Lost Island Smugglers

Title: LOST ISLAND SMUGGLERS
Author: Max Elliot Anderson
Publisher: Port Yonder Press
July 2010
ISBN: 9781935600022
Genre: Inspirational/youth/boys

Sam Cooper’s dad is moving again—this time down to Florida. Sam’s dad, a scientist, has to study the thousand islands to see if being habituated is destroying the ecosystem. Sam isn’t real thrilled about moving until he meets Tony and Tyler. Tony’s dad is really rich and he owns a marina and pays for all three boys to have scuba diving lessons. Plus he takes them out on a submarine.

After Sam gets his scuba diving license, Tony and Tyler want to go scuba diving in the ocean but Sam’s dad says no since no adults will be there. Sam sneaks out and goes with his friends. But then a storm blows up…and their boat breaks apart. Will the boys even survive? And if they do, how will their parents find them?

LOST ISLAND SMUGGLERS is book one in Mr. Anderson’s A Sam Cooper Adventure series. I was introduced to Mr. Anderson’s books back when my boys were reluctant readers and I completely credit him for teaching them that books can be fun. My son Michael still has every book Mr. Anderson ever wrote in his collection.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know eleven year old Sam. He is a fun character, and he wants to obey his parents, but he also longs for the freedom his new friends have.

If you have boys, especially boys that don’t like to read, then you won’t want to miss LOST ISLAND SMUGGLERS. It will be sure to be a favorite for your sons (and daughters). The action in this book is nonstop, drawing the reader in and keeping his attention all through the story. A yummy sounding dessert and directions for building a shelter are included at the end of the book. $12.95. 270 pages.