Themes

Adventure, Kayaking, Nature, Battling the Elements, Friendship, Overcoming Obstacles, Courage, Survival, Fiction, Teen, Young Adult, Emergent Reader, Chapter Book, Hi-Lo, Hi-Lo Books, Hi-Lo Solutions, High-Low Books, Hi-Low Books, ELL, EL, ESL, Struggling Learner, Struggling Reader, Special Education, SPED, Newcomers, Reading, Learning, Education, Educational, Educational Books.

For a kid who can predict weather, Raul really messed up. As he and his friend Juan head out in their kayaks, storm clouds fill the sky. Raul isn’t too worried. For him, there’s nothing like facing nature. Bad weather. Raging water. The wilderness. He’ll take it all on. But then he sees Maria, the one girl he cares about. Why is she here? And will Raul be ready to face a different kind of danger? The human kind.

This series of books was designed specifically for struggling teen readers. The contemporary fiction is written at accessible levels and provides substantive content without being edgy. The relatable plots appeal to teens, especially those who are reluctant to read. Books in the series quickly grab their interest with fast-paced storylines that feature realistic, sometimes larger-than-life teen characters readers can identify with or would like to know. Then there is an unexpected twist. The characters’ lives are suddenly on the edge—of fame, fear, or even sanity. What starts out as fun or routine becomes a nightmare, real or imagined. As characters are tested in mind, body, and spirit, readers have a sense of being there to experience the adventure.