Ancient China: An Interactive History Adventure

by Terry Collins, Hanchao Lu PhD (Consultant Editor)

Delve into fascinating time periods! This series allows readers to explore different times and places in history from different perspectives. The narrative format, suspenseful action, and path navigation keep readers reading!

Genres: Choose Your Own Adventure, Historical Fiction, Cultural, Historical, Adventure, Middle Grade

112 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2012

About the author

I write. I teach. I teach writing. I write about teaching. I read about writing and write about reading and teach about both when not dealing with the paperwork being a high school educator demands in our current political clime. I'm National Board Certified in my discipline (English).

I've won awards, published constantly since 1989, and just wrapped up a two-year tenure as the editor and designer of Pine Whispers (the newsletter for the North Carolina Poetry Society).

I make time for reflection, which comes in handy with all of the hats I wear. I also buy, sell and collect pop culture items ... from books and comics, to lunch boxes and action figures.

And if you've read this far, please accept my humble thanks.

Reviews

[Lindsay Bates]

It was cool that it was set in ancient china but other than that it was not the great of a book. Kinda boring.

[Ann]

Lots of interesting information about ancient China. 3 different “choose your own” story scenarios from 3 different time periods.

The stories endings were notably pessimistic, out of 23 or 24 possibilities, only 5 of them were actually positive, another 6-8 were open to interpretation, with simple statements of choices made and no judgement on the choice (you choose the life of a scholar over the life of soldier or vice versa, you lose your trade merchandise but change your name and start a new life) and the rest, around half of the options, were negative in some way - from shaming your family to banishment to breaking your neck and awaiting death in the dark.

Because of this, the book seems more appropriate for older elementary aged kids, but there is general information at the beginning and end of the book that would be appropriate for pretty much any age.

[Heather]

Ancient China lets you choose your own adventure. There are three story paths with 43 choices and 24 endings. It’s a very fun way to learn a little bit about life in ancient China. I recommend it for elementary aged kids learning about China or interested in history.

[Eyani]

the kids in my classes love the choose your own adventure history books. not as bloody as other we have read; the kids seem to like the more brutal ones best.

[Kim Hampton]

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as some of the others I've read.

[Kristin Holbach]

My 9 year old likes history and choose your own adventure books. He wants it rated 5 stars. He really enjoyed it.

[Natalie]

Jump into life in ancient China! Readers choose who to be and what paths to take.

The year is 213 BC and a sixteen-year old boy is expected to follow his father’s steps in the military, but he has a love for education and the ideas of Confucius. Which path will he follow? A fifteen-year old girl is living in 691 AD, under the first female emperor. She meets a man who is on the run. Will she help him or turn him in? A seventeen-year old is on his first trading trip in the year 1420. He has to navigate the great city of Dunhuang and find the best deals for his supplies.

All three paths explore different times periods in China and focus on unique aspects of daily life. Students will enjoy making choices that direct the characters and change the outcome of the story. The history is simplified for younger readers and easy to comprehend. The You Choose series is an excellent way to make history accessible for children.

[Kelly Carey]

This book read more like a history text than a choose-your-own adventure book.