THE HURRICANE MYSTERY

Set in the Virgin Islands, this story of a thirteen-year-old native boy's search for treasure uses local background to pep up what would otherwise be a fairly routine mystery. Duncan, a likeable boy with a strong ambition to become a doctor, is obsessed with the notion of pirate treasure which he believes lies somewhere on his family's property. With a friend he braves the treacherous Caribbean waters, the barracuda, jagged coral, and swift undercurrent, believing that he is being ""jinxed by a jumbie"". He finally finds treasure, but of an origin quite different from that which he anticipates. Mary D. Roberts conveys her enthusiasm for the islands in this story which is more than plausible considering the native preoccupation with pirate lore. An entertaining introduction to the Caribbean.