The Golden Coin

When fifteen year old Jasper finds a single golden coin in the Mississippi River, he dreams of acquiring the possessions that any young man might want; a speedy car, video games, and a more unusual one—a sousaphone.

Until now, Jasper’s biggest problem has been being bullied by members of his high school football team because he plays in the band. When his father is found to have a life-threatening form of cancer, his problems become much more threatening. He and his mother are both challenged to face the changes that come with the disease. His focus changes. He longs to find more gold to help save his father’s life.

This story is set in the 1980s when much less was known about the various diseases we call cancer. Jasper struggles with finding a treasure and keeping an even greater treasure—his father.