Legend of the Paymaster's Gold
-
- USD 8.99
-
- USD 8.99
Descripción editorial
Legend has it that a paymaster lost his gold during the War of 1812, and Sam, Eadie, and Ben are determined to find it.
The Jackson family has moved into an old house on Commissioners Road near London, Ontario, and twins Sam and Eadie discover an exciting legend that involves their new home. Their neighbour, Ben, tells them that a skirmish in the War of 1812 took place right in front of their house, and that, during the fight, it is thought that an army paymaster lost a chest of gold that has never been recovered.
Sam, Eadie, and Ben decide to solve the legend and find the lost gold. But almost two hundred years have passed. How will they know where to look? What clues are there to follow? With the help of the Internet, Dave at the library, and some clever sleuthing with maps and a metal detector, they make some progress. But why are all the most likely places to find the gold off-limits?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Shawyer's expertise as a historical geographer is apparent in this YA mystery, but stodgy writing, unpersuasive portrayals of teenage protagonists, and ponderous amounts of detail fail to sustain interest. After the Jackson family, including 14-year-old twins Eadie and Sam, moves into a new house near London, Ont., the siblings quickly become involved in a search for the mythic treasure trove of the title. The park across the road from their house was the site of a battle during the War of 1812, the events of which nearly every character knows well. During the war, the paymaster for a Canadian general lost some gold in the aftermath of the battle that was never found. Once Sam and Eadie learn of the story, they dedicate themselves to trying to find it. While the steps they take to narrow down the possible location of the treasure are interesting, the underdeveloped and overly earnest characters (the phrase "This is getting better and better!" appears on multiple occasions) and tedious plot are unlikely to engage many readers. Ages 12 up.
