Mystereity Reviews
Written on Sep 8, 2016
The St. John family own a summer house on Daufuskie Island, off the coast of South Carolina. After a hurricane, Caris and her kids discover a mysterious treasure chest containing a note and a silver key. The key unlocks a mysterious silver door in an old, abandoned lighthouse that leads the family on a harrowing adventure through history.
This book was riveting; I couldn't put it down. The story switches between each character's adventures, and I found myself racing through them to get to the next. The characters were very believable, from the squabbles between the children (reminded me of my own childhood!) to the family's reactions to the confusing events and the situations they found themselves in. I think my favorite character was Maitland, I love the idea of someone from the past being transported into present times and how they cope with it.
While enjoyable for adults, it would be a great learning companion for middle school aged kids, with scenes set both in the Revolutionary War and Civil War that would enhance their history classes. Although there's some minor violence towards the end of the book, It's not any more graphic than what kids see on an average cartoon or superhero movie, so very little parental guidance would be necessary.
Overall, a captivating, exciting and thrilling romp through history, Daufuskie Island will appeal to history buffs of all ages, from kids to adults.
Thank you to Mountain Arbor Press and Netgalley for a copy of the book in return for my honest review.