Published: New York: Holiday House, 1987
176 pages
Target audience: 8-12 years old
Reading level: 4.5
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Themes: Character and Values; Culture and Diversity
Synopsis: Everybody thinks Gary's grampa died in a fishing accident. But from a note Grampa left, Gary suspects he was murdered. The note tells of a million dollars in gold hidden in a cave and an old Indian curse promising that anyone who touches it will die! Gary and his friend Brian are sure that if they find the gold, they will also find Grampa's killer. But treasure hunting can be deadly. Now they are stuck in a dark cavern full of tangled skeletons, restless Indian spirits, and a murderer out for their blood! Will Brian and Gary ever get out of Death Cave alive?
CHARACTER:****
PLOT:****
THEME:****
LANGUAGE:****
OVERALL RATING:****
Two of my students recommended this book to me during the fall 2009. They actually wanted to stay in from recess to keep reading the book and solve the mystery. The characters display depth and integrity as they atempt to locate a treasure and grandfather's killer. The plot is an engaging mystery that pulls the reader in from the beginning and keeps you guessing until the end. The themes of developing character and values are taught in a straightforward manner using age appropriate language. Any third or fourth grade boy will enjoy this read!
About the author Bill Wallace:
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