Customer Reviews

Cayman Gold: Lost Treasure of Devils Grotto (MacGregor Family Adventure Series)

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It's not often that I read books that are primarily for young adults but I'm so glad I received a copy of Cayman Gold: Lost Treasure of Devils Grotto by Richard Trout. This is the first book of a series that Richard is doing for LangMarc Publishing in San Antonio, Texas.

He started the book with historical information about lost treasure ships from 1622. Then delves into this family visiting the Cayman Islands. I had heard about these islands before but had no idea where they were. Now I know.

I'm not a skin-diver but this book really caught my interest. Richard took three young people and put them right in the middle of a mystery underwater. As he wrote and as I read I could feel myself swimming with scuba gear right along with the kids. He described their adventure to a tee and kept me on the edge of my seat.

From his description of the reef, diving equipment, mini-subs, and hurricanes-it's obvious that Richard knows what he's talking about. AND he even threw in a little romance.

This is a must read book! Its not only a good story but also has a glossary of new words for young adults as well as a suggested activities list. I highly recommend Cayman Gold and look forward to reading Richard's second book Elephant Tears: Mask of the Elephant.

This was a wonderful book! As I first started reading this book, I thought it was going to be mainly a historical book, and not real fiction. (No, I did not read the back of the book. I was in a hurry, so I grabbed it.) But then I realized that except for the introduction the whole book is fiction (Thank goodness!) One thing that I liked about this book though is that it could happen, it could very well happen. The series is about three kids who are traveling around the world with their father who is taking a year off from his job as a college professor to construct a book about endangered animals. In Cayman Gold they encounter criminals who have discovered gold in the Caymans and are destroying the beautiful reef in order to get it. But then Chris, the oldest, and a girl he meets, get in the way, and are kidnapped. What happens next? Will his family save him? Find out, when you read the book! You won't regret it! Main Characters:

Jack MacGregor: A college professor who is traveling the world to write a book on animals; The father.

Mavis MacGregor: The mother.

Chris MacGregor: The oldest of the three children. Is left in charge of his two younger siblings.

Heather MacGregor: The second oldest of the three.

Ryan MacGregor: The youngest of the three children.

Natalie: The girl that Chris meets in a photo shop. She likes him a lot, and he likes her.

Leo: The dockman who the children like a lot. Knows a lot about the island.

Turner: A bank owner and the criminal in charge of finding the treasure.

Mr. X: Turner's "partner" in crime.

World renowned zoologist Dr. MacGregor arrives in the Cayman Islands to study endangered species and investigate their internationally acclaimed sea turtle conservation project. His children (ages 12, 14, and 17) fall in love with the Caymans' underwater world and are drawn into a series of adventures that include native islanders, mini-subs, beautiful reefs, intrigue, and a centuries-old pirate treasure. They combat sinister international forces plotting to destroy a natural barrier reef in order to steal treasures hidden for nearly four hundred years. The strong family structure of the MacGregors, their respect for life and the environment, and their thirst for adventure drive the teens through challenging and suspenseful events. Cayman Gold is a well crafted adventure with meticulous attention to accuracy in detail and highly recommended reading for teens and young adults.

"Cayman Gold", by Richard Trout, is the first book of the MacGregor Family Adventure Series. Dr. Jack MacGregor, well-known zoologist and his wife, Mavis, met when she was studying paleontology at Cambridge. After several years of overseas courting, Mavis moved to Texas and became his wife. They now have 3 children, Christopher, 17, Heather, 15 and Ryan, 12. Dr. Jack has taken a yearlong sabbatical to do research around the world and the children traveling with them for the year. Mavis is homeschooling all three during their adventures.

This is a wholesome adventurous mystery story with old fashion values. Trout is a college professor and uses the three children's adventure to promote environmental awareness and morals with science, humor, and danger. He is also a scuba diver, and so he has researched what he's written about. This shows in the wealth of data and colorfulness of the details about reefs, scuba diving, endangered species, and history. The science in this book is middle school level and includes some facts I haven't heard of.

"Cayman Gold" is a fast-paced plot full of pirate's treasure and old maps, dangerous bad guys, a hurricane, assorted cast of colorful characters. Science was interwoven into all the children did, and their actions had a moral sub tone that was contrasted with society. Trout's writing style would show and then make dialogue to highlight. While this was a bit overboard for me, this is a middle school book. All in all, a good wholesome action story with good science the middle school group.

Although Richard Trout writes for young people, as an adult I found this fast moving adventure held my attention. While caught up in the story of the MacGregor family, I also learned about environmental issues and scuba diving from Trout's research and experience. I finished the book thinking, I want to learn to scuba dive!

Hurricanes, diving and treasure all make Richard Trout's Cayman Gold a fun read. It tells the story of the MacGregor family on a trip to the Cayman Islands to study ecology issues about turtles and ends up being a trip of adventure and danger. Trout creates believable and engaging characters and uses story elements from geography and history to create an adventure that is fun for everyone. I have been diving in the Caribbean and survived a hurricane; the realistic way these are used in the story shows Trout has done his research.

I have been reading this book and can't put it down. I love the adventure and interesting historical facts in the book. Anyone who likes an action packed series should read the Macgregor Family Adventure Series

For the past couple of weeks, I have been reading Richard Trout's novels. I have already finished "Cayman Gold" and while I was reading it, I couldn't put it down. I am now almost finished with the second book in the series: "Elephant Tears". I do not usually like this kind of book, but this series has absolutely intrigued me. I love the sense of adventure! I am about to start the third book in the series: "Falcon of Abydos" and I cannot wait. Hope M, San Antonio, Texas

For the past two days, I have done nothing but read...and when I say read, I mean "Cayman Gold". It is the greatest adventure book, or for that matter, the greatest book I have ever read. One of the reasons I love this book so much is because when it gives you an action-packed scene, as you read it, you are there! My favorite part so far is when Captain Garcia meets the English ship, the Lady Elizabeth. Blake R, San Antonio

As a teacher of seventh and eighth grade students, I found this book to be a fantastic choice for them. It will hold their attention and make them want to read more about the MacGregor family. The action starts out immediately and does not let up. It lends itself well to venturing into other areas like science and geography for an interdisciplinary unit. Since the main characters are both a boy and a girl, both boys and girls will be able to relate easily to this book. I can't wait until my students have a chance to read this book and others by Richard Trout.