Hidden treasure to uncover!
Trigger-happy bad guys to avoid!
Somehow, Tom doubts that his parents expected Uncle Harvey to take him to Peru, but curiosity is a Trelawney family trait... how could he pass up the chance to find John Drake's lost journal detailing the Golden Hind's voyage?
The nephew of Sir Francis Drake noted the flora and fauna of the South American coastline - and the treasure that they captured from the Spaniards in 1578-79 and hid safely on an island.
Look for this fast-moving adventure tale at your local library or independent bookstore today, one of this summer's fun reads.
**kmm
Book info: Island of Thieves / Josh Lacey. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011. [author's website] [publisher site]
My Recommendation:
Visiting his uncle might have been boring for Tom, except
for the mysterious journal and the sudden flight to Lima and the hidden
treasure they’re seeking and the vicious killers after them. They just have to
locate the island where the gold is buried and get it back to New York City in
5 days, before Tom’s parents get back from vacation – easy, right?
Uncle and nephew share the Trelawaney nose and family talent
for unearthing interesting things, so away they fly to Peru, where Harvey had
recently acquired a very old journal page that mentions gold buried on an
island. As they search for more pages, they are chased by villains who think
that Harvey already has the treasure in hand.
Dizzying mountain roads, scattered journal pages to sort and
puzzle through. They know that the first journal page found is 500 years old –
could this truly be a voyage log from Sir Francis Drake’s expedition?
Allies and enemies, double-crosses and unexpected
assistance. Tom’s mom and dad will be at Harvey’s apartment to pick him up in a
few days – can the adventurers really find the correct island in time?
Car chases and car crashes, boat trips through towering
waves. The treasure has remained hidden for so many centuries – what other
traps and tricks will nephew and uncle encounter along the way?
