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Book Review of Where in the USA Is Carmen Sandiego? (You Are the Detective)

Where in the USA Is Carmen Sandiego? (You Are the Detective)
annalovesbooks avatar reviewed on
Helpful Score: 1


ISBN 0307222020 - A fan of the TV show, I had high hopes for this book. I was a bit disappointed. Similar to the Choose Your Own Adventure books, but just not as good, the book comes with 24 cards. If you buy this used, make sure the cards come with it - without them, it's a little confusing.

In the book, you've been hired by the Acme Detective Agency and have been working there for a year. Just as you're ready to take your vacation, the Chief wants to see you. You're given a case and the fun begins. Sections are numbered and, as you read, you make choices and go to various numbered sections to find out more info. The reason this doesn't compare to the Choose Your Own Adventure books is that the sections are numbered and those numbers have nothing to do with page numbers, so you have to leaf through the book each time, looking for the right section number. You use the cards to keep track of your clues and suspects and where you've already been.

On the up side, when you've captured a bad guy and found the stolen object, you score yourself in the back of the book and begin all over again! This makes it possible to read the book several times without getting bored with it. Not terrible, just not dynamite.

- AnnaLovesBooks