The Lost Loot of Lima

With plenty of heart, this story’s protagonist takes readers on a journey that holds an excellent balance of mystery, action and humour. The characters were both relatable and likeable – except, of course, for the bad guy who got what he deserved. Historical aspects that tied into the tale added extra appeal as did the map, additional author notes, historical clippings and the puzzle to solve at the end. It was nice to see characters pose the question ‘Do you think pirates were good people?’ I particularly liked the quote about not abandoning ship and the fact it takes courage to follow your heart. This book will really appeal to readers aged 7-10.

THE LOST LOOT OF LIMA by Melissa Wray illustrated by Sandy Flett published by Wombat Books Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy! I LOVED this book. It is a chapter book, junior fiction, for ages 7-10, I'd say. Boys and girls both will like it. It's about a boy named Ben who goes to stay with his grandma in a coastal town. His grandfather has recently died, and has left a treasure hunt behind for Ben to solve one last time. Gran helps Ben too! They soon get caught up in some true treasure hunt trouble - including someone else who is after their treasure. This book was so funny, so real - the characters, especially that of Ben, were really true to life. You felt all the things Ben felt. And the emotional subtext of dealing with his grandfather passing away, and how his Gran was doing with this, was really sweet and lovely. I tore through this book in one evening and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Sandy Flett's illustration bring the story to life with the really cool visuals being perfectly matched to the text. A knock-out story of good old-fashioned adventure, fun, mystery and enjoyment!