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The S.O.S. Boys... Mystery on Orcas Island, Book 1(c) 2013, 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 SummaryMystery on Orcas Island is the first book in the series. In the story, the first of two mysteries occurs as soon as the boys board their boat and set a course for their parents’ cabins on Orcas Island. A mysterious creature quickly swam under the boat causing it to bounce around a lot on the water. Then, that night while toasting marshmallows, they see unexplained lights flashing across from their cove. What is it that swam under their boat? Who or what was flashing signals to them? The second mystery unfolds while the boys are crab fishing. After witnessing two mysterious fishermen in the area, the boys thought something was not right. They followed their instincts and investigated the fishermen’s suspicious activities. The boys carefully gathered detailed information about the fishermen and what they were doing. Once they had enough intel, they shared it with their friend, Captain MacArthur of the Coast Guard. Read how the boys solve the two mysteries while welcoming the newest member of their group --- who is literally out of this world! Age LevelThe story's readability is fifth/sixth grade and suitable for children in grades 4th through 8th. |