Survival Scout: Lost at Sea

Gr 4 Up--Scout and her older brother are going for a sailing lesson without their mother. When her brother jumps ship to go swimming with a dolphin, Scout is left all alone with only a skunk and her knowledge about the sea. She must use her wits to get back home safely, or risk getting lost. Like the previous two volumes in the series, this book includes information that can teach people of all ages how to survive. It takes a compelling situation that would be at home in a drama or action movie and tackles every facet with intelligence, tact, and a little bit of humor. VERDICT Every boat that sets sail could benefit from a copy of this book onboard.

In this third installment in the humorous and informative comic-format series (starting with Lost in the Mountains, rev. 7/23), Scout (a highly capable child) and Skunk (a snarky skunk) find themselves alone in a small boat when Scout's hapless older brother is whisked away by an offended porpoise. After making a clearheaded assessment of the situation, Scout asserts to her friend that "today, we're going to rescue ourselves." The book shares a common-sense overview of real-life sailing and survival skills through a combination of captions, cartoony diagrams, and word-balloon dialogue between Scout and Skunk (who, through questions and irreverent quips, serves as a stand-in for curious readers). A squall forces Scout and Skunk to apply all their sailing knowledge when it most counts; they successfully navigate through the storm, reunite with the brother, and eventually encounter land -- and Mom. Additional details appear in the back matter, including more technical know-how, recommended reading and resources, and an author's note extolling the joys of sailing. Patrick GallMay/June 2025 p.107 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.