Reviewed by Karin Perry for TeensReadToo.com

Imagine a world where there are no public schools and only the extremely rich can afford to go to high school and beyond. Those not fortunate enough to be wealthy have to rely on "The Toss" that occurs once a year. All the fourteen-year-old teens gather for their opportunity to roll the dice. If the correct combination comes up (which changes for every person), they are awarded a scholarship for continued schooling. If you don't roll the correct combination, there is no education in your future.

For all children younger than fourteen, school consists of television. Programming is Historical Simulation Reality Shows, similar to today's Survivor. People are put in scenarios such as Civil War battles, the Alamo, and Egyptian Pyramid building. Intermingled with the show are quizzes about content and vocabulary.

This is the world five young people find themselves in during the year 2083. All five fourteen-year-old teens have lost their toss and can't afford to pay their own way through high school and college. So, when they see an advertisement offering a chance to participate in the latest survival show--this one involving kids instead of adults--they waste no time putting in their application for Historical Antarctica Survivor. Everyone that makes it to the end of the journey receives $10,000--enough for a year of high school. The person voted Most Valuable Player by the viewers will receive an additional $90,000.

After receiving a few days of snow and ice survival training, the kids take off for their adventure. As soon as they arrive at the Antarctic though, they understand just how dangerous the trip is going to be. Alone in the icy wilderness, the kids must survive natural and orchestrated calamities in order to make it to the end of the game. With the aid of an unlikely helper, the kids just might make it through.

Andrea White creates an interesting look at a possible future society. SURVIVING ANTARCTICA: REALITY TV 2083 is an exciting page-turner. Once the reader begins the story, they won't mind being snowed in until they finish. ( )

Adventurous read into the realm of Antarctica. In the year 2083, 5 teens are sent on a government sponsored reality game show that always goes a little too far. Each have their motives, most due to losing the "Toss"; a random chance of dice for children to either further their education or find themselves among the poor. Reenacting the fated Scott expedition, some of the teens shine, others, not so much. While the writing and some of the character development (or lack thereof) leaves a bit to be desired, the book is entertaining and quickly paced. ( )

In 2083, the options for getting a higher education are limited. A roll of the dice decides who will get a coveted scholarship. Five fourteen-year-olds hoping to win a cash prize join a reality show where they have to relive Scott's expedition to Antarctica - or die trying. ( )

In the year 2083, school past the age of 14 is based on a toss of the dice - or being rich enough to afford it, of course. For those unlucky enough to lose their Toss, life seems bleak indeed - until an episode of Historical Survivor (part of teleschool) offers 5 kids a chance at a scholarship if they reenact Robert Scott's doomed 1912 expedition to the South Pole. But Historical Survivor is very dangerous - and if 5 grown men couldn't escape death, what chance do 5 misfit teenagers have?

This story really gripped me - the five kids each have clearly drawn individual personalities, and they all grew on me. It was great to watch the kids struggle with the elements, unruly animals and each other rather than having one of those insta-bonding experiences. Instead their combined experiences slowly forms a real and believable bond. I grew to care about all of the characters, and I really enjoyed the scenes set in the studio as well. The message at the end was both heartening and fitting. White really pulled it off with Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083.

More at my blog. ( )

My sister recommended this book to me because we'd been discussing Hunger Games and other similarly themed books. In 2083, adults are picked to be part of reality tv shows relating to history and asked to reenact different moments in time. Usually very few survive. The newest show picks several kids and has them reenact Robert F. Scott's unsuccessful trip to Antarctica. The book is not only a thrilling read, it's also a fascinating study in teamwork and how adults underestimate the resilience of children. Plus, reading this is way better than actually watching reality tv. ( )