Jumping all over the place

[iseenodust]

DS has chosen two books recently which jump all over the place rather than read from p1 - end. To explain you read the first 5 pages and then it says if you want to follow team X go to page 19, to see what team Y do next go to page 35. These decisions are chucked in fairly frequently and you seem to end up reading most of the book because you will also be sent to earlier pages.

I find the concept strange and frankly a bit annoying but then I'm old. Why have they adopted this style ? Is it helpful to readers who are just becoming confident?

(I confess one book was Moshi Monsters and the latest Bin Weevils, in mitigation from the library.)

You mean a Choose Your Own Adventure style story? Loved this type of book when I was growing up and starting to choose my own books from the library (in the 80s)

First time I've come across this format so don't know 'Choose your own'. Maybe it's not new then. I'm just wondering why it seems, but may not be at all, something latched on to by money grabbing pre-teen brands ?

The Moshi Monster books are choose your own story books, just like the 'Knightmare' ones I had in the 80's too (mine were signed by Treguard, I was so impressed to meet him!).

I think the format is great, and really involves the reader in the story. You wouldn't want every book to be in this format, but I think they provide a great concept in following/creating stories.

You are possibly being old , as 'choose your own path' books are positively timid in terms of the evolution of dynamic media (?literature, will remain to be seen) for our children, of which moshi monsters and bin weevils are examples, where children create their own narrative within a website-based world. Even DD's primary school sends home a mixture of actual and e-books. Its not just pre-teen stuff either - even Cbeebies contains activities where you create your own stories.

Accepts the inevitable looming technology gap (but will try to keep up a bit longer).

I think they're good because they give the illusion of having a bit of control, which is intoxicating for kids and especially a nice feeling when reading is still a task to be mastered, it's good to feel you have agency.

First time I came across this type of book was when DS took a Beastquest one out of the library. He likes reading them and as long as he's reading I'm happy.

the Choose your own adventure books are out of print, but you can get similar.

there's Fighting fantasy by steve jackson/livingstone (you use a die)a list here
or doctor who had some - decide your destiny (also now out of print)
and there was one done with England Football a while ago.

I remember the Steve Jackson books!
When I started teaching back in the early 80s, a lot of the boys chose them to the exclusion of all other literature if given the option. They'd also reread the book to chose a different plotline.

NickelB thanks. DS seems to like the style and clearly so did you younger folk .

oh, yes, they were very popular "in my day"