Crocodile Attack

Extreme Adventures #1

by Justin D'Ath

When the robber who has kidnapped Sam Fox and his two-year-old cousin Nissa crashes his car into the Crocodile River, Sam struggles to protect himself and Nissa from the danger all around them.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Chapter Books

132 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2005

About the author

One of twelve children, Justin grew up on a farm in Otaki, New Zealand. He wrote his first book, a ten page cartoon about his pet turtle, Bubble, when he was nine years old. His next cartoon was about Moriarty, his guinea pig, and filled a complete exercise book. When he was eleven, Justin began writing his first novel, but conked out after 35 pages.


Justin D’Ath is the author of over 30 books for children and young adults, including the hugely popular Extreme Adventures series. Other books include Astrid Spark, Fixologist, The Skyflower, Robbie and the Dolphins, Infamous, and Why did the Chykkan cross the Galaxy?


Justin says: ‘My main message is, Enjoy reading

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute series. Perfect for 8 year old boys.

[Alistair Parker]

I love the book it was very good
it was awesome!!!
iwltrtnb (I would love to read the next book)
bushfire rescue #2 of the series

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Extreme Adventures Book 1 Crocodile Attack by Justin D'Athwhich is an adventure genre. The main characters are Sam, Nissa, and Nathan McDonald. Sam is a friendly guy who always tries to keep his promises and never gives up. Nissa is Sam's two-year-old little cousin who is so sweet and adorable. She has a cute language like Tam, Yizard, and she calls herself Nitta. Nathan McDonald is the robber who kidnaps Nissa and Sam follows. He seems bad, but at the end he is really the one who saves them. I think he is loyal because when Nissa almost drowns Sam tries to save her and Nathan fall from the tree into the rushing water, but he helps them! The setting is during summer, in Crocodile River which is deep brown and the names says it all: crocodiles call it home! At this time a cyclone hits in the middle which forms waves and wind. Some events are Sam and Nissa lose Nathan, Nissa almost drowns, crocodiles attack, and at the end they get chased by a train. I like how every chapter is a 'wow' which means that you never saw it coming or a surprise. What I liked was that the author was detailed and knew how to make an awesome adventure. What I didn't like was tiny bits didn't give enough details. I still rate five stars because it is the best adventure book I have ever read. You should read it because the adventure is the most interesting one of all the books I've read. Read Extreme Adventure series!

[David J Corwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good middle-grade action/adventure and survival story, the first in a series of Extreme Adventures. The writing occasionally trips over itself and some of the scenarios push the suspension of disbelief to the breaking point, but the story line is engaging enough to keep one turning pages.

[Jennie Louwes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be rated as 5 stars by my kiddos (ages 7.5, 8.5, 11, and 12 respectively); but, as their mom I felt the need to take 1 star off due to lack of believability.

This book is fast paced intensity. Best suited for middle grades as certain situations depicted are scary within their realism: A raging river, near death experiences, a ”bad man" that you think has certainly been pulled down river to his death, etc.

What's far fetched is that the 14 year old protagonist is able to protect his 2 year old niece in the ways he's able to. What's unbelievable is the level of bad situations these two kids find themselves in! Things go from bad to worse and keep doubling down until you can't believe there's anything left they could possibly face (let alone, conquer!)

The final scene: Running down train tracks, leaping for a rope, being pulled up into a helicopter all while carrying a 2 year old? How is that even possible? Although, it would make for a great movie. 😉

This book is a non-stop thrill ride! Although, I did read it to a 7.5 and 8.5 year old I'd suggest no children under 10 read this book; especially, if they're reading independently. Even though my youngest two handled the material just fine, and said they really liked it, as a mom I see how the storyline could've ended up being too much for them.

I appreciated the pull between helping the "bad man" versus letting him fend for himself. There's life lessons to be built and taught with that as a launching pad for further discussion. My oldest child, at 12, expressed his relief at the "bad man" somehow surviving through everything too. He hadn't wanted anyone to die.

You've been forewarned, an anxiety riddled, page turner that's fully believeable and realistic when viewed through the mind's eye of a child; but, much less so for the adult in the room. 😏

A solid 4 stars.

[Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that I picked out for my son, and I am really looking forward to reading this to and with him. It is best suited for upper elementary because this is not a warm and fuzzy story. It begins with a robbery, that leads to a kidnapping and then a race to survival against floods and crocodiles. While there was the initial attempt at being a hero, the book is really about surviving. I am not sure of an average 14 year old would know to do everything that Sam randomly knows how to do, but that's okay. It's a fun story, full of action and edge of your seat real life danger. 

[Judy Wollin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fast-paced action-packed adventure set in tropical Australia. Not to be missed by reader wanting a short exciting read.
Sam witnesses his aunt’s shop being robbed and his two year old cousin Nissa being kidnapped. He races after the villain to rescue his cousin and gets caught up and kidnapped himself. Their town is about to be hit by a cyclone, rivers are flooded, trees uprooted, and there is endless heavy rain.
The robber crashes his ute into a flooded river, known to be the home of crocodiles.
Recommended for readers eight years and older.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-stop action, with a fast pace and no time to explain or catch your breath. I wasn't sure where our setting was, when we were talking, or anything else except the immediate action.

It was a nice thrill ride my kids even described as scary. It was a lot of fun, perfect for little boys or girls who want action instead of princess. Just don't expect a whole lot of characterization or subtle plot points.

[Tyler Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for an exciting and thrilling adventure for a 7-10 year old reader. Perfect read for my on-level third graders, but would easily entertain a fourth or fifth grader.

No deep content or serious character development. Just a good, old-fashioned adventure story in which each chapter leaves you on a book so you just have to keep reading.

[Ruth Mortensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because it is full of adventure, excitement, and sometimes a little bit scary. It is amazing how two people can do so much to stay alive.

[Joann Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7 year old and I enjoy reading this book series together. This is full of suspense and action.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable much?

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great action packed page turner. We always wanted to keep reading!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 4th grader son and I read this together and we loved it. It is very suspenseful and the characters are relatable and likable. My son liked the part with the big crocodile.

[Kelly Strenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

An edge of your seat thriller.

[Liz Rockstroh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this series with my 8 year old son. He loves them and can’t wait for the next one! Suspenseful, but not scary. I am very excited to have books that hold his attention!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic! Definitely want to get more in this series for the school library. I can't wait to share this with my students

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wyeth is speaking and I think that this book is a 3 and a half.

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crocodile Attack is a rip-roaring adventure-type book that I absolutely love. Here you have a kid stuck in a situation that is full of deadly peril and he is able to keep his head together. One exciting thing after another seems to happen in this story and it kept me reading late into the night. I just couldn't put it down! I didn't want to put it down! I just had to finish it . . . and quickly.

Sam Fox is an interesting character that Young Readers will instantly bond with. His main goal is to keep his two year old cousin safe from the robber, the flooded river, a deadly snake, and hungry crocodiles. To do that, he will have to survive all of these things himself. Oh, and don't forget all of the rain and wind that accompany and tropical storm. Nissa is a cute little character and I loved how she called Sam, "Tam."

I really enjoy stories that move along quickly and are filled with tense drama and a lot of action. The first book in the Extreme Adventures series delivered just that. Justin D'Ath has put pen to paper and created a series that I know I am going to fully enjoy. I was already thinking about the second book while I was reading this one. All I know is that I cannot wait to start the next book.

Boys will really enjoy this series. Girls who like a lot of action will enjoy it too. After all, the series is called "Extreme Adventures." I can tell you that the story is quite extreme and the book is stuffed full of adventure and dangerous situations. Anyone out there that is an adrenaline junkie will love this book.

Overall, Crocodile Attack is an excellent book that will keep a reader flipping pages while the find themselves immersed into this wild and crazy story. Like I said earlier, I cannot wait to see what happen with Sam Fox in his next adventure. The book is entitled Bushfire Rescue.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.

[Sharon Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cool book. It seems to have more action than a lot of books on this reading level. You have to pay attention to what's happening so that you don't get confused. Overall, it looks like the author knew what he was doing.
Side-note: Sometimes the characters are put in a scary situation, and just as you start to accept its effects on the story, it's a "just kidding."
[Spoilers ahead] I have to say that the most unbelievable time this happened was when they're about to get eaten by a giant crocodile, and the next thing you know, they're riding a fake crocodile that was apparently the same one. I guess that's okay because the fake crocodile was mentioned earlier in the story before coming up there.

[Alesha Wi · Rating 5 out of 5]

1- a book about survival.
2- I decided to read this book because its based out doors and is adventurous.
3- I liked how it dragged me into the story, which made me kept want to keep reading it. I loved the thrill that it had, for every few pages it dragged me in even more.
4- I didn't like how it was a bit younger for my liking as in younger people would read it too haha.
5- I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys Crocodile's and outdoor adventures as much as i do (:

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the protagonist in this story is 14, this story will be appreciated by younger boys (girls, too, but especially boys). And, oh, the drama--every single last short chapter contains a near death experience, a heroic attempt by said main character to save his life or someone else's, and a resolution at the end that is worthy of any summer blockbuster. This one will be fun for reluctant readers and those who enjoy dramatic, near-death stories of man v. wild....

[Erin Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

We started the Extreme Adventures series as bedtime reads with my boys and they hold their attention like nothing else! This book was INTENSE! Since my boys have an almost 2yo brother, they could relate closely to Sam and Nissa. Some parts of the book were so crazy, I was afraid they might have nightmares from anxiety, but they LOVED it and look forward to reading these together. Definitely a fast-paced read!

[Stacey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very exciting adventure story about Sam Fox, a 14 year old boy, who bravely goes after his young cousin when she is kidnapped during a robbery. Unfortunately the robber and victims (now including both Sam and Nissa) are caught in a tropical cyclone. Water is rising and winds are blowing as the trio speed away in a pickup truck. Following their hair raising trip through the storm as they struggle to stay alive makes for a good read.

[Mari Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are high on adventure, danger and luck and short on plot and character development. You also have to be willing to get past your disbelief at some of the fantastical scenarios. They are great though for boys and reluctant readers. Probably best for grades 3-5.

[Joshua L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that great. I use these books as back-up books when I have nothing better to read.

[Katie Kerns · Rating 4 out of 5]

An action packed quick read that left me frantically turning pages to see if Sam would survive his deadly adventure.

[Madison Pannell · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a good book but not the best

[Hailey Johns · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book was action packed but borning at parts

[Jaguar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than "Spider Bite" but still unrealistic in some spots. But better. :) This is a nice series.