Tales from Davy Jones Locker

Gr 4—7—The Quetzalcoatl is a feathery serpent, part snake and part bird. They are believed to be kind and holy mythical beasts that roam the waters of the world helping people in distress. Garrett Spencer, 13, was born with a crippled leg. He and his family become instant outsiders when they try to make Shiloh Island their home. The fishermen bar his father from their cooperative, and the boys at school make life difficult for Garrett. Garrett explores the island and learns about a buried pirate treasure. A sea serpent hunts the waters surrounding the treasure, and the island residents search for the treasure. During his quest, Garrett meets the Quetzalcoatl, a scarred and battered creature that shows him kindness. Their friendship is later tested when the bullies corner the serpent on shore and call the townspeople to kill it. This Christian tale of friendship does a beautiful job of teaching hope and love. The CD version features fully orchestrated music, 22 voices, and movie quality sound effects. Sometimes the audio version is a bit difficult to follow, but the read-along script alleviates the problem. Student assessments, writing exercises, comprehension questions, enrichment suggestions, and more are included at the end of the script.—Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL