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Buccaneer's Spit: A Race for the Treasure
In this middle-reader mystery, twelve-year-old Callie's parents send her to South Carolina alone for a spring break visit with her grandfather. Joined by a rambunctious Jack Russell Terrier and a friend with a secret of his own, she's set on revealing what the adults in her life are keeping from her. This STEM focused coming-of-age story features a girl/boy dynamic with a bit of pirate mystery and ecological danger thrown in. The adventure includes a prominent secondary character with dyslexia and is set in OpenDyslexic typeface. Perfect for high-low or reluctant readers and fans of The Goonies!
352 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2021
1 person is currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
J.E. Thompson
6 books22 followersJ.E. Thompson is an award winning author of Young Adult fiction. He lives and tends his garden in Southern Utah with his wife, two of his eight children, Misti the dog, and six chickens. Well, the chickens don’t actually live in the house with everyone else, in fact they aren’t even allowed inside the house.
He draws inspiration for his books from the world around him, and sometimes even the real world. He often muses that it is a shame that things are the way they are, because if they weren’t, they’d be different. But then, if they were different, everything would be familiar in its difference, we’d all think it was the way things are, and nothing would seem different. Except…
This collection of short stories began as dreams that arrived just before awaking. Imagine waking up with the thought of having a most unusual lunch with a trusted mentor, or exploring the forest searching for the right tree to make a special tea for a loved one.
Some stories show up fully formed, others must be carved from the raw stone of misshapen ideas until they begin to look like the body of story. Each becomes a friend, albeit, not one we would want to take with us into the dark.
He invites you to join him on Facebook at Jon Thompson – Writer and at his blog, jonthompsonauthor.blogspot.com
He draws inspiration for his books from the world around him, and sometimes even the real world. He often muses that it is a shame that things are the way they are, because if they weren’t, they’d be different. But then, if they were different, everything would be familiar in its difference, we’d all think it was the way things are, and nothing would seem different. Except…
This collection of short stories began as dreams that arrived just before awaking. Imagine waking up with the thought of having a most unusual lunch with a trusted mentor, or exploring the forest searching for the right tree to make a special tea for a loved one.
Some stories show up fully formed, others must be carved from the raw stone of misshapen ideas until they begin to look like the body of story. Each becomes a friend, albeit, not one we would want to take with us into the dark.
He invites you to join him on Facebook at Jon Thompson – Writer and at his blog, jonthompsonauthor.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 5, 2025
Buccaneer's Spit: A Race for the Treasure is a delightful, fast-paced middle-reader adventure that blends mystery, STEM learning, and heartfelt coming of age themes. J.E. Thompson crafts a story that is both exciting and accessible, with a focus on curiosity, problem-solving, and courage, making it perfect for young readers eager for thrills and discovery.
The story follows twelve-year-old Callie, a determined and resourceful protagonist who embarks on a spring break adventure with her grandfather. Accompanied by a spirited Jack Russell Terrier and a friend harboring secrets of his own, Callie navigates puzzles, pirates, and ecological challenges with intelligence and courage. Thompson’s use of OpenDyslexic typeface and inclusion of a secondary character with dyslexia makes this story especially welcoming to high-low or reluctant readers, ensuring accessibility without compromising excitement.
The blend of STEM-focused problem-solving, pirate-themed mystery, and real-world environmental stakes keeps the story engaging and educational. Callie’s growth, her curiosity, and her ability to face challenges head-on create a compelling emotional arc that resonates with young readers, encouraging both resilience and critical thinking.
Fans of middle-grade adventure, STEM mysteries, and character-driven stories with heart will be captivated. Buccaneer’s Spit: A Race for the Treasure is clever, thrilling, and empowering a story that celebrates curiosity, courage, and friendship.
The story follows twelve-year-old Callie, a determined and resourceful protagonist who embarks on a spring break adventure with her grandfather. Accompanied by a spirited Jack Russell Terrier and a friend harboring secrets of his own, Callie navigates puzzles, pirates, and ecological challenges with intelligence and courage. Thompson’s use of OpenDyslexic typeface and inclusion of a secondary character with dyslexia makes this story especially welcoming to high-low or reluctant readers, ensuring accessibility without compromising excitement.
