Best friends Roger, Fish and T.J. have each other's backs even when it's a Code Orange requiring a Number Three response. These guys are masters of the Bug Patrol Operations and piracy.
Unfortunately, they've gotten caught up in making a bet with Bryce, bully, cute boy and star athlete which may end in Fish owing Bryce $50.00 that Fish doesn't have or maybe with a miracle Fish will win those flashy mirrored sunglasses that Bryce wears to look ultra cool.
The bet is that Fish will be find Captain Kidd's treasure before Bryce does. Fish has two weeks to find it. First step for Fish is to head to the library for some research and that's where the boys run into Mr. E. Mann... no one knows what the 'e' stands for...it's a mystery. On the trail of the treasure they overhear a whispered conversation and now it looks like Mr. E. Mann may be on the trail of the treasure too. It's going to take the secret password and a serious stakeout to get to the bottom of all this intrigue.
Zany jokes fly back and forth between our three treasure seekers as they bump fromone surprise to another. The suspense builds. Who will be the first to find that treasure? How far will Mr. E. Mann go to win? Can three guys dedicated to fun and freedom really claim the prize?
155 pages Ages 7-10 978-1452108209
Recommended by: Barb
+++++
Fish Finelli has a plan to find Captain Kidd's treasure so he'll have enough money to buy a boat motor. But the nearly-10-year-old and his buddies will have to contend with the town bullies, goose poop, and mysterious visitors from out of town on their quest.
Feenie spots a huge bug in the bathroom, so Fish calls Roger on the walkie-talkie to bring the Bug Containment Kit for a Code Orange - and that's just the start of a not-so-great day. Snack-happy T.J. is sure he's found a treasure chest (no), Fish has to take little sister Feenie along when they head to the creek (ugh), and the town rich kids trick Fish into betting that he can't find Captain Kidd's treasure in the next two weeks.
Everyone in town knows that Captain Kidd really did land here, experts are sure that he really buried treasure nearby, but no one knows exactly where. Fish, Roger, and T.J. do know where to start looking for Kidd's map - the local history room of the public library - but they're not the only ones searching there.
Fish thinks the theory about Kidd's treasure being buried on Lyons Island is true, so the team concentrates on finding out more about it. Oh, no! Mrs. Lyon may have to sell it because upkeep is so expensive. If it's not designated as a historic site, then it won't be open to the public as a nature reserve anymore and the guys will never find the treasure!
Can Fish, Roger, and T.J. find real clues to the treasure's location among all the hints and rumors? Who's the stranger meeting with the town librarian in the local history room? Will Fish win his bet with Bryce the bully or lose his savings?
So many nifty facts packed into the book's sidebars, so many clever emergency packs and plans, so many people in their way to the treasure! This first book in the Fish Finelli series brings readers a whole boatload of action, sinister strangers, and FAPITs.
Recommended by: Katy Manck, Librarian-at-Large (retired academic/corporate/school librarian), Gilmer, Texas, USA – blogging young adult books beyond the bestsellers at https://BooksYALove.com
