Escape from the Chrome Dome (Craniacs) by R.L. Stine

What worked:

The book requires reader participation, as their decisions determine the story and outcome. They’re first instructed to choose the character they’ll become, each one having a unique personality. Bo is adventurous, Darby is a rule-breaker, Evie wants to unleash her inner superhero, and there are other choices. Readers can select a character they identify with or one that’s totally different. The character establishes where the story will start. This choice is very important, as most of the plot paths end in failure. Surviving and winning the contest is possible, but it may require many attempts. That’s the enjoyment!

The characters and challenges are wacky, but young readers will enjoy them. One character must choose a trampoline, bungee cord, or cannon to travel over a lava pit. One path ends with the character flossing the Chew Collector’s hundreds of teeth for a long, long time. Another path requires readers to decode a message using the Skull Key found at the back of the book. Abundant illustrations appear on the pages and enhance the colorful descriptions.

What didn’t work as well:

Some character paths don’t require many decisions, if any, which detracts from the experience. The choices are often random, requiring little thought from readers. On the other hand, that may be attractive to young readers.

The final verdict:

This series will be attractive to readers in elementary school, especially those who like strangeness and humor. I recommend you check it out for yourself.