Vincent is in Year 7 and is quietly trying to get through each day of secondary school without being noticed, and that seems to be going well until he is chosen as one of four students who will spend the weekend taking part in the Wilderness Warriors Challenge. This is Vincent's worst nightmare but, despite his best attempts, he can't get out of it so he has to face a weekend of walking and camping. Can the four come together as a team and what will happen when one of the team announces that there may be treasure hidden not far from where they are?
I'm a big fan of Lisa's writing and so it really didn't take me long to decide that The Treasure Hunters was going to jump to the top of my tbr pile.
Vincent doesn't really seem happy at the beginning of this book. He doesn't appear to be enjoying school and his dyspraxia isn't making things any easier. His only respite is the computer game, Battle Doom, he plays - it's his escape and discovering he's good at it gives him something to look forward to. I think he also feels that he is living in his brother's shadow and doesn't quite know how to shine in his own right. I really felt for Vincent and I'm sure many reader will be able to associate with him. Making friends isn't always easy, especially not when you're at a new school and Vincent has figured that being invisible is his best bet. The teachers, however, are more astute than Vincent gives them credit for and have realised that he's struggling to fit in, which is why Ms Bell and Mr Hearn sign him up for the weekend. Along with Scarlett and Josh, who both come across as incredibly mean, and Lena (who seems to be the only one who is keen to go on the trip), the four are a rather unlikely group of campers.
The trip itself made me very much think of Duke of Edinburgh, something which my son has recently completed, and a weekend of rain, soggy tents, carrying heavy rucksacks, trying to cook outdoors and coping with blisters is something he has regaled me with so it felt vaguely familiar as I read about Team Linley High's progress (or lack of it). I have to say that I have much sympathy for them as I would definitely find a weekend like that my worst nightmare!
It's only Lena who seems to be enjoying the weekend and her preparations and map reading are what keep the team together, but we soon learn that she has alternative plans that involve a detour and pirate's treasure. I loved Lena's determination as well as the fact that she seems happy to simply be herself.
Lisa has a way of writing about issues that effect children that shows them they aren't alone and The Treasure Hunters is no exception: dyspraxia, separated families, family relationships and financial hardship are all explored in some way and Lisa manages to do this in a way that readers will understand and may be able to relate to. It's always important that readers see themselves in books and The Treasure Hunters will do this for so many readers.
I began reading The Treasure Hunters on Saturday morning in between playing taxi for my son and by Saturday afternoon, all thoughts of getting jobs done had gone out the window! The book is an unputdownable read that will remind readers not to judge people, that working together as a team helps and that friendship can appear in the most unlikely of places.
Due for release on the 13th April, The Treasure Hunters is another guaranteed hit for Lisa Thompson whose writing goes from strength to strength.
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