Spineless

According to doctors, the best place to be when allergies and asthma are the enemy is South Florida. So Algie, his brother, and their mom head south to a health resort to try to help Algie gain control of his breathing. He’s excited because he aspires to be a naturalist, like his favorite person in the world, Professor Champion. However, their arrival is spoiled by the presence of a couple of hunters, sharks, and the sight of a huge eye. Rumors reach the party about a curse, which is solidified by the incoming storm and the missing tramway tracks. Algie goes beyond his fear of not breathing and seeks to help, inadvertently finding dangerous wildlife, including the twins who live on the island. Thus begins an adventure and mystery of epic proportions, with some hopeful healing on the side for Algie.

A mix of adventure like The Mummy and Chomp by Carl Hiaasen, Spineless is set in the late 1800s, but with modern sensibilities about wildlife preservation and ecological conservation. This quick read is perfect for those readers who enjoy edge-of-the-seat adventure without terror or those who love animal rescue stories, especially of the fantastical sort.