The Explorer

Why is it necessary for the children to spend a few days on their own, learning to survive and understand the jungle, before they meet the explorer? How might the story have played out differently if he had found them on the plane?

What kind of person is the explorer, and how does his initial unfriendliness belie his true character? What kind of mentor is he for the children, and in what ways do the children also serve as mentors or teachers for him?

Why do Fred, Con, Lila, and Max experience interpersonal conflict in the first days after landing in the jungle? How do they learn to act as a team, and why is this important for their survival?

Each day is filled with adventure and the possibility of injury or even death. How do the children each demonstrate Perseverance and the Drive to Survive? How are their approaches to survival different?

What are the unique challenges presented by having Max, a younger child, present and stranded along with the group? How does Max grow and learn during his brief time in the jungle?

Why do the children develop such a quick and powerful bond with the explorer, despite only knowing him for a few days? How might being stranded in a dangerous place inspire people to develop close friendships?

What would it be like to be an explorer in the early 1900s? How might the experience differ from exploring the world today?

What are the sacrifices and dangers that each character endures for the sake of the others? How do these sacrifices both risk their lives and allow them to survive against all odds?