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The S.O.S. Boys... Espionage at One Hundred Fathoms, Book 2(c) 2014, 136 pgs., paperback, $10.98The S.O.S. Boys Mystery Book Series are fast-paced adventure stories starring fifteen-year-old friends, Rick, Greg, and Topher. The S.O.S. Boys, along with Rick’s Irish Setter, Aaron, solve mysteries in and around the San Juan Islands of Washington. The FBI and Coast Guard named them, S.O.S. Boys, because the boys used Morse code to communicate with each other while solving mysteries and to protect the boys’ identities. Rick, Greg, and Topher are lifelong friends who live in Bellingham and Orcas Island. After working many odd jobs for over two years, the boys combined their savings together to purchase a sixteen-foot boat with an outboard motor. They planned to use the boat to travel back and forth from Bellingham to Orcas Island and earn money crab fishing. In the first book, Mystery on Orcas Island, they discover an alien robot dog and named him Markie, which is short for his full name - Markarian 818. Markie arrived to Earth when his Intergalactic Transporter malfunctioned and sent him hurling to Earth from the Markarian Galaxy. Although he has futuristic capabilities and knowledge, he does not tell the boys the answers to solve their mysteries. Instead, Markie guides them along to discover the answers to their science, math, history, and geography questions. The stories use informational facts while weaving an action-packed story. The boys are always respectful, responsible, and espouse positive virtues. The stories use informational facts while weaving it into an action-packed story. The boys are always respectful, responsible, and espouse positive virtues. Throughout the story, they demonstrate hard work equals success. They are 15 years old and full of youthful curiosity and energy. Their mysteries are solved using hard work and diligence. Story SummaryEspionage at One Hundred Fathoms: While crab fishing in the waters of Puget Sound, the S.O.S. Boys find what they think is a pirate's treasure in shallow water on the seafloor, but soon discover it is part of a bigger plot involving nuclear submarines and international spies. Their investigation takes them to San Juan Island where they meet with the British Camp park ranger. There they learn that the rare gold coins they found are similar to those that were also discovered behind the attic door in the barracks building at British Camp 48 years ago. They were then advised to contact the reclusive Dr. Doubloon for help in learning additional information about these rare coins. After finishing their research on San Juan Island, they set a course in their small boat for their cabin on Orcas Island. On their way back to Orcas Island, they contact Dr. Doubloon who is anxious to examine the coins and arrange a quick meeting, but the meeting is postponed due to an unexpected storm that rolls in. The rough seas cause their boat engine to fail and after a harrowing adventure on the seas, they become marooned on Keto Island. The island's only habitants are a fifteen year old girl named Thisbe Woods and her uncle, Dr. Steve Seacrest. It is not long before the boys realize there is something mysterious going on with Thisbe's uncle. Age LevelThe story's readability is fifth/sixth grade and suitable for children in grades 4th through 8th. |