blast to read! Sherlock Holmes is a great character to follow. Jacobson makes sure that the story stays true to the way that this classic detective thinks, but also allows the reader to follow along easily. The original 12 stories are cut down into 3 adventures that you get to follow along with. I had so much fun navigating the twists and turns. Even though I'll fully admit after 3 times reading through I still had to cheat to get to an ending where I didn't meet an evil fate....I won't lie.

Anyhow I see this being a fantastic book for younger readers, and especially those that are looking for something to immerse them in the story! Best of all, like I mentioned above, it brings a classic story back to life. I can't see a better way to introduce a new generation of readers to such an important character. Love solving mysteries? This is a book for you! ( )

Ryan Jacobson and co-author Deb Mercier have tackled the world's greatest detective in Can You Survive?: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I think this is a great vehicle for kids to learn about Victorian times and a fun intro to the methods and madness of Sherlock Holmes. Based off of a couple of classic Holmes tales, the young protagonist takes on the role of Holmes himself as he decides whether to take cases and what course of action to follow. It is through these choices that kids will unwittingly be learning about things like transportation and employment in Victorian times. So sneaky! Parents will want to choose the right time for their child to read this book, though, as one of the regular choices is which weapon one will take on a case. If you aren't ready for your little one to contemplate the pros and cons of knives versus guns versus clubs, you may want to hold this back for a couple of years. There's no real violence in the book though -- just the weaponry. Overall, this is shaping up to be a really fun and unique series!

http://webereading.com/2012/02/new-release-can-you-survive-sherlock.html ( )

By Jove, it's bloody hard to not slip into the language and accent we associate with this infamous ficticional detective when reading anything remotely associated to him. Never was there another "man of reason" purely the creation of one man's mind that has stayed with us generation after generation with such magnitude. In his more recent reincarnations, we've found his days as a young lad being explored more and more in an effort to bring his mysteries to the younger audience. This book however remains true to the originals in both time and age but introduces them to the audience in a new way....the choose-your-own-path book.

That's right. You get to play detective as you follow (or not follow) the clues laid before you in an effort to determine the who, what, when, where, why and how of each potential case. There's even an oddball one inserted as a potential trap by his adversary Dr Moriarty. Can you determine which is which? You best hope so or you might find yourself in more than a pickle...as I may have once or twice ~whistles~…hey, that's the fun of these stories, right? Never knowing which road is absolutely the right choice but giving it a go anyway and seeing just where you end up....that's what choose-your-own-path books are all about.

I've read one in this series previously (Jack London's CALL OF THE WILD....the review for which can be seen by searching my site) and found the interpretation carried off rather well. So how did the man of pipe and violin fair against the mighty pen? Just as good if I do say so myself....and I do. It gives you a taste of Holmes' world without the full entrée thereby allowing readers of all ages the chance to explore this timeless classic, see how it stacks up to their expectations and explore further with a read of the actual novel once this adventure is complete.

In my mind, anything that helps captivate the imagination of other readers or nonreaders, is a welcome addition to the bookish scene. This book would serve younger readers wonders as it breaks the ice between the classics and today's youth...but even my adult eyes were entertained and reminded of the magic that a few strokes of the pen can make. This author duo did a splendid job of sampling the originals while creating something unique enough to stand out from the crowd. Highly recommended to MG readers through adults for an adventure of mammoth proportions in the heart of jolly old England. Be sure to bring your thinking cap....you're gonna need it. ( )