Treasure by M. K. Doman

Authors

  • Anita Hammond

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20361/G2C31G

Abstract

Doman, Mary Kate. Treasure. Costa Mesa: Saddleback, 2013. Print.

Treasure, one installment from The Heights series, is the story of Todd Bardo Jr., a junior at Penn State and his adventure diving for treasure off the shore of Ecuador.  As a thank you for his work with the poor in that country, Todd’s father, a prominent and respected doctor, was awarded salvage rights to five miles of the reef by the Ecuadorian government. Todd inherits the salvage rights at his father’s death, and needs to complete the dive before his rights expire.  

With the help of a diving team headed by his best friend’s father, he and his team attempt the impossible – to find and claim treasure from a sunken ship.  With her audience in mind, Doman has woven an adventure story driven by plot, dialogue, and simple language.  This high-interest low-vocabulary book introduces readers to the country of Ecuador and its colourful history. Through Todd’s eyes we experience the excitement of organizing a treasure dive and some of its challenges.  Will Todd find enough money to fund the expedition?  Will his ship be targeted by thieves?  Will his team be attacked by sharks?  Ultimately, will he succeed and find a treasure?

Students who appreciate simpler text and an exciting plot will enjoy this read.  The resolution of some conflicts seems a bit convenient, but certainly keeps the story moving.  The interest level is grade 5 to 8; the reading level is grade 1 to 2.  This book is available at Saddleback Educational Publishing.

Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars
Reviewer: Anita Hammond

Anita Hammond taught English Language Arts and music with Regina Catholic Schools for eleven years.  Currently, as a full-time mother, she has returned to Education studies at the University of Alberta in the Masters of Education program specializing in teacher-librarian studies.  She has enjoyed the opportunity to read numerous high-interest low-vocabulary titles, and hopes to share these titles and others with colleagues and students to support literacy goals.

Published

2015-04-20

How to Cite

Hammond, A. (2015). Treasure by M. K. Doman. The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.20361/G2C31G

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 4 (2015)

Section

Book Reviews

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