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Choose Your Own Adventure #114
Daredevil Park
Slated to be among the first to ride the attractions at Daredevil Park, the reader finds that his or her choices mean the difference between a safe or scary time and the chance to be a hero
112 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 13, 2025
I love this book so much, but am incapable of reading it without first following the very short path of setting up my video game system in the bathroom so I can play while soaking in the jetted tub. You die. Immediately. I know this, but I also know me and there is still a decent chance that this is how I will meet my actual end. Read it. Get it for the small people in your life. A true literary masterpiece.
May 19, 2022
Compared to other CYOA books, this one had a lower number of possible endings, most of which were somewhat unsatisfying or anticlimactic. It also offered fewer possibilities to make decisions.
July 23, 2025
DareDevil Park is written by Sara and Spencer Compton, from the ‘choose your own adventure’ series. The book has a unique formula where it actually allows the reader to make the decisions as to how the story will develop and eventually end.
The book begins with the building of a new theme park, which is about to have its grand opening. Before it does, it wants four lucky children to test the park’s rides and facilities out. The book is narrated so that it reads as if you are one of the lucky four to be chosen to go to the theme park.
Initial thoughts:
After reading this book by a fellow classmate as a child, I was able to relive the story of DareDevil theme park after ordering a copy via eBay. I instantly remembered the excitement of being able to choose and have many different outcomes from one story.
Enjoyment:
As mentioned previously, the book allows readers to make informed decisions about what path the story should follow. This is a unique way of storytelling and allows the children to have ownership of the story as well as making the reader think before picking a route, as their choice could either extend the story or end it very quickly.
With there being so many avenues for the reader to take the story, the book can be re-read over and over again with different choices being made. This lends itself to the book having multiple stories in one, but with a central theme based around the theme park. This is also interesting as the story that is read or chosen by the reader is never the same as the last time they read it.
With the book being very quick paced, the story can dramatically change at the turn of a page, which I think is a nice feature in a children’s book, as some books can take a while to ‘get going’ with the storyline.
The book is very descriptive with some of the ideas being ahead of their time, considering it was written in 1995. For example, many of the rides within the theme park use creative technology to make them seem more real than they are (such as 3D glasses that are only being used now for video games). This means the book has aged quite well, and due to having a theme park storyline would make it relevant for children today.
Objections:
Due to the book being fast paced and having the reader make choices quite often, the story can end quickly, which could cause some children to just put down the book as they do not wish to start the story again. Although the option is there for the reader to go back and rethink why it was an incorrect choice in the first place and why the second option was the correct decision in order to advance the story.
Final Thought:
DareDevil Park is an exciting and interactive read that breaks away from traditional storytelling, giving children a sense of agency and adventure. Its fast-paced, unpredictable nature makes it especially engaging for reluctant readers or those who thrive on variety. While the potential for quick endings may frustrate some, it also teaches valuable lessons in decision-making and consequence. With its imaginative theme park setting and inventive format, the book remains timeless and relevant, even decades after publication. It is a fantastic choice for classroom use or independent reading, especially for sparking creativity and discussion.
Appropriate Age:
The book is aimed at children who are 10 years plus, although I would state that the book could be read from 8 plus if the children are confident readers or read with the support of an adult/older reader. I also feel that younger children would be excited about making choices in a story, especially when it is a decision as to which ride they should pick to go on.
Classroom setting:
The book would be a great resource to use for a story time activity in a classroom setting where the children could vote as to which choice needs to be made in order to advance the story. Questions could also be asked by the teacher to the children as to why they feel the story should ‘turn to page 101’ for them to go and see who/what is making the noises below the boat. This activity could also be used to have the children read aloud to the class, and the teacher swaps the children over to read the next part of the story when a choice needs to be made.
The book could also be used for children to write their own ‘choose your own adventure’ with settings such as a playground incident used as a way to get children to think of what options they should pick. For example, ‘Sam pushes Alice over in the playground. Do you turn to page 120 to tell a teacher or do you pretend you have seen nothing, turn to page 56’. This encourages children to think about the consequences of their actions before they make a choice.
The book begins with the building of a new theme park, which is about to have its grand opening. Before it does, it wants four lucky children to test the park’s rides and facilities out. The book is narrated so that it reads as if you are one of the lucky four to be chosen to go to the theme park.
Initial thoughts:
After reading this book by a fellow classmate as a child, I was able to relive the story of DareDevil theme park after ordering a copy via eBay. I instantly remembered the excitement of being able to choose and have many different outcomes from one story.
