Treasure Tracks - Hardcover

Rodriguez, S.A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374389799 ISBN 13: 9780374389796

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2022

Synopsis

A debut middle-grade adventure about a young teen who goes on a treasure hunt for undersea riches to help his ailing abuelo.

Twelve-year-old Fernando “Fin” joins his grandfather on a secret quest to find a long-lost treasure swept to sea. But when their first mission takes a near-deadly turn, leaving his abuelo weak and unable to speak, Fin’s left to navigate the hunt alone. Well, not exactly alone―his boring, totally unadventurous dad agrees to help out. With danger lurking at every turn, Fin dives into the mission in order to save Abuelo's life. But between Dad’s constant worrying, unwanted diving babysitters, and harrowing encounters in the deep sea, the boy finds himself in a race against time to locate the treasure. If he can’t succeed? He fears he might lose Abuelo for good.

S.A. Rodriguez's Treasure Tracks is a fast-paced story filled with heart and humor about the bonds of family, the meaning of a legacy, and most of all, the discovery of true treasure.

About this title

About the Author

S. A. Rodriguez is a writer, researcher, and former head of U.S. Hispanic marketing for Citibank, where she spent her career supporting diversity initiatives. She studied Communications at Loyola University in New Orleans and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami. She enjoys living near the coast of Miami with her family. Treasure Tracks is her first novel.

Reviews

Gr 4–7—This middle grade adventure hits the mark with prickly characters, clues to a lost treasure, scuba diving, and blacktip sharks and barracudas. Three generations, grandpa, son, and grandson, search for a pot of treasure lost at sea. Through rough family dynamics, the family bridges their differences to discover the jackpot. Rodriguez highlights other familiar plotlines of the genre, including duplicitous villains making nice with the protagonist and cantankerous parental units trying to squash 12-year-old Fin's exploits. Themes for this underwater adventure include overcoming adversity, coming of age, and the importance of family. The structure of the plot is linear in nature, beginning with the grandfather's quest, the second generation rejecting the challenge, and the third resuming the hunt. The author weaves in a strong sense of reverence for Floridian natural elements and marine life. The characters' Cuban heritage is also worked into the plot, and Spanish is seamlessly sprinkled throughout. For readers who enjoy ocean adventures, this debut novel delivers. VERDICT A high-octane middle grade adventure for fans of James Ponti's "City Spies."—Stephanie Creamer

Edition details

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0374389799
• ISBN 13: 9780374389796
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224