Danger in Quicksand Swamp

by Bill Wallace

When jake finds the old canoe filled with rocks and hidden in sand near the river, he and Ben are thrilled! But someone wants to bury it. Why? The trouble begins when they clean it up, discover a treasure map, and set out in their new boat in search of adventure.What they find instead is terror: alligators swarming around them, trapping them on the tiny island in the middle of the eerie Swamp. But there is an even more fearsome enemy: a shadowy figure who is waiting to kill them if they survive the alligators and the quicksand that lies beyond...

Genres: Childrens, Mystery, Adventure, Young Adult

181 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1989

About the author

Bill Wallace was an American teacher and later an author of children's books. He started writing to quiet down his fourth grade students, who loved his stories and encouraged him to make “real” books.

Bill Wallace grew up in Oklahoma. Along with riding their horses, he and his friends enjoyed campouts and fishing trips. Toasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories to scare one another, and catching fish was always fun.

Bill Wallace has won numerous children's state awards and been awarded the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for Children's Literature from the Oklahoma Center for the Book.

Bill Wallace died from Lung cancer on January 30, 2012.

Former elementary school teacher; West Elementary School, Chickasha, OK, principal, since 1977, and physical education teacher. Speaker at schools and universities in various states, including State University of New York and University of South Florida.

AWARDS:

Bluebonnet Award from Texas Association of School Librarians and Children's Round Table and Sequoyah Children's Book Award from Oklahoma State Department of Education, both 1983, Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Nebraska Golden Sowers Award from Nebraska Library Association, 1985, all for A Dog Called Kitty; Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Pine Tree Book Award, 1985, both for Trapped in Death Cave.

Reviews

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024

2019
Always a great reread. The book is just as fascinating to me as it was the first time I read it. It not only has a bit of mystery and suspense, but it is a great adventure story of two best friends who struggle to survive. They start out just wanting to get a boat for fishing. They end up finding a treasure map in a sunken boat and think they are the luckiest guys in the world. After they clean the boat up, they attempt to follow the treasure map, but run into a few issues. Alligators, quicksand, and a mysterious figure who wants them dead.

2016
In this juvenile adventure (or "misadventure" to be more accurate) story, two boys set out with a treasure map they found in an abandoned boat. Unfortunately for them, instead of finding riches and glory, they unearth a dangerous and deadly adventure filled with crocodiles and quicksand. Even if they survive those immediate dangers, will they be able to outwit the shadowy figure lurking just on the edge of safety?

2016

2015

[Christina Harwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book at work and decided to give it a shot. The cover has retro RL Stine vibes and anything involving dangerous quicksand sounds exciting but.....


Exciting is not exactly how I found it. The story feels like a badly written Hallmark mystery. I found the plot to be a bit dull and the writing could use some *pizazz* too. It took me about a week to finish the last 60 pages because I was just bored with it.

I also want to note that I realize the book was published in 1989 but at one point, the boys literally slaughter an alligator. It was a sad moment for me. I was just wondering why they didn't catch a fish? AND when they catch Kenny, Ben contemplates killing him! Like what the heck was going on in children's fiction in the late 80s/early 90s?!

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up with Bill Wallace book! At least the ones I could get my hands on. I grew up in a group home with limited access to the outside world. Someone had donated a box of books, and a few Bill Wallace books made it into the lot. I was young at the time and even more immature. I'm over 40 now and I would totally read this again. A far cry from Snot Stew and A Dog Called Kitty, but a great young mind thriller.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was a kid and the movie "Rogue" has some similarities with this book

[Sam Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super fun. A paperback from my childhood, it made a great read for my 10-yr-old son.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have always liked this book. Its silly and simple but fantastic.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was funny, happy, sad, and scary. I thought it was a bit intense though, but I still really recommend.

[Potato · Rating 3 out of 5]

i remember reading this in elementary school!! very fun

[Patrick Richardson · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I didn't finish this book. I still have it somewhere. I in fact, will never finish it. To be perfectly honest and blunt... for some reason it scared the shit out of me and I threw it aside and vowed never to open it again. I don't support book burnings, but if it fell in a sinkhole and buried itself, I wouldn't object.

[Andy Cortez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben and Jake are excited when they dig up a boat that has been filled with rocks and sunk in the sandy river bottom that runs behind their houses. But they're even more excited when they discover a treasure map in an old jar under the seat in the bow. I still need to read more to figure what goes on.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book by Wallace about two boys who set out to follow a treasure map that they find in a washed up boat, is a great adventure story with mystery, murder, danger, and surprise.

Other great books by Wallace:

* Trapped in Death Cave (an even more exciting adventure/mystery)
* A Dog Called Kitty (bring the tissue!)

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 10 year old son was in a used book store and bought this for me thinking I might like it. It was actually a good little book! Lots of adventure for two boys trapped on an island in an alligator infested swamp.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to put this on here. I did a book report on this book every year from 1st grade to 4th grade. It reminds me of a lot of the Hardy Boys books I used to be into when I was younger. Great suspense and mystery.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

In elementary school, this was one of my favorite adventure books - I still remember some of the scenes from the book on camping trips. It teaches a lot about friendship, being brave, and how to keep your head in hard circumstances. I would definitely recommend it to children between 7-12.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

same as other bill wallace books, difficult for some children to get into, but absolutely a delight once they're off and reading!

[Shenoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book when I was little, but back then it was my favorite book.

[Liz]

I didn't like this one. It was totally bizarre! At points it was ok, but pretty weird over all.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining for boys ages 5-12

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book YEARS ago in middle school, Bill Wallace was one of the first authors I really liked, I hated reading and this author pulled me in when most others at the time bored me to death.

[Parkervy]

I loved this book and I think every person who likes adventure books will love this book!!!



*other awesome books by bill wallace
*Blackwater swamp

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh this book is cool

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorite childhood books! I read it again as an adult and loved it just as much.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10

[J. Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book that I remember walking into the library, picking out, and reading.