The Sea Island's Secret: A Delta & Jax Mystery

by Susan Diamond Riley, Kim Shealy Jeffcoat (Editor)

Overview

A fistful of bones and a mysterious treasure hunt—not quite what twelve-year-old Chicagoan Delta Wells is expecting when she arrives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to visit her grandparents for the summer! But when Pops tells her that his beloved Island History Museum may be demolished to make room for a golf resort, Delta visits the museum property and discovers a skeleton hidden in the marsh. The bones and a long-secret message from the past send Delta and her younger brother, Jax, on a race to unearth the island's secrets, save their grandfather's museum, and help complete a mission someone started more than 150 years ago.

From the Civil War ruins of Hilton Head, to the site of the H. L. Hunley submarine in Charleston and the University of South Carolina's historic Horseshoe in Columbia, Delta and Jax's vacation is an exciting and educational adventure through history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611179767
Publisher:	University of South Carolina Press
Publication date:	07/31/2019
Series:	Young Palmetto Books
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	124
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Susan Diamond Riley holds a Master of Arts degree in children's literature from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has been a writer, editor, and educator for more than thirty years.

What People are Saying About This

AJ Hartley

Buckle up for some lowcountry adventure: a spooky mystery seasoned with history dug straight out of the pluff mud and saltwater shore of Hilton Head island! Tremendous fun.

Mark I. West

In this debut novel for children, Susan Diamond Riley braids together an intriguing mystery, two determined young siblings, an appreciation of Civil War history, and a deep love of Hilton Head Island. The result will appeal to mystery lovers, history buffs of all ages, and anyone who enjoys spending time on the beautiful South Carolina coast.

Cassandra King

What do you get when you put together a couple of young sleuths, the remains of a skeleton, a cantankerous pirate, a Civil War secret, a possible ghost, and a head-scratching puzzle to solve? That's what you'll find in The Sea Island's Secret, a fast-paced and rollicking mystery that will keep you turning pages till the very end and learning some history on the way!

Mark I. West Mark I. West

In this debut novel for children, Susan Diamond Riley braids together an intriguing mystery, two determined young siblings, an appreciation of Civil War history, and a deep love of Hilton Head Island. The result will appeal to mystery lovers, history buffs of all ages, and anyone who enjoys spending time on the beautiful South Carolina coast.

Fran Hawk

The Sea Island's Secret is a non-stop adventure that starts with the harrowing discovery of a skull buried in mud. The plot is expertly interwoven with Charleston Lowcountry history and favorite places for visitors and locals. This book is a best bet for children's historical fiction.

Editorial Reviews

Susan Diamond Riley's debut novel offers history, mystery, and nonstop adventure... thoroughly entertaining while educating readers about the Civil War, Hilton Head Island, and interpersonal relationships. Middle grade readers with siblings will feel an instant connection to the love, and bickering, that Delta and Jax share as they unearth clues and fit together pieces of their Civil War puzzle... an enjoyable adventure for readers of almost any age.

RISE

"In this debut novel for children, Susan Diamond Riley braids together an intriguing mystery, two determined young siblings, an appreciation of Civil War history, and a deep love of Hilton Head Island. The result will appeal to mystery lovers, history buffs of all ages, and anyone who enjoys spending time on the beautiful South Carolina coast."--Mark I. West, Editor of RISE: A Children's Literacy Journal


"The Sea Island's Secret is a non-stop adventure that starts with the harrowing discovery of a skull buried in mud. The plot is expertly interwoven with Charleston Lowcountry history and favorite places for visitors and locals. This book is a best bet for children's historical fiction."--Fran Hawk, author of The H. L. Hunley Submarine


"What do you get when you put together a couple of young sleuths, the remains of a skeleton, a cantankerous pirate, a Civil War secret, a possible ghost, and a head-scratching puzzle to solve? That's what you'll find in The Sea Island's Secret, a fast-paced and rollicking mystery that will keep you turning pages till the very end and learning some history on the way!"--Cassandra King, New York Times bestselling author of Moonrise


"Buckle up for some lowcountry adventure: a spooky mystery seasoned with history dug straight out of the pluff mud and saltwater shore of Hilton Head island! Tremendous fun."--AJ Hartley, New York Times bestselling author of Steeplejack and Cathedrals of Glass

From the Publisher