Enjoyment:
As mentioned previously, the book allows readers to make informed decisions about what path the story should follow. This is a unique way of storytelling and allows the children to have ownership of the story as well as making the reader think before picking a route, as their choice could either extend the story or end it very quickly.
With there being so many avenues for the reader to take the story, the book can be re-read over and over again with different choices being made. This lends itself to the book having multiple stories in one, but with a central theme based around the theme park. This is also interesting as the story that is read or chosen by the reader is never the same as the last time they read it.
With the book being very quick paced, the story can dramatically change at the turn of a page, which I think is a nice feature in a children’s book, as some books can take a while to ‘get going’ with the storyline.
The book is very descriptive with some of the ideas being ahead of their time, considering it was written in 1995. For example, many of the rides within the theme park use creative technology to make them seem more real than they are (such as 3D glasses that are only being used now for video games). This means the book has aged quite well, and due to having a theme park storyline would make it relevant for children today.
Objections:
Due to the book being fast paced and having the reader make choices quite often, the story can end quickly, which could cause some children to just put down the book as they do not wish to start the story again. Although the option is there for the reader to go back and rethink why it was an incorrect choice in the first place and why the second option was the correct decision in order to advance the story.
Final Thought:
DareDevil Park is an exciting and interactive read that breaks away from traditional storytelling, giving children a sense of agency and adventure. Its fast-paced, unpredictable nature makes it especially engaging for reluctant readers or those who thrive on variety. While the potential for quick endings may frustrate some, it also teaches valuable lessons in decision-making and consequence. With its imaginative theme park setting and inventive format, the book remains timeless and relevant, even decades after publication. It is a fantastic choice for classroom use or independent reading, especially for sparking creativity and discussion.
Appropriate Age:
The book is aimed at children who are 10 years plus, although I would state that the book could be read from 8 plus if the children are confident readers or read with the support of an adult/older reader. I also feel that younger children would be excited about making choices in a story, especially when it is a decision as to which ride they should pick to go on.
Classroom setting:
The book would be a great resource to use for a story time activity in a classroom setting where the children could vote as to which choice needs to be made in order to advance the story. Questions could also be asked by the teacher to the children as to why they feel the story should ‘turn to page 101’ for them to go and see who/what is making the noises below the boat. This activity could also be used to have the children read aloud to the class, and the teacher swaps the children over to read the next part of the story when a choice needs to be made.
The book could also be used for children to write their own ‘choose your own adventure’ with settings such as a playground incident used as a way to get children to think of what options they should pick. For example, ‘Sam pushes Alice over in the playground. Do you turn to page 120 to tell a teacher or do you pretend you have seen nothing, turn to page 56’. This encourages children to think about the consequences of their actions before they make a choice.
August 4, 2017
Lizzie: This is probably my favorite of the fun choose-your-own-adventure books. I love how you get to make choices and see where those choices lead. I like how it makes you feel like you are in the book. I thought it had good descriptions.
Angie: I also remember loving these books at her age. As a mom with a LONG list of higher quality literature I'm hoping for her to read, I just have to bite my tongue and let her check these CYOA books out from the library occasionally. We all like a "cotton candy" book every once in a while.
Angie: I also remember loving these books at her age. As a mom with a LONG list of higher quality literature I'm hoping for her to read, I just have to bite my tongue and let her check these CYOA books out from the library occasionally. We all like a "cotton candy" book every once in a while.
December 29, 2021
Un juego
Read
February 16, 2022I thought it was a very fun read. Although I couldn't update goodreads because it flips everywhere.
June 26, 2017
Back in the day, I would have rated this 4 stars. Now, the only thing that comes to mind when I open this is, "Meh."
My sisters and I were BIG fans of the Choose Your Own Adventure series. Our library used to carry some of them, like You Are A Millionare, The Worst Day Of Your Life and Return of the Ninja. I even remember the Choose Your Own Nightmare series, with The Halloween Party and Risk Your Life Arcade standing out most in my mind. Daredevil Park was one of my all-time favorites. I've always loved amusement parks and fairs, and the concept of a park that was like Six Flags on steroids fascinated me.
Several years ago, our library had sold all of the Choose Your Own Adventure books that my sisters and I loved so much. This year, when my birthday came rolling around, I remembered how awesome and incredible Daredevil Park was, so I asked my family for it. When it finally arrived in the mail, I couldn't wait for all the nostalgia! The childhood memories!
