Published: 2022
Series: Choose Your Own Adventure
Author: Andrew E.C. Gaska, E.L. Thomas Illustrator: Danilo Leonardo
Genres: Adventure, Science Fiction
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 5-8
Number of Stars: 5-Stars
Goodreads Link: Choose Your Own Adventure: Journey Under the Sea
Triggers: None
Review By: Heather Turner
Publisher’s Summary
From the hit Choose Your Own Adventure ® novels comes a new adapted graphic novel taking readers on their own visual adventure as a diver and new crew member of the ship Maray, a scientific vessel seeking to solve the mysteries of the ocean.
In the newest Choose Your Own Adventure® graphic novel comes an underwater epic where YOU get to choose the destination. With your submarine vessel, the Seeker, you’ll explore the ocean depths and all the mysteries, creatures, and monsters that inhabit the ocean floor. Some will be squids, whales, and of course the Great White shark. Others will be entirely new to your eyes, like the city of Atlantis. So how will You proceed? Will you willingly dive into the depths? What paths will You choose?
Review
Okay, thank you, Choose Your Own Adventure, for continuing the tradition! These were some of my absolute favorite books growing up. I spent hours flipping back and forth through the pages trying to discover every possible ending. I remember trying to map out the different paths and refusing to stop until I had found every ending I could. They were books I read over and over again because every choice created a completely different experience. So, when I saw they were being adapted into graphic novels, I was both excited and a little skeptical.
I honestly could not imagine how the format would work, but I was so pleasantly surprised. It totally works.
The graphic novel keeps everything that made the original books so much fun while adding dynamic illustrations that make the adventure even more immersive. Instead of simply imagining what might be lurking beneath the waves, you get to see colorful coral reefs, mysterious underwater creatures, dangerous sharks, and even the legendary city of Atlantis brought to life. The artwork never overshadows the story. Instead, it enhances the experience and makes each decision feel even more exciting.
I also appreciated that the interactive nature of the series remains completely intact. Every decision sends you down a different path, and just like the original books, not every choice leads to success. Some endings arrive much sooner than expected, while others reward you for taking a risk. That replayability is what made these books so special when I was a kid, and it is still just as entertaining today.
The illustrations are vibrant, action-packed, and full of details that middle grade readers will love discovering. I especially think reluctant readers will gravitate toward this format. Combining a graphic novel with an interactive story is a brilliant way to hook readers who may not otherwise pick up a traditional novel.
I do think this is one of those books that is best experienced as a physical copy. Flipping back and forth through the pages is part of the adventure, and it feels much more natural than trying to navigate digitally. It captures the same excitement I remember from reading these books decades ago.
If you grew up loving Choose Your Own Adventure books, this graphic novel is a wonderful dose of nostalgia. If you’ve never experienced the series before, this is a fantastic place to dive in. I sincerely hope they continue adapting more of the classic adventures because I’ll happily read every single one. They have found a way to honor the original books while introducing them to a whole new generation of readers.
Classroom & Curricular Connections
- ELA / Reading Engagement: This graphic novel serves as an excellent tool for engaging reluctant readers through its highly interactive format and visual storytelling. The choice-driven narrative teaches cause-and-effect, critical thinking, and story mapping as students navigate multiple plot branches and diverse outcomes.
- Libraries can host a “Map Your Own Adventure” workshop or independent reading program challenge where students use chart paper or digital tools to track every decision path they take to uncover all the possible endings. It also serves as a perfect template for a creative writing activity where students draft their own branch-narrative short stories.
Diversity & Representation
By putting the reader directly into the shoes of the protagonist (“YOU”), the book offers an inclusive and universally accessible format that allows any child or teen to see themselves as the main character exploring the ocean depths, regardless of their background or identity.
Readalikes
- Can You Survive the Titanic? by Allan Zullo
- Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman by R.A. Montgomery
- Escape from the Carnival of Horrors (Give Yourself Goosebumps #1) by R.L. Stine
- World War II Pilots: An Interactive History Adventure by Michael Burgan
