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“What’s that?” I said, directing our attention to a sliver of light coming from behind a bookcase. Moving closer, we scanned the large, built-in bookcase.
“Shut your flashlights off!” Zippy ordered.
One by one, our flashlights winked off. Moving in closer, we discovered there was a light source coming from behind the bookcase itself. Before we could register the discovery before us, a rustling sound erupted from the hallway.
“Did you hear that?” Zippy said.
The rustling sound was undeniable, because everybody had heard it this time.
“See, I told you!” Jaq said in a loud whisper. “What the heck is it?”
Quickly rising from our huddle in front of the bookcase,
Gary and Zippy entered the hallway to investigate. Not to be left behind, Jaq latched onto my arm and we slowly followed behind them. With each step, the old wooden floor creaked from our combined weight, and the shadows of the room seemed to dance in our imagination. I was not sure if it was the fear of this unknown sound rushing through me, but I could feel my senses begin to heighten.
The dusty smell of the living room intensified, and I could feel my heart beating into my fingertips.
My eyes focused into the long hallway, where a light from under a mysterious door bled into the soupy darkness before us. Gary and Zippy were nodding back and forth to each other to see who wanted to go first. Of course, each thought the other should proceed, but when a shadow passed in front of the light, everyone stiffened with fear.
“Someone’s here!” Zippy whispered in a panic-filled rush of adrenalin.
As we turned to make a run for it, a rock suddenly shattered the living room window into a million pieces.
Shards of broken glass fell to the hardwood floor like a tipped-over box of Rice Krispies.
Jimmy’s face popped into the open window frame, filled with undeniable terror.
“HE’S HOME!”
The rumble of the old pickup grew louder as it pulled into the driveway.
“HIDE!”
“HIDE? RUN!” Gary ordered as he raced out of the hallway and dove through the open window, followed quickly by Jaq and Zippy. I went back for Old Man Sheesley’s notebook about our baseball games. I wanted to find out what he’d written about us, but when I dashed around the edge of the couch, I ran right into a side table and went down hard. The leather notebook slid from my hands and pages flew into the air like confetti. Looking up,
I saw the doorknob of the back door beginning to turn. I was trapped. Trapped like a rat in a cage with no way out.
CONTENTS
ONE The Death of the Great Pirate - 1
TWO Barataria Bay - 5
THREE Summer Reading - 8
FOUR The Fort - 16
FIVE Flippity-Flappity - 22
SIX A Closer Look - 30
SEVEN The Meaning - 38
EIGHT X Marks the Spot - 44
NINE The Mystery Box - 52
TEN Our Faded Glory - 58
ELEVEN The Sky Is Falling - 66
TWELVE Busted - 72
THIRTEEN An Empty Vessel - 78
FOURTEEN Playyyy Ball - 83
FIFTEEN Don’t Stop Believing - 92
SIXTEEN The Caddy - 98
SEVENTEEN Shattered Glass - 110
EIGHTEEN Dripping with Blood - 119
NINETEEN A Different Man - 127
TWENTY The Secret Room - 134
TWENTY-ONE Stowaways - 146
TWENTY-TWO Running Like the Wind - 154
TWENTY-THREE A Bridge Too Far - 163
TWENTY-FOUR The Great Fall(s) - 171
TWENTY-FIVE The Betrayal - 177
TWENTY-SIX Trapped - 182
TWENTY-SEVEN The Long and Winding Road Home - 190
TWENTY-EIGHT Returning - 195
TWENTY-NINE The Hunt - 203
THIRTY A Sticky Situation - 210
THIRTY-ONE The Cooties - 219
THIRT-TWO One Last Try - 224
THIRTY-THREE A Game to Remember - 232
THIRTY-FOUR Making Contact - 239
THIRTY-FIVE A Final Word - 249
About the Author - 255
About the Illustrator - 256
Excerpted from Saltwater Taffy by Eric DelaBarre Copyright © 2011 by Eric DelaBarre. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
MWagner
Posted May 5, 2011
This book is wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated which can be enjoyed by all ages. Positive messages and life lessons abound throughout the book. Take yourself and your kids on a great adventure. Highly recommend!
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Posted May 7, 2011
Luv because it is based in a small town
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.vegasmom719
Posted February 27, 2011
My daughter could not put the book down. She LOVED it. This is a must have in any book lovers collection.
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Posted February 4, 2011
We can't wait to participate in the 500 word continuation of the story competition!!! We are so excited to see what happens next!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BooksForKids
Posted January 11, 2011
This book is extremely well written and beautifully illustrated. It's the kind of book that any tween will love -- boys and girls alike. Has something for everybody, but most importantly, offers great values and ideals. Give this book as a gift -- the recipient will be captivated, fascinated and grateful to you forever!
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Posted March 11, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted May 30, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Endorsed by Teachers of the Year around the country, Eric DelaBarre’s Saltwater Taffy follows the lives of five friends as they uncover a treasure map that once belonged to the ruthless New Orleans pirate, Jean Lafitte. The discovery thrusts them from one treasure hunting adventure to the next as they try to out-wit, out-think and out-maneuver everyone from the one-legged junk-yard man and an overbearing town bully, to the creepy old man living at the top of the hill. Saltwater Taffy is a raceto-the-finish adventure that grabs the reader and never lets go.