My Ox Is Broken!

September 1, 2006
Adult/High School -This is a guidebook to the popular TV series in which contestants race around the world engaging in grueling tests of fortitude and stamina, while demonstrating the ability to get along with their teammates, with the hope of winning one million dollars. The humor and snide asides by the author make the book most appropriate for teens. Good for fans who might have missed a season or two among the eight covered here, it -s also entertaining for anyone who wants to know what the show is like but doesn -t want to watch it. Castro -s tendency to introduce a segment of each race by hinting at who will win or which team will not survive takes away some of the suspense. He also nicknames the teams (e.g., -Team Doomed -), and this removes some of them from contention for readers before the race has even begun. He dismisses an entire season of the race -the family edition -as weak and poorly conceived, and his sarcasm toward some of the participants here is even thicker than usual. There are entertaining interviews with some of the show -s most memorable contestants. The chapters recounting the smartest tactics and dumbest mistakes are enjoyable, as is the chapter on the show -s most enduring moments. An interesting twist on armchair adventuring." -Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.