The Secret Base by Ms. Maala’s Fourth Grade Class

A CHOICE-FILLED ADVENTURE STORY

THE SECRET BASE Written by Students of MS. MAALA’S FOURTH GRADE CLASS at CORNERSTONE JEFFERSON DOUGLASS ACADEMY

FIRST EDITION AN 826MICHIGAN DIGITAL PUBLICATION

Copyright © 2022 by 826michigan and Blotch Books.

All rights reserved by 826michigan, the many whims of Drs. T & G Blotch, and the authors.

The views expressed in this book are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of 826michigan. We believe in the power of youth voice and are thrilled that you picked up this book. No part of this book may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher, except for small excerpts for the purposes of review or scholarly study.

By purchasing this book, you are helping 826michigan continue to offer free student programs. For more information, please visit: 826michigan.org

You are in an underground pyramid in an iceberg land with a mountain. It’s dark, and people are yelling. It starts rumbling. You hear the sound of mechanical things, and your lamp goes out. You smell something burning, and people rush to get out.

If you decide to go to the secret base with your friends and find an exit, turn to page 2.

If you decide to go to a maze with an exit at the end, turn to page 3.

1

It’s dark, and you happen to have a flashlight.

There’s a bear, and it charges at you. It’s raining in the underground pyramid. Water starts coming in. You hear creepy sounds, and there’s water on your head. You dodge the bear, but the bear ends up being a human in disguise that has lived in the cave for 56 years!

You start running toward the park and get lost, but the bear follows you. The bear turns out to be nice and is a scared momma bear. The secret base is in the park cave. The park has magical mushrooms around you. You decide to eat the mushrooms, and now you can FLY! The bear lets you climb on its back.

You get to the secret base. You find papers and a secret computer under a rock with information about the people in the cave. There is a phone number.

If you choose decide to call the number on the paper, turn to page 4.

If you choose decide to run, turn to page 5.

2

After you go into the maze, and the torch goes out, you try to find another torch. The maze is made out of dirt, rocks, and cement. You hear water coming into a cave. It’s very cold in the cave, but the water is very hot. It’s hard to breathe because the water is so hot. You need an inhaler to try to breathe.

You find a map based on clues from the maze. The water mixes with a magical potion that makes a portal. You have a backpack with tools in it.

If you decide to walk through the portal, turn to page 6.

If you decide to use the tools in your backpack, turn to page 7.

3

You call the number, and someone answers!

They tell you about an address. The address is Harry Potter’s house. The caller says to only use this number for problems, and they will give you advice.

When you go to the house, there’s magic on the block. You listen, and the caller tells you about a wand. You explore the house and find lots of light, magic, and a jetpack. You walk around the house and find more papers with mysterious codes. Harry Potter comes home and finds you! He gives you a wand. You go to the computer and type in the code. When you type in the code, something pops up! Another address! You start to explore again.

If you choose to go to the next address, write your own ending.

If you choose to explore more of the house,

write your own ending.

4

(start again at page 1)

You decide to run, and then you fall on a rock.

You realize that it’s not just a rock; it’s a hot rock!

It’s magical, blue, and sparkly. You are injured, but you don’t have anywhere to go, and you don’t have anything except a flashlight and paper. There’s sand on the floor. You think, “Do I want to bang on the door or dig?”

Then, you find your friend and go hide under your bed in the secret base. You are scared of someone.

If you choose to use the magic rock, write your own ending.

If you choose to stay under the bed, write your own ending.

5

(start again at page 1)

You walk through the portal into a new city, where everything is like a maze. The next thing you see is a bunch of upside-down buildings in the air that look like 12-story-tall trees. In this world, the people and cars are flipped upside-down, and the sky is on the ground! You also see upside-down animals. There are no phones, tablets, or any kind of technology here. Suddenly, another portal appears, which takes you to Paris. But something is different: the sky is actually on the buildings! The animals are wearing movie glasses. You take a pair of glasses, and they show you a mysterious green and yellow path. On the path, you see yet another portal.

If you go through the next portal, write your own ending.

If you go back to the underground cave, and you investigate a weird statue, write your own ending.

6

(start again at page 1)

The backpack has a hammer, a bow and arrow, and a jetpack. You combine all the tools together.

You shoot the hammer through the bow and arrow toward the maze. The wall comes down, and you find yourself in a different part of the maze. You have to move quickly, or the wall will crush you!

Once you go into a different part of the maze, you find a camera that you throw into the portal. The picture from the camera shows a cartoon version of the world. The cartoons want to escape!

If you use the hammer on the wall behind you, you can escape into the real world. Write your own ending.

If you enter the portal, you can either go to cartoon London or Paris. Write your own ending.

If you escape the maze, you can return to your original place.

Write your own ending.

If you hope someone breaks down the wall, finds you, and helps you out, write your own ending.

7

(start again at page 1)

(space to write your own ending)

THE END 8

(start again at page 1)

(space to write your own ending)

THE END 9

(start again at page 1)

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We at 826 have the privilege of working with the next generation of scholars, teachers, doctors, artists, lawyers, and writers. It's our job to make sure they are able to take their own stands.

As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps in learning happen, we commit ourselves to inclusion: we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, military service, or disability.

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826michigan inspires school-aged students to write with skill and confidence in collaboration with adult volunteers in their communities.

Find out more at 826michigan.org