Adventure is Out There: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Choose Your Own Adventure Books

From the Cave of Time to Bandersnatch and Beyond

As a young child, I was always a voracious reader. I loved nothing more than curling up with a good book in my favorite tree and immersing myself in a new world.

I vividly remember the day I discovered choose-your-own-adventure (CYOA) books at my local library. I was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the library, surrounded by stacks of books, when I came across my first CYOA book. It was a thrilling adventure story with a twist — I got to choose what happened next.

I was hooked.

From that moment on, I spent countless hours devouring as many CYOA books as I could get my little grubby hands on. I loved the sense of control I had over the story and the thrill of discovering new paths and endings. I remember staying up late into the night, flipping back and forth between pages, trying to find every possible outcome.

Even now, as an adult, I still have a soft spot for CYOA books. They remind me of a time when reading was all about adventure and discovery, and I feel lucky to have stumbled upon them so early in life.

In fact, my love for CYOA books has inspired me to write one of my own. I hope…