SHIPWRECKED

The treasure hunt continues!

Inspired by local pirate lore, sisters Savannah, Frankie, and Jolene Dare are back following the trail of their late Grandpa’s search for treasure. It’s been a month since the last break in the confounding clues, leading them to what might be Blackbeard’s lost treasure or at least his sunken ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge. It may also reveal the deed to their house, which is supercritical since their grandfather’s old business partner wants to get his hands on the place. Thankfully, the sisters now have more people aiding them in their quest, like their cousins and Sav’s best friend. Through ciphers, knowledge of North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island, and Sav’s ability to follow their Grandpa’s train of thought, the intrepid team hunts through their small community. This time, they investigate a lighthouse, the local library (via the card catalog; this is 1996), their attic, the depths of the sea through sonar, and communications from what may be Blackbeard’s ghost. Rinker creates a world brimming with the exuberance of middle-grade tales set in a pre-internet world—with the bonus excitement of a pirate mystery. As the protagonist and narrator, Sav is ever determined, often hyperfocused, and sometimes in trouble despite her honest intentions. The cast defaults to White.

Readers will set sail for adventure.