The Vanishing Island

Gr 4–8—Twelve-year-old Bren longs with all his boyish heart to go to sea and have adventures like those he has read about. Despite his father's wishes that he become a mapmaker, Bren tries once again to run away to sea. But after a near disaster, Bren is consigned to helping clean the vomitorium at Rand McNally's Map Emporium. A run in with a dying sailor and a strange coin set Bren on a journey he could never have imagined, involving secret treasure, an island not found on any map, and a strange new friend named Mouse. And while Bren doesn't believe in the supernatural, flashes of it start to appear during the journey until Bren must admit that it's all too real. Bren starts to realize that adventure isn't as romantic as he always thought, but the only way to get home again is to continue the journey he started. This engaging historical narrative will draw readers in who love stories of adventure and exploration with a strong dose of fantasy. The alternate history angle includes both the grossly realistic details of sailing and living in the Age of Discovery (1599 AD) with the dark supernatural creepiness of ancient magic and folk tales. The cliff-hanger ending guarantees that Bren's journey doesn't end with this first book.