A very gripping book. While I think the beginning is slow, and the end feels a bit rushed, most of this book is a tense, thrilling adventure story. It has some very likeable characters as well. I would recommend to anyone wanting a good survival story. ( )

What a cool theory. ( )

This book went from 5 stars to 3 stars in the last 30 pages. The ending came out of nowhere, leaving many plot opportunities buried in the snow. Just when things are starting to look grim, the show ends abruptly when the audience protests. The kids are rescued, but two of them decide to stay behind and finish the journey to the pole. Sorry, but that just isn't believable, if we are to believe how difficult it is to survive there. Although the plot easily carried most of the book, there were problems in character development that affects the believability of the story. One problem lies in the resourcefulness of the characters. As the kids of the future are described, learning everything from TV, they would not have the skills necessary to survive in Antarctica as well as they did. Another credibility issue lies with the interactions of the kids with one another. They are just too nice. And they seem to know that they are being filmed for TV, but no one has figured out how that can be possible with no camera crew. For the most part, I found this to be an enjoyable read, but it could have been much better. The idea is terrific, but really if you want a book that is better written, read The Hunger Games. ( )

After a bit of a slow start my attention was totally captivated by Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083. This YA novel is author Andrea Whites’ futuristic look at America, and her vision isn’t pretty. A group of 14 year olds are sent to Antarctica to re-enact the Scott Polar Expedition for a television reality show. In 2083, television has become the governments’ tool to control the population. In order to obtain high ratings, the Secretary of Education, manipulates the show to ensure that the teens experience life-threatening situations, and if a teen should happen to die, well, so much the better for the ratings.

The five teens volunteered for the show hoping to win money for their future education or lifestyle. They are unaware of the dangerous situation they are entering, their thinking is that as they are children, there will be adults around to help them. They do not understand that the cameras have been implanted in their bodies and they are totally on their own.

I found the ending a little rushed, as if the author didn’t know exactly how to resolve each character’s story and just went for a quick close. So, a slow start, a rushed ending and lots of adventure in-between. I would certainly investigate any other books this author has written as I thought this one, even with it’s flaws, had plenty to offer. ( )

It’s 2083 and winning a reality TV show is the only way out of poverty for many people. Chosen from thousands, five teenagers will reenact Robert F. Scott’s 1910 expedition to the South Pole on the popular show, Historical Survivor. Little do they know what is ahead.