Gasparilla’s Gold

Markle, Sandra. Gasparilla’s Gold. 2016. 193p. ISBN 978-1-943431-19-9. Available at FIC MAR on the library shelves.

Twelve-year-old Gus lost his older brother Daniel during a flash flood at camp. Gus had returned to the tent to grab his grandfather’s guitar, and got caught in the rapidly rising waters. Daniel came back and saved him, but in the process disappeared under after being hit by debris. Gus has blamed himself for his death ever since. His father has now taken another job and his moving himself and Gus from New York City to Seattle. But while he searches for an apartment, he is sending Gus to spend the summer with his sister on Pine Island, Florida. Aunt Willie runs Wahkullah, an unofficial animal shelter where injured animals are rehabilitated before being released into the wild.

Gus is opposed to go on this trip. His father thinks it’s for the best, and maybe Gus will be able to snap out of his feelings of guilt. Welcomed by Wipllie, Gus soon meets Fiona, the girl next door who has been helping Willie take care of the animals, and Coop, a grizzled grant of a man who used to design movie sets in Hollywood before being  an accident that ended his career. Scared by rain, as it reminds him of the nit Daniel dies, Gus vows he will not spend an extra day on Pine Island, and he contacts his father to plead with him. Soon, though, Gus changes his mind about leaving. First, there are all of the animals to care for. Then, the is also interested in Fiona. But most of all, Gus and Fiona have to work together to find the treasure of the  legendary pirate Gasparilla, rumored to be buried on the island. Armed with a treasure map, the two of them must find the treasure before the Pinders, the resident family bullies, discover it. With bills mounting for the shelter and the loss of Willie’s grant to study wild Florida Panthers, Gus and Fiona work with Coop to find the most likely places.

But when they stumble upon a mother panther and her cub, everything changes. If they can bring proof that the panthers are back on Pine Island, Willie can have her grant back and the shelter’s survival is assured. The Pinders, who run cattle, have other ideas, however, and want the panthers killed before their presence can be confirmed. Can Gus manage to work through his grief over Daniel’s death to save the panthers and the shelter?