Lacey,
Josh. Island
of Thieves. Houghton Mifflin 228p $15.99 978-0-547-76327-9 elm/ms VG Realistic fiction
Both boys and girls will enjoy this
adventure, which begins when Tom sets fire to the shed outside his family
home. Neighbors who have previously watched Tom when his parents took vacations decline to do so for the first time, and Uncle Harvey reluctantly offers to “baby sit”. An incomplete diary alluding to hidden treasure that Harvey finds on a trip to
Peru sparks the interest of both
uncle and nephew, and instead of staying in New York, they set out for
adventures unknown. Author Lacey uses
humor, sinister Mafioso-type characters, a fast-paced writing style, and lots of action to win over his readers. As it turns out, Uncle Harvey is not a particularly scrupulous guy,
having sold a fake painting to one of Peru’s most notorious criminals, Otto
Gonzalez. To save himself (and Tom!)
Harvey shows Otto his treasure map, and they negotiate a deal. Harvey’s survival instincts set in, and he
manages to escape Otto’s control, with Tom in tow. What the
two discover at a farmhouse in a remote part of Peru is simply amazing! Pages and pages of notes written by Sir
Francis Drake’s brother are everywhere, as wallpaper, wall stuffing and even
toilet paper! The resourceful Tom
deciphers the notes to discover the whereabouts of a tremendous treasure, on
the Island of Thieves off the coast of Peru.
In a finale reminiscent of exciting pirate days of old, Uncle Harvey,
Tom, and
Otto come to blows. The climax is
certain to please young readers who are
looking for a fast-thinking protagonist, lots of sinister types, and danger. Lacey certainly knows how to interest his
audience and will undoubtedly continue to find success as a writer for children
and/or young adults.
This book is a very good choice for the
elementary-school and middle-school reader who likes a good story with both humor and action!
Hidden treasure–Fiction, Adventure -- Martha Squaresky
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