Dead Chest Island

In this offbeat, fast-paced adventure set in the Caribbean in 1956, three children explore a mysterious island and encounter dangers aplenty. Edison Jones, his older sister Charlotte, and new friend Jonathan follow clues left on an old piece of scrimshaw, which lead them to a long-lost tunnel on the ominously named Dead Chest Island. After a tsunami leaves them stranded on the island, they must find a way to get home again. As their series of bizarre encounters expands to include a secret submarine, Russian spies, and a reclusive beatnik, they realize they're in for the time of their lives. Parsons's middle-grade novel keeps characterization and explanations simple, while drawing on local myth and folklore, as well as historical events, to produce an entertaining if occasionally erratic narrative. Part of the story is recounted in a local dialect, which can disrupt the flow of events even as it adds color and flavor. However, the book ends with numerous questions left unanswered, setting up future installments of a planned series; a lighthearted afterword separates fact from fiction and offers some historical context. Ages 8%E2%80%9312.