Explorer Academy: Adventure Book Series from National Geographic
Explorer Academy is an adventure book series published by National Geographic. We received copies of books 1-5 to facilitate this post through a sponsored campaign by Moms Meet. As always, all opinions are our own.
Reading is a pastime that I have enjoyed since childhood.
I then shared my love of reading with my boys.
However, they did not all embrace it as quickly as I did.
Rather, they needed to find books that hooked them and got them wanting to read more.
For the most part, they have all gravitated towards stories of adventure or fantasy.
Explorer Academy hits that desire for adventure stories and we are excited to share about them with you.
About the Explorer Academy Series
This fact-based fiction series is inspired by the real-life adventures of real National Geographic explorers.
Action-packed storylines integrate STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), geography, and other subjects without being pushy about the material.
Rather than just reading a fun story, these books engage the kids.
Codebreaking challenges, nearfuture technology, and a storyline that encourages observation, deductive
reasoning, and problem solving are all key components to the experience.
And each book ends with a “Truth Behind the Fiction” section that profiles real explorers and their work.
Along with those attributes, the Explorer Academy series features cultures from around the world while also teaching the value of friendship, family, loyalty, and trust.
Current Titles for Explorer Academy
- The Nebula Secret
- The Falcon’s Feather
- The Double Helix
- The Star Dunes
- The Tiger’s Nest
Synopsis for Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret (Book 1)
Adventure, danger, and a thrilling global mission await 12-year-old Cruz Coronado in The Nebula Secret.
Cruz leaves behind his home in Hawaii to attend the prestigious Explorer Academy, where he and 23 kids from around the globe will train to become the next generation of great explorers.
But for Cruz, there’s more at stake.
No sooner has he arrived at the Academy than he discovers that his family has a mysterious past with the organization that could jeopardize his future.
In the midst of attending cool classes, participating in augmented reality expeditions, and making new friends, he must tackle the biggest question of all: Who is out to get him… and why?
About National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through its award-winning books, magazines, website, television series, apps, games, and more. It is the only major kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core.
National Geographic Kids brings its brand of powerful, smart storytelling to the fiction world under its Under the Stars imprint, which launched in 2018 with the first book in the Explorer Academy series, The Nebula Secret.
Purchases of the Explorer Academy books help support the vital exploration, research, education, and conservation projects of the National Geographic Society.
Purchase Explorer Academy Books
In addition to the novels, they have a few supplemental books as well.
This post contains affiliate links that may generate a commission for purchases made through them. There is no additional charge to you for using them.
Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret (Book 1)
Explorer Academy: The Falcon’s Feather (Book 2) (Explorer Academy, 2)Explorer Academy: The Double Helix (Book 3)Explorer Academy: The Star Dunes (Book 4) (Explorer Academy, 4)Explorer Academy: The Tiger’s Nest (Book 5) (Explorer Academy, 5)Explorer Academy: The Dragon’s Blood (Book 6)Explorer Academy Future Tech: The Science Behind the StoryExplorer Academy Codebreaking Activity AdventureExplorer Academy Ultimate Activity Challenge
Our Thoughts on This Adventure Book Series
From the start of the book, you can feel a difference from other titles we’ve read.
There is action right out of the gate when we meet Cruz in Hawaii.
Cruz finds himself in a dangerous scrape and has no clue as to why.
Rather than tell his dad about it, he keeps it a secret as he is about to embark on his new life at Explorer Academy.
But, danger follows him from Hawaii to D.C. where Explorer Academy is located.
I won’t go beyond that about the story as I don’t want to give too much away.
I will mention a few things that we like.
First off, the author does a fantastic job writing for the 8 to 12 year old crowd.
Not just the codebreaking challenges. (Those are a fun part of the adventure!)
The character’s use of technology (or creation of it) is something that struck a chord with my son in 5th grade. He may not create tech, but he enjoys using it!
However, it is the threading of adventure throughout the story which helps hold attention.
Many of the kids in the target age range can read chapter books without pictures. Yet, we found the vibrant illustrations did a wonderful job complementing the story and adding to the overall experience.
Secondly, there are extras you can find on the Explorer Academy website.
The short videos for The Truth Behind component are an awesome way to further introduce the kids to different areas of sciences and math.
Undercover Tech walks you through the tech in the stories and then how it works in real life. Very cool.
There are also some games up there including a sheets about codes you can download and a scavenger hunt.
The Tiger’s Nest (Book 5) was just released this past January (2021) with 2 more books planned in the series.
We’ve only read through The Nebula Secret (Book 1) so far and are eager to dive into the next 4 books.
Do your kids enjoy reading adventure style books like this series?
More Reading Suggestions
Looking for additional book ideas for the kids?
Here are a few more book review posts or reading lists to get you started.