Danger in the Desert

by Terri Fields, T.S. Fields

Scott and Robbie always wanted candy and root beer for dinner, but now they've got their wish, and it doesn't sound so good. They've been kidnapped in their mother's station wagon and left in the brutally hot desert with no food or water. When night comes-darker than they ever thought night could be and bringing coyotes and snakes-the brothers, eleven and nine, have to face the possibility that they might not be rescued. It's up to them to survive, using only what they happen to have in the station wagon. How can a pair of shoes, a set of hubcaps, and the contents of their mother's shopping bags be used for desert survival? You won't be able to stop reading until you find out.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Survival, School, Juvenile

126 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do, if you were kidnapped, and dragged into the desert, with your mother’s station wagon? While Scott, and Robbie’s mom was in the store paying for gas, they were sitting in the car. The next thing they knew, was that the car door flung open, and standing there was 2 strangers armed with guns. With their hands raised, they get tied up, and brought to the desert. Only with their mother’s contents that they bought at the mall, and their unfilled (out of gas) stolen car, they are left to suffer in the desert…
This is a fantastic book because of how realistic, and believable the story is. Usually, survival stories by other authors are exciting, but the main character(s) are prepared with a hatchet, or a tool or something, but the characters in this book are caught off guard. They don’t know they would have anything related to do with the desert, yet they get stuck in the desert only with a few bags of clothing from the mall. They make the best of it, by looking at what they got, and see what’s useful in the stuff they got. For example, they found some sodapops, and used it to hydrate them. They also used the pieces of clothing, to make a shelter by letting the pieces of clothing rest on some cactuses creating shade. That was really what I call smart. Overall, I rate this book 5 full stars, and this is an enjoyable page turner.

[Marsh Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the other reviews sum up this book accurately: it was okay. Nothing spectacular, nothing particularly objectionable... except the ending. The plot revolves around two young brothers, Scott and Robbie, who are inadvertently kidnapped when a criminal steals their mother's car. The boys — and the car — are subsequently abandoned in the desert outside Scottsdale, Arizona. The rest of the book (which takes place in about 24-36 hours???) deals with how the boys survive in the hostile desert. But things don't get particularly rough because they have shelter (the car), water (soda they brought with them and a monsoon which replenishes them), and even a small amount of food... And because, as mentioned before, they're only out there for ABOUT A DAY. Figuring no one knows where they are (they learn this from the car radio), they make some rudimentary attempts to signal for help. But in the end these attempts mean nothing because they're rescued by the laziest of plot devices: the Deus ex machina. I get that this book was written for elementary school kids, but come on. Maybe a more effective conclusion would've been to have the kids' innovation directly lead to their rescue, rather than it being just dumb luck?

[Jonathan Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whatever book
My daughter’s class is reading it and it had a scary part to her in the beginning so I read it to give her spoilers that everything turns out well for them

Overall
Not a bad book
Mainly about two brothers that fight a lot learning team work while being stranded in a dessert for a few days

Decent book for kids but I do recommend parents read the beginning and either help explain the beginning or have their kids skip it before handing the book off to their kids

[Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to my fourth graders going along with our survival unit in science. Considering it’s FOR KIDS, I think it was great. I think from this kids would get the idea of what is essential for survival. It also taught them the importance of working together, accepting one another’s ideas, and perseverance.

[Madison Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madison's 2016/2017 Battle of the Books

[Jenni Heins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended to me by a teacher who loves it as a read aloud. It is very intense with the kidnapping and subsequent survival in the desert. I think it's the perfect read for a 5th or 6th grade boy!

[Tyra M Sosnicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how desert survival is brought into the book.

[Jason Germiat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book when I read it in my childhood. To this day, I owe it to this book for liking warm root beer.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging story of survival. Old fashioned but engrossing. Would recommend to upper elementary students

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun reading a book set in my home state, AZ. But, as much as my 4th grade students enjoys it I thought it was "meh."

[Leslie Raymer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids book. It’s ok

[Jennifer Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for school & loved it.

[Janessa Jolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to help my son with his book report. Good book that made me want to keep reading. He didn't love it though, haha!

[Kali Yazzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good and interesting read!

[Avery · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok. Not the best. But still would recommend for all ages.

[Breona Rubschlager · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this so many times because it's a fast read and a fun realistic book. Love it

[Tawnee McGough-Stief · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for kids to read on desert survival and problem solving, short and sweet, based in AZ… which makes it even “cooler”.

[Georgiagirl11 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so awesome!!! I believe this was the greatest book i have ever read! It's a book you can really get into and it's like a real life thing. It was about two boys that were brothers named Scott and Robbie.The two brothers had always argued with each other and one day scott and robbie and their mom went to the gas station.While mom went in the store to pay for the gas scott and robbie was in the car.All of a sudden the car door opens up scott and robbie thought it was their mom,unforenately it wasn't.......... read this book to find out what happens next will they survive or will they be gone forever!!! READ and I guarntee you'll like it!!

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to really enjoy this book, but I have to admit, I'm glad I did read it. The book follows two young brothers who find themselves alone in the desert after being kidnapped in their mother's car. Having always argued with each other, the two brothers soon learn that they have to rely on each other if they want to survive. The relationship the brothers have is very believable. The author does a great job of closing up the story with nice ending which is important in a children's book. A nice book for reluctant readers.

[Param Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danger in the desert. T.s Fields is author of this book. I like the book because I liked the book. I liked the book because of the Action type mystery type books like how they get kidnapped and stuff like that. The main setting of this book is two kids getting kidnapped into the desert no food . The main conflict is two kids getting kidnapped and have to find way to escape. I would recommend this book to others who like mystery type books. I would recommend to my brother. I would recommend to him cause he likes books like this. So as can you see this is what my book is about.

[Micah · Rating 2 out of 5]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooookkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[Darius Mask]

The title of the book is Danger in the Dessert the authors name is T. S. Fields. I like the book because its like a drama the setting is in the dessert and the main characters are Scott and Robbie.
the conflict is that Scott and Robbie got kidnapped during a car jacking and got left in the dessert with no food or water all they had was shoes caps and stuff from their moms shopping bags and they didn't know how they were going to survive.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that book a lot! As I said before, I would not know what I would do if I was in the same situation as Scott and Robbie. I even got to see the author and she signed my copy of Danger in the Desert!

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the best book you will ever read!!!!!

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a desert robonson croso. robbie and scott are two brothers who get kidnaped and deserted.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeremy(9) is still reading this one. I thought it was great for him. He is not captivated by it, but he does like it.

[Leo · Rating 1 out of 5]

one of the most worst books of all time. I RECOMMEND THIS TO NO ONE!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book i think these boys were really resourceful to use what they could to survive in the desert.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tale of two brothers that were unknowingly kidknapped and left in the AZ desert. This inspiring story of their will to survive and how they do it.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

it was ok just not great