After reading for a while, the enchantment kind of...well, died. The way "you" win the contest didn't make any sense. Seriously, like the Daredevil Park ad on TV tells you that they'll randomly choose four kids to experience the park. Then, you wait for the phone to ring and scream, "I want to be a daredevil!" and magically win. Later, when you are going on an Amazon River Ride, an Amazon man (who was not an actor or part of the ride in any way) rows a canoe through the river and gets in the boat you're on. If you choose to jump off the boat to avoid possible combat with him, you smash into concrete. The "river" was soooo realistic it only looked like water. Weird how the Amazon guy could row through it anyway. It seemed much shorter than I remembered, which was a bit disappointing.
I feel almost stupid writing this review and pointing out the flaws in the story's logic, cause well, it's a kid's book. Guess my grown-up mind just can't appreciate this kind of stuff like it used to. ^^; If you're under 12 or 13 though, I'm sure you'll find it interesting and fun to read.
My sisters and I were BIG fans of the Choose Your Own Adventure series. Our library used to carry some of them, like You Are A Millionare, The Worst Day Of Your Life and Return of the Ninja. I even remember the Choose Your Own Nightmare series, with The Halloween Party and Risk Your Life Arcade standing out most in my mind. Daredevil Park was one of my all-time favorites. I've always loved amusement parks and fairs, and the concept of a park that was like Six Flags on steroids fascinated me.
Several years ago, our library had sold all of the Choose Your Own Adventure books that my sisters and I loved so much. This year, when my birthday came rolling around, I remembered how awesome and incredible Daredevil Park was, so I asked my family for it. When it finally arrived in the mail, I couldn't wait for all the nostalgia! The childhood memories!
After reading for a while, the enchantment kind of...well, died. The way "you" win the contest didn't make any sense. Seriously, like the Daredevil Park ad on TV tells you that they'll randomly choose four kids to experience the park. Then, you wait for the phone to ring and scream, "I want to be a daredevil!" and magically win. Later, when you are going on an Amazon River Ride, an Amazon man (who was not an actor or part of the ride in any way) rows a canoe through the river and gets in the boat you're on. If you choose to jump off the boat to avoid possible combat with him, you smash into concrete. The "river" was soooo realistic it only looked like water. Weird how the Amazon guy could row through it anyway. It seemed much shorter than I remembered, which was a bit disappointing.
I feel almost stupid writing this review and pointing out the flaws in the story's logic, cause well, it's a kid's book. Guess my grown-up mind just can't appreciate this kind of stuff like it used to. ^^; If you're under 12 or 13 though, I'm sure you'll find it interesting and fun to read.
April 9, 2009
I would give this book two and a half stars.
The entire concept of this wildly scary and technologically advanced park was thrilling (and frightening to me!) from the beginning. The story itself is slightly different from what I expected, but possibilities certainly exist for story branches that are very scary, and possessed of a great deal of suspense and intrigue. This has always been, to me, one of the most memorable entries of all in the Choose Your Own Adventure series, and it is one that I elect to read (or have read to me) most of all.
The entire concept of this wildly scary and technologically advanced park was thrilling (and frightening to me!) from the beginning. The story itself is slightly different from what I expected, but possibilities certainly exist for story branches that are very scary, and possessed of a great deal of suspense and intrigue. This has always been, to me, one of the most memorable entries of all in the Choose Your Own Adventure series, and it is one that I elect to read (or have read to me) most of all.
March 13, 2020
Lo leí hace tanto...
Fue el primer libro que disfruté sin darme cuenta, en mi época infantil en la que pensaba que leer era aburrido o para personas aburridas, pero éste libro me quito eso, me hizo sentir una gran emoción. Mi primer libro que me hizo vivir realmente... Espero poder encontrar algún día los libros de esta colección, sería hermoso poder tenerlo de nuevo...
Fue el primer libro que disfruté sin darme cuenta, en mi época infantil en la que pensaba que leer era aburrido o para personas aburridas, pero éste libro me quito eso, me hizo sentir una gran emoción. Mi primer libro que me hizo vivir realmente... Espero poder encontrar algún día los libros de esta colección, sería hermoso poder tenerlo de nuevo...
April 17, 2011
Adventure #114 of the 'Choose your own adventure' series, Daredevil Park... in these books the reader gets to be the central character by choosing what path the tale follows through a variety of endings...
May 12, 2011
This was the one Choose Your Own Adventure book that I kept from my childhood because I love amusement parks. I just started reading back through it and it is a fun time waster, however, there needs to be more things for you to "choose".
October 14, 2025
Estar en un parque de diversiones y elegir a que juego ir es un poco elegir tú propia aventura.
December 19, 2017
Amo estos libritos <3
June 23, 2018
3,5/5 estrellas
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews