Louise Munro Foley (1933–2021)

The Choose Your Own Adventure series offered an option every few pages to choose how the story would continue. According to your preference, you would follow its instructions by turning to the appropriate page of the book as indicated by your choice. This was a popular and revolutionary idea when the series was first launched in the early 1980s, driving it to incredible sales levels for many years until it was overshadowed by variants on the idea that took the concept to more elaborate show more lengths (e.g. Fighting Fantasy) and especially by other interactive media.

The plot: Welcome to New Orleans, home of the Mardi Gras festival. There's some of that, and some voodoo weirdness, but what exactly the story is can be hard to define. You might have trouble spelling out what the mystery of the title is when you're done.

Observations: I can't imagine this generic title is the one the author originally had in mind. And that cover with the mirror is probably the worst of the first seventy covers. It's as if this entry was cursed or something... show less

The Choose Your Own Adventure series offered an option every few pages to choose how the story would continue. According to your preference, you would follow its instructions by turning to the appropriate page of the book as indicated by your choice. This was a popular and revolutionary idea when the series was first launched in the early 1980s, driving it to incredible sales levels for many years until it was overshadowed by variants on the idea that took the concept to more elaborate show more lengths (e.g. Fighting Fantasy) and especially by other interactive media.

The plot: in New Zealand you encounter (if you're lucky) an isolated tribe of traditional Maori.

Observations: I'd cite this as the first entry in the series that offers a genuinely educational element (a tone set immediately by the glossary of terms at the start), although arguments could be made about the Maya (#11) and others. I came out of this actually having learned a thing or two about another culture. The story presents them very respectfully. A lot of future entries in the series would borrow this approach.

Personal memories: a lot of my appreciation for Maori culture to this day still stems from this early exposure. Author Louise Munro Foley was a welcome new voice. show less

The Choose Your Own Adventure series offered an option every few pages to choose how the story would continue. According to your preference, you would follow its instructions by turning to the appropriate page of the book as indicated by your choice. This was a popular and revolutionary idea when the series was first launched in the early 1980s, driving it to incredible sales levels for many years until it was overshadowed by variants on the idea that took the concept to more elaborate show more lengths (e.g. Fighting Fantasy) and especially by other interactive media.

The plot: it's a trip to gothic Scotland, where you'll assist a relative with recovering the family crest while trying to avoid its curse.

Observations: Louise Munro Foley was always an author who did her homework for her series entries and could teach you a thing or two about her subject. That is something to appreciate, but this volume takes the cake for drowning you in backstory. It's good to read it all once, but after that you know the action doesn't start until the choice on page 115. show less

The Choose Your Own Adventure series offered an option every few pages to choose how the story would continue. According to your preference, you would follow its instructions by turning to the appropriate page of the book as indicated by your choice. This was a popular and revolutionary idea when the series was first launched in the early 1980s, driving it to incredible sales levels for many years until it was overshadowed by variants on the idea that took the concept to more elaborate show more lengths (e.g. Fighting Fantasy) and especially by other interactive media.

The plot: you get to hang out in an old ranger station with your uncle, a wooden tower looming high above the forest. The rest is just gravy after that, but involves a sacred pine tree and spirits in the woods.

Observations: if you're only going to read one series entry with a plot that centres on 'Indian' legends and curses (there's a few of them), this should be the one. Forty years later the series still makes me wince over how often the pejorative term "Indian" pops up, but Louise Munro Foley can always be counted upon to respect her subject matter.

Personal memories: this was the perfect choice to bring on a camping trip. show less