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shieldbearer's review against another edition
4.0
Dive: The Danger is the last part of Korman's Dive Trilogy, and it is a worthy finish to the trilogy. Like its predecessors, the Danger is a quick read and its tension and the dynamic character interactions are accompanied with well-written humor that does not break the tension.
This installment picks up after the downer ending to the second part- in an attempt to retrieve one piece of the treasure so they can register a claim with the International Maritime Commission. Unfortunately, the treasure was deep enough that they needed to use a submersible to reach it, and things went wrong. Captain Vanover, a man who has always been kind to them and supported them in their mission, is killed and Star, while attempting to save him, gets a bad case of the bends. It complicates her cerebral palsy and she may lose the ability to walk altogether.
Korman explores the mental and emotional repercussions of Vanover's death on the four protagonists and the side characters very well. While Captain Vanover wasn't a main character, his death has a heavy impact on the kids and on English, the native guide who considered him a close friend. No one, not even the likes of Dante and Cutter, is unaffected by the loss.
Things get even more complicated when English realizes that the submersible was sabotaged. He has no desire for the treasure at all, and has served as a constant check for the kids so far. Once English realizes that Cutter or someone on his crew will go to any length to get the treasure, he moves solidly to the kids' side, supporting them in their endeavor to ensure that Cutter doesn't profit off the Captain's death. Of course, the person who sabotaged the submersible isn't going to just sit by while 1.2 billion dollars slips from their fingers. Korman chose the right person to be the saboteur and when you look back through the first two books, the evidence and foreshadowing is there.
The historical subplot with Samuel is brought to a satisfying conclusion that neatly dovetails with the main plot.
This installment picks up after the downer ending to the second part- in an attempt to retrieve one piece of the treasure so they can register a claim with the International Maritime Commission. Unfortunately, the treasure was deep enough that they needed to use a submersible to reach it, and things went wrong. Captain Vanover, a man who has always been kind to them and supported them in their mission, is killed and Star, while attempting to save him, gets a bad case of the bends. It complicates her cerebral palsy and she may lose the ability to walk altogether.
Korman explores the mental and emotional repercussions of Vanover's death on the four protagonists and the side characters very well. While Captain Vanover wasn't a main character, his death has a heavy impact on the kids and on English, the native guide who considered him a close friend. No one, not even the likes of Dante and Cutter, is unaffected by the loss.
Things get even more complicated when English realizes that the submersible was sabotaged. He has no desire for the treasure at all, and has served as a constant check for the kids so far. Once English realizes that Cutter or someone on his crew will go to any length to get the treasure, he moves solidly to the kids' side, supporting them in their endeavor to ensure that Cutter doesn't profit off the Captain's death. Of course, the person who sabotaged the submersible isn't going to just sit by while 1.2 billion dollars slips from their fingers. Korman chose the right person to be the saboteur and when you look back through the first two books, the evidence and foreshadowing is there.
The historical subplot with Samuel is brought to a satisfying conclusion that neatly dovetails with the main plot.
emlickliter's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
4.0
The Danger by Gordon Korman – Only teenagers can manage to land themselves in this much danger with no allies but each other. Happy Reading!
emlickliter's review
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
The Danger by Gordon Korman – Only teenagers can manage to land themselves in this much danger with no allies but each other. Happy Reading!
msmouse's review against another edition
3.0
I always feel like Korman's trilogies are really one book in three parts. I enjoyed this series, although it didn't have the same level of threat involved as in his other works. Most of the danger came from the intrinsic risks of diving rather than outside problems. That's not necessarily bad, but it made for less hand-wringing.
I liked this and it was all tied up in the end, but it still felt vaguely unsatisfying. His ending is probably better than the alternative, yet it still felt like a cop out in some ways.
This series has reminded me of how much I've wanted to learn how to dive, however, so for that I'm grateful.
I liked this and it was all tied up in the end, but it still felt vaguely unsatisfying. His ending is probably better than the alternative, yet it still felt like a cop out in some ways.
This series has reminded me of how much I've wanted to learn how to dive, however, so for that I'm grateful.
vendea's review
5.0
Overall, this trilogy was entertaining and fast-paced. Four smart teenage heroes against a few conniving adults - plus sharks and sunken treasure. What more do you want in a middle-grade book?
renoku's review
4.0
How many Chekov's guns can we fit into one novel? Hmm.... A lot. This entire book is literally built upon foreshadowing and it's epic. Despite this, it doesn't carry the same amount of suspense as the second book in this series, yet still serves as a satisfying, and exciting, end to Korman's trilogy.
Maybe it's because I'm way over this book's target audience, but a lot of the plot twists seemed a little predictable. However, the introduction of sabotage and international law did become interesting to me as a reader. English is wonderful, Star is also wonderful, and all of these characters deserve an award, and they're also what largely leads this book. Like with the previous two books, the theme of "everything that could go wrong does go wrong" rings true, which manages to keep it exciting.
I think that my largest problem with the book, and why I left it with four stars, was the ending. It's not that there was anything wrong with it and what happened, but more in how it was written and what could have been focused on. I feel like I could've had a lot more regarding the aftermath of the last dive, as well as some more closure for Adriana and Dante's characters. Perhaps some more for Kaz's reaction to his final confrontation withClarence and Marina as well. This is why I place emphasis on English and Star in my praise, because they're the only two whose stories feel fully addressed. Like I said, though, this is still an amazing book. I just can't believe that the characters are 13 and 14! (Who would ever let children go on a sat dive?!)
Regardless, this was an amazing series, and even if this book wasn't as spectacular as the one before it, it's necessary for anyone who has begun the series and needs that closure, because it definitely offers it. Such an exciting read all the way through, and I now really want to read Korman's other trilogies.
Maybe it's because I'm way over this book's target audience, but a lot of the plot twists seemed a little predictable. However, the introduction of sabotage and international law did become interesting to me as a reader. English is wonderful, Star is also wonderful, and all of these characters deserve an award, and they're also what largely leads this book. Like with the previous two books, the theme of "everything that could go wrong does go wrong" rings true, which manages to keep it exciting.
I think that my largest problem with the book, and why I left it with four stars, was the ending. It's not that there was anything wrong with it and what happened, but more in how it was written and what could have been focused on. I feel like I could've had a lot more regarding the aftermath of the last dive, as well as some more closure for Adriana and Dante's characters. Perhaps some more for Kaz's reaction to his final confrontation with
Regardless, this was an amazing series, and even if this book wasn't as spectacular as the one before it, it's necessary for anyone who has begun the series and needs that closure, because it definitely offers it. Such an exciting read all the way through, and I now really want to read Korman's other trilogies.
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