A heartfelt middle grade eco-adventure story full of friendship and self-discovery, perfect for fans of Dan Gemeinhart and Gary D. Schmidt.

Summer is winding down and Jake Rizzi is headed to his great-aunt's cabin in the wet, mossy Oregon backwoods. His parents are going on a "couples retreat" and Jake can't help but wonder if it's him and his ADHD that they need a break from. His great-aunt's off-the-grid lifestyle seems strange, but her stories about a turtle with a ruby-colored shell spark his imagination.

Jake soon learns that the turtle is more than a myth. And thanks to a viral article on the internet, strangers from all over the world have arrived to search for it--including a sinister "park ranger" and towering twins claiming to be zoologists. Jake is sure that finding the turtle will change how people see him and his "attention issues"--but he'll need help.

With villains lurking and mysteries to solve, Jake and his new friend Mia find themselves locked in a race against time. But when things turn dangerous, Jake has to choose what matters --personal glory or protecting the wonders of nature?

Author:

Stephen Bramucci

Publisher:

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:

09/02/2025

Pages:

336

Binding Type:

Paperback

ISBN:

9781547619092

Audience:

Ages 9-12

About the Author

Steve Bramucci is the author of The Danger Gang series, travel/food writer, adventurer, teacher, and storyteller. He's rowed down the Mekong River in a traditional Vietnamese 'ampan, ventured into the Outback with Aboriginal elders, and spent four months driving a rickety Nissan Patrol through East Africa.

Steve's story of exploring a long-forgotten pirate graveyard in Madagascar won the $10K Trazzler Oasis prize and his trip across Australia in a car fueled with French fry oil was turned into a TV show. He's written for National Geographic Books, Afar, Outside, the Orange County Register Magazine, and dozens of other outlets. He's the founding editor of the LIFE section at Uproxx and is a passionate conservationist. He lives in Southern California with his family.

stephenbramucci stevebram