Danger, Dolphins, and Ginger Beer [Library Binding]

John Vigor (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

While camping on Crab Island in the British Virgin Islands, twelve-year-old Sally and her two younger brothers rescue an injured dolphin and become involved in a dangerous adventure with mysterious strangers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this debut novel, 12-year-old Sally and her two younger brothers uncover mystery in the Caribbean. The three children are sailing around the world with their father, but while he is away at a medical convention, they are camping on Crab Island, near the British Virgin Islands. First they discover a wounded dolphin, then encounter unfriendly local children and then watch a cigarette boat crash on the reef. In spite of these dramatically promising elements, Vigor's writing offers no surprises--the children rescue the dolphin, make friends with the locals and uncover a drug-smuggling operation. While K. M. Peyton's novels of the sea offer a better sense of the beauty of sailing and a closer look at human motives and grief, Vigor's story provides low-key entertainment for the middle-grade mystery set. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-- Let go of the rules of logic and reality (as readers do for the Boxcar Children and Pippi Longstocking), accept the fact that a single father of means would leave his three children ages 8 to 12 camping on a virtually deserted tropical island, and enjoy this rollicking adventure. Sally is a strong female lead, in charge of her two younger brothers. While their father is away at a conference, these three must cope with a threatening set of twins on a catamaran who claim ownership of the campsite. The intrigue deepens when a seriously wounded pregnant dolphin is stranded at their beach; with Pippi-esque creativity, Sally patches her up, tows her to a hospital, and enlists the help of a doctor, free of charge. The people who injured the dolphin are drug runners and they've left their cache behind in a boat fender (this pivotal object in the mystery is never clearly defined). The kids are in for more excitement, including the birth of a dolphin, the sinking of a boat, a double kidnapping, and a daring rescue. Information about sailing and animals is accurate and interesting, and the drama is high as each chapter ends in a cliffhanger. Chalk up the flaws to poetic license and let readers have fun with three more kids home alone! --Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Library Binding: 180 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689318170
• ISBN-13: 978-0689318177
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,905,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Island Blitz, February 14, 2003

By 

Sarah (Lenexa, KS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Danger, Dolphins, and Ginger Beer (Library Binding)

In this action-packed, blitz-a-rama, book taken place on Crab Island, of the Caribbean, you'll feel as if you're actually on the Caribbean, watching every little bit of this happen! It's so exotic that it moves you!
While Sally, Peter, and Andy Grant stay on Crab Island alone, due to their father going off to a medical conference, many mysterious, emotional, and stressful things occur while their father is away.
This includes caring for a dolphin that has deep gashes due to a motorboat, Jan and Jon arguing with the Grants about the fact that they got there first, and finally, they witness a jaw-dropping boat tragedy, due to inexperienced sailing. What they eventually uncover about Gloria and Benito, who had the boat crash, becomes a horrific nightmare, no one ever wishes to live, [most wouldn't have lived through]!
I loved this book! I enjoyed it for many reasons. Dolphins are absolutely my favorite animal. I also liked the fact that it was on the Caribbean, so it made me imagine that I was actually there. Also every chapter ended with a problem, which really allured me to read on furthermore!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Edge of your seat book., June 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Danger, Dolphins, and Ginger Beer (Library Binding)

I liked this book because I like suspence and action. And it's a very good mystery. But it's kind of fake though. Sally, Andy, and Peter are left on the beach while their dad went on a business trip. But he told a hotel manager to keep an eye on them. When they were adjusting to the campsite, a boat runs over a dolphin and that dolphin has a baby. But the mom swims away. So they feed it bottles of ginger beer. Then two people that had a crash on the beach lost a missing fender. The kids say they know nothing, but they have the missing fender. Then the two people come on the beach with a gun and take Andy and Peter. Sally has to get them back. I'm not going to tell you anymore unless you read the book yourself.