The blend of STEM-focused problem-solving, pirate-themed mystery, and real-world environmental stakes keeps the story engaging and educational. Callie’s growth, her curiosity, and her ability to face challenges head-on create a compelling emotional arc that resonates with young readers, encouraging both resilience and critical thinking.
Fans of middle-grade adventure, STEM mysteries, and character-driven stories with heart will be captivated. Buccaneer’s Spit: A Race for the Treasure is clever, thrilling, and empowering a story that celebrates curiosity, courage, and friendship.
December 28, 2021
A mystery unfolds when Callie, a thirteen-year-old girl, is sent to visit her grandfather (Poppy) in a picturesque coastal Carolina town; while her parents deal with a challenging circumstance at home. Callie arrives at her grandfather’s house only to learn that he has plans to sell his beloved and environmentally protected piece of land called Buccaneer’s Spit. Callie is reacquainted with Finn, a boy she met as child, and the two of them set out to find out why Poppy is selling the Spit. They end up getting more than they bargained for by unravelling a complicated web of mysteries along the way.
This rich story kept me engaged from beginning to end. I quickly felt a bond with the main characters, their struggles, and the way their friendship grew stronger throughout their nail- biting encounters. The plot presented unpredictable twists and turns that had me rapidly turning each page and cheering on these two unlikely young sleuths. Environmental pearls were cleverly imbedded throughout, giving the reader more to think about and learn along the way. Additionally, it was refreshing to see the author’s use of OpenDyslexic font as one of the characters battles dyslexia which is reassuringly addressed in the storyline. This is a fantastic read for the young adult and not-so-young adults who like a good adventure. I highly recommended.
This rich story kept me engaged from beginning to end. I quickly felt a bond with the main characters, their struggles, and the way their friendship grew stronger throughout their nail- biting encounters. The plot presented unpredictable twists and turns that had me rapidly turning each page and cheering on these two unlikely young sleuths. Environmental pearls were cleverly imbedded throughout, giving the reader more to think about and learn along the way. Additionally, it was refreshing to see the author’s use of OpenDyslexic font as one of the characters battles dyslexia which is reassuringly addressed in the storyline. This is a fantastic read for the young adult and not-so-young adults who like a good adventure. I highly recommended.
November 12, 2021
What I love most about this book is the development of a wonderful friendship between Callie and Finn, the book’s two protagonists, who quickly find themselves in the midst of a nail-biting adventure and mystery. At the start, neither girl nor boy is particularly keen to spend time together, but both love the outdoors and the wonderful wildlife on Buccaneer’s Spit. They stumble upon some dubious activities and team up, relying on their complementary strengths to get to the bottom of things. All of this results in a page-turner that is perfect for middle grade readers, and adults will enjoy it as well. Read the last 70 pages in one sitting, because the kids end up in a life-and-death predicament. Highly recommend! You won't be able to put it down!
July 9, 2022
J.E. Thompson has done a wonderful job of capturing middle grade characters in Buccaneer's Spit: A Race for the Treasure. They care deeply about so much and seek out more information to round out their world of understanding. Mostly, he shows that Callie and Finn can truly make a difference in people's lives and in our world. These are valuable lessons for any age. Diving into family dynamics, friendships, environmental issues as well as dyslexia (the book is printed in a special font made to be easier to read!), Buccaneer's Spit is a fun, fast-paced intelligent read for the young people in your life. Read it and pass it on!
November 11, 2021
This was quite a page turner! Two twelve year olds on spring vacation in the South Carolina low country outwit three hardened criminals to find a long lost pirate treasure. Interspersed with their adventures are many interesting facts about the natural world of that area. A great read! I enthusiastically recommend it.
November 19, 2021
Inspiring and educational
As with his previous YA books, John Thompson gives an exciting adventure with very human characters and plenty of interesting fact based background to hopefully inspire people to learn more.
As with his previous YA books, John Thompson gives an exciting adventure with very human characters and plenty of interesting fact based background to hopefully inspire people to learn more.
January 26, 2022
Fun swashbuckling adventure for "kids" of all ages. I enjoyed the journey, the rich setting, and of course the reveal!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews