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Zone Unknown #5
Reef of Death
P.C. McPhee, in Australia to help his uncle solve an underwater mystery involving buried treasure, finds himself trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with an evil geologist determined to find the treasure at any cost. Reprint.
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 1998
11 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Paul Zindel
83 books301 followersPaul Zindel was an American author, playwright and educator.
In 1964, he wrote The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, his first and most successful play. The play ran off-Broadway in 1970, and on Broadway in 1971. It won the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was also made into a 1972 movie by 20th Century Fox. Charlotte Zolotow, then a vice-president at Harper & Row (now Harper-Collins) contacted him to writing for her book label. Zindel wrote 39 books, all of them aimed at children or young adults. Many of these were set in his home town of Staten Island, New York. They tended to be semi-autobiographical, focusing on teenage misfits with abusive or neglectful parents. Despite the often dark subject matter of his books, which deal with loneliness, loss, and the effects of abuse, they are also filled with humor. Many of his novels have wacky titles, such as My Darling, My Hamburger, or Confessions of A Teenage Baboon.
The Pigman, first published in 1968, is widely taught in American schools, and also made it on to the list of most frequently banned books in America in the 1990s, because of what some deem offensive language.
In 1964, he wrote The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, his first and most successful play. The play ran off-Broadway in 1970, and on Broadway in 1971. It won the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was also made into a 1972 movie by 20th Century Fox. Charlotte Zolotow, then a vice-president at Harper & Row (now Harper-Collins) contacted him to writing for her book label. Zindel wrote 39 books, all of them aimed at children or young adults. Many of these were set in his home town of Staten Island, New York. They tended to be semi-autobiographical, focusing on teenage misfits with abusive or neglectful parents. Despite the often dark subject matter of his books, which deal with loneliness, loss, and the effects of abuse, they are also filled with humor. Many of his novels have wacky titles, such as My Darling, My Hamburger, or Confessions of A Teenage Baboon.
The Pigman, first published in 1968, is widely taught in American schools, and also made it on to the list of most frequently banned books in America in the 1990s, because of what some deem offensive language.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 7, 2019
I read this book when I was in middle school. And the book has still stuck with me today several years later. For the longest time I could not remember the title of the book but I was talking to my friend about the book and she had read it around the same time I did and she remembered the title. I very seldom want to read a book again but I would love to get my hands on the book again and read it the second time. It is the perfect example of what a page turner should be. I loved the book and I say anyone who pick the book up will too.
This is the very first book that I truly liked. It don't have so much detail that it puts you to sleep but it don't have so little detail that it confuses the hell out of you. The book is a great example to how some books just leaves alot to the imagination and people like me that have the imagination that just goes soaring really easy; this book is the perfect breeding ground for that type of imagination.
Update:
Re-read 10/6/19
Read this in middle school and I'm surprised I was allowed to read this at such a young age. This book is more gruesome then I remembered. But I absolutely loved it more then I did when I was younger, I'm old enough now to appreciate the gruesomeness of the book. That crab scene was intense.
This is the very first book that I truly liked. It don't have so much detail that it puts you to sleep but it don't have so little detail that it confuses the hell out of you. The book is a great example to how some books just leaves alot to the imagination and people like me that have the imagination that just goes soaring really easy; this book is the perfect breeding ground for that type of imagination.
Update:
Re-read 10/6/19
Read this in middle school and I'm surprised I was allowed to read this at such a young age. This book is more gruesome then I remembered. But I absolutely loved it more then I did when I was younger, I'm old enough now to appreciate the gruesomeness of the book. That crab scene was intense.
October 12, 2018
Originally posted on the book blog Creature From the Book Lagoon.
" P.C. McPhee is in Australia to help his uncle solve an underwater mystery involving buried treasure. P.C. quickly figures out that they're not the only ones looking for treasure -- an evil geologist is determined to get her hands on it at any cost. P.C., his uncle, and the Aboriginal girl, Maruul; become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse where the winner takes all, including the lives of the losers."
I'll be 100% honest with you... I saw the title 'REEF OF DEATH' and I thought, how the hell could I pass on that?? I mean, that title alone says "BUY ME NOW". There was no way I could say no to a book with that glorious title! And as if the title wasn't enough to make me buy, there is a wicked looking sea creature all over the cover.
The plot was classic. The good guys are looking for a treasure in order to save an Aboriginal tribe. There is a evil scientist also looking for the treasure, doing shady experiments, and killing people. The good guys and the bad guys clash over the treasure. And if that wasn't crazy enough, throw in some sea monsters. YES! The story was super fast paced, especially the last half of the book was stuffed to the gills with action. I was intrigued by the treasure hunt and was just as wrapped up in the excitement as the main characters.
Now, I truthfully don't read much YA. I read R. L. Stein's Fear Street YA WAAAAAYYYYYYY back in the day when I was in elementary / middle school in the 90s. As an adult, I've read a few YA horror titles that have caught my eye here and there and then a few urban fantasy / sci-fi titles that I was not interested in but my local book club had pick them to read (They really like that teen romance paranormal genre. Yuck. ). So in the last 10 years, I've probably read less then 10 YA books. So, I don't really know about the ins and outs of YA. I was a little surprised at the gore in Reef of Death. :O Don't get me wrong, I'm all for gore, but I didn't think that kind of stuff would be in YA, and I don't recall a lot of gore in the YAs I've read in the past. It wasn't just that people died, but we saw entrails and organs falling out and blood everywhere. I personally thought it was cool that the author didn't shy away from that. I know as a kid I would have loved it. But then again I was a very unusual and morbid kid who grew up in New Orleans playing in cemeteries and had a real skull on the nightstand, so.... *shrug*
The only thing that kind of grated on my nerves was the main character, P.C. McPhee. He's 17 and apparently perfect and indestructible. He knew everything and sometimes he just had to look at something and was able to do it or understand it. Also, I found it super unbelievable that he was able to carry and use his laptop everywhere. Ok, first of all, it's a 90's laptop, ok? Do you know what a 90's laptop was like? That thing is like a slab of concrete and I don't know how much it actually weights but it feels like it's 10 pounds of solid dead weight, alright? There is no way someone is dragging that around with them everywhere and just wiping it out willy nilly to use secretly when the villain is looking the other way and never gets noticed. Sorry, but I don't think so. The sea creature is more believable then that!!
Another small annoyance with Reef of Death is that it is a little TOO heavy handed with it's social commentary. It felt like there were a few mini-lectures about big corporations running everything and stealing from the indigenous population. It was not very subtle and felt a little too forced. I don't mind a book teaching you a lesson, but you don't have to reach out and slap me in the face repeatedly with obvious social injustice. Instead of just quietly working it in to the story, P.C. has mini-rants about whatever is wrong. Instead of gently bringing our attention to a problem it felt like getting lectured by a school teacher. Not cool.
Over all, this was an entertaining book. The main character was a little too perfect and the social commentary was a little bit forced. The treasure hunt kept me hooked though and there was plenty of action. It's hard to go wrong with a sea creature!
" P.C. McPhee is in Australia to help his uncle solve an underwater mystery involving buried treasure. P.C. quickly figures out that they're not the only ones looking for treasure -- an evil geologist is determined to get her hands on it at any cost. P.C., his uncle, and the Aboriginal girl, Maruul; become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse where the winner takes all, including the lives of the losers."
I'll be 100% honest with you... I saw the title 'REEF OF DEATH' and I thought, how the hell could I pass on that?? I mean, that title alone says "BUY ME NOW". There was no way I could say no to a book with that glorious title! And as if the title wasn't enough to make me buy, there is a wicked looking sea creature all over the cover.
The plot was classic. The good guys are looking for a treasure in order to save an Aboriginal tribe. There is a evil scientist also looking for the treasure, doing shady experiments, and killing people. The good guys and the bad guys clash over the treasure. And if that wasn't crazy enough, throw in some sea monsters. YES! The story was super fast paced, especially the last half of the book was stuffed to the gills with action. I was intrigued by the treasure hunt and was just as wrapped up in the excitement as the main characters.
Now, I truthfully don't read much YA. I read R. L. Stein's Fear Street YA WAAAAAYYYYYYY back in the day when I was in elementary / middle school in the 90s. As an adult, I've read a few YA horror titles that have caught my eye here and there and then a few urban fantasy / sci-fi titles that I was not interested in but my local book club had pick them to read (They really like that teen romance paranormal genre. Yuck. ). So in the last 10 years, I've probably read less then 10 YA books. So, I don't really know about the ins and outs of YA. I was a little surprised at the gore in Reef of Death. :O Don't get me wrong, I'm all for gore, but I didn't think that kind of stuff would be in YA, and I don't recall a lot of gore in the YAs I've read in the past. It wasn't just that people died, but we saw entrails and organs falling out and blood everywhere. I personally thought it was cool that the author didn't shy away from that. I know as a kid I would have loved it. But then again I was a very unusual and morbid kid who grew up in New Orleans playing in cemeteries and had a real skull on the nightstand, so.... *shrug*
The only thing that kind of grated on my nerves was the main character, P.C. McPhee. He's 17 and apparently perfect and indestructible. He knew everything and sometimes he just had to look at something and was able to do it or understand it. Also, I found it super unbelievable that he was able to carry and use his laptop everywhere. Ok, first of all, it's a 90's laptop, ok? Do you know what a 90's laptop was like? That thing is like a slab of concrete and I don't know how much it actually weights but it feels like it's 10 pounds of solid dead weight, alright? There is no way someone is dragging that around with them everywhere and just wiping it out willy nilly to use secretly when the villain is looking the other way and never gets noticed. Sorry, but I don't think so. The sea creature is more believable then that!!
Another small annoyance with Reef of Death is that it is a little TOO heavy handed with it's social commentary. It felt like there were a few mini-lectures about big corporations running everything and stealing from the indigenous population. It was not very subtle and felt a little too forced. I don't mind a book teaching you a lesson, but you don't have to reach out and slap me in the face repeatedly with obvious social injustice. Instead of just quietly working it in to the story, P.C. has mini-rants about whatever is wrong. Instead of gently bringing our attention to a problem it felt like getting lectured by a school teacher. Not cool.
Over all, this was an entertaining book. The main character was a little too perfect and the social commentary was a little bit forced. The treasure hunt kept me hooked though and there was plenty of action. It's hard to go wrong with a sea creature!
December 3, 2025
I didn't like it at allll, I was totally lost in what is going on,it was hard to grasp of they are in the water or above it, the plot along with the characters, if I was a kid I might have thrilled with the gore scenes maybe , and as an adult who likes this kind of stories I didn't like this one at allll.
August 24, 2016
When P.C. McPhee goes to Australia to spend time with his uncle and help him run his tourist centered diving business he never expects to become involved in a life or death mystery. Then his uncle is killed by a sea monster and he must help an Aboriginal girl find buried treasure and save her tribe while avoiding evil scientists and the horrifying sea creature. A fun read, even if it is a little darker than some of Zindel's works. Boys and girls alike with enjoy reading about P.C., Maruul, and Wally Wallygong.
February 13, 2019
A Living Adventure With the Reef of Death
Paul Zindel’s, Reef of Death. As a normal high school student, I am expected to read plenty of challenging and knowledge-packed books over the course of my four years. But this time, I took a step back to read a more fun book that has brought me back to the days of my adventuring and imagination, and what a blast it was.
Reef of Death is an action packed, fast paced adventure book that is entertaining while maintaining a not-too-out-of-this-world vibe. The main character, PC, is headed to Australia after his Uncle gives him a call for help. A local Aboriginal fisherman has mysteriously died, and the only witness that was there to see it, his sister, is unconscious without recollection of what happened to the Aboriginal fisherman. PC lands in Australia and soon finds out there is an old treasure from a native tribe that is said to be located in the reef where the man had passed. With this mysterious death and a treasure to be found, I was excited to see what Zindel had in store for me as the reader. PC and his Uncle make friends with the sister of the fisherman, Maruul, and set out to find the treasure to save a native tribe as it falls into debt and danger of being deceased. On their adventure, PC, his Uncle, and Maruul run into many obstacles when searching for the treasure and finding out what. or who, had killed Maruul’s brother. As I read the book, what Zindel was trying to portray as a point became more and more clear; Be open to meeting others, and always have the back of those you care about. Zindel made this point very obvious from the countless saves the group has made for each other, and how the group got to know each other in the first place. On several occasions, I wasn’t sure what to expect next. No spoiler, but they run into some pretty nasty things. The style of Zindel was unique and the twists and turns of the protagonists and antagonists kept me reading to find out who got the treasure, if anyone. Each character grew as an individual which is something I believe to be important in a good read. One of my favorite parts of the book involved a big slice of karma. “Now, Dr. Ecenbarger, you can be the Catch of the Day,” PC said (Zindel 172). As you read the book yourself, you will easily understand why this is karma. I found this to be funny because it is a punch in the face to one of the main bad guys.
This book overall can be a fantastic read for anyone who likes a bit of adventure, a bit of romance, and a bit of science. Mainly anyone of most ages could read this book, but it will be more simple for some than others. If you are a young high schooler, and are looking to bring back your imaginative and adventurous self, give Reef of Death by Paul Zindel and read.
Paul Zindel’s, Reef of Death. As a normal high school student, I am expected to read plenty of challenging and knowledge-packed books over the course of my four years. But this time, I took a step back to read a more fun book that has brought me back to the days of my adventuring and imagination, and what a blast it was.
Reef of Death is an action packed, fast paced adventure book that is entertaining while maintaining a not-too-out-of-this-world vibe. The main character, PC, is headed to Australia after his Uncle gives him a call for help. A local Aboriginal fisherman has mysteriously died, and the only witness that was there to see it, his sister, is unconscious without recollection of what happened to the Aboriginal fisherman. PC lands in Australia and soon finds out there is an old treasure from a native tribe that is said to be located in the reef where the man had passed. With this mysterious death and a treasure to be found, I was excited to see what Zindel had in store for me as the reader. PC and his Uncle make friends with the sister of the fisherman, Maruul, and set out to find the treasure to save a native tribe as it falls into debt and danger of being deceased. On their adventure, PC, his Uncle, and Maruul run into many obstacles when searching for the treasure and finding out what. or who, had killed Maruul’s brother. As I read the book, what Zindel was trying to portray as a point became more and more clear; Be open to meeting others, and always have the back of those you care about. Zindel made this point very obvious from the countless saves the group has made for each other, and how the group got to know each other in the first place. On several occasions, I wasn’t sure what to expect next. No spoiler, but they run into some pretty nasty things. The style of Zindel was unique and the twists and turns of the protagonists and antagonists kept me reading to find out who got the treasure, if anyone. Each character grew as an individual which is something I believe to be important in a good read. One of my favorite parts of the book involved a big slice of karma. “Now, Dr. Ecenbarger, you can be the Catch of the Day,” PC said (Zindel 172). As you read the book yourself, you will easily understand why this is karma. I found this to be funny because it is a punch in the face to one of the main bad guys.
This book overall can be a fantastic read for anyone who likes a bit of adventure, a bit of romance, and a bit of science. Mainly anyone of most ages could read this book, but it will be more simple for some than others. If you are a young high schooler, and are looking to bring back your imaginative and adventurous self, give Reef of Death by Paul Zindel and read.
October 19, 2018
“Reef Of Death” Choice book #3, Quarter #1. “Reef of death” written by Paul Zindel is a horror and suspense novel which takes place in the great Australian reef. The main characters in this story are Peter Collins (PC) the main character, Maruul, Cliff, and Wally Wallygong. The main conflict in this story is that there is a giant killer fish in the reef that has killed people’s loved ones. This story is very good and if you read it you will be sure to enjoy it, in this plot PC, Maruul, and Wally board a ship and in that ship find many surprises. Them and an evil scientist are both looking for treasure, but who will be the ones to find it. This story is very good and is sure to have you keep reading excited for what will happen next. So with that being said I really liked this book. The start of the story starts kind of fast paced, which in my opinion is a good thing because then it gets you into the book right at the start of reading. My favorite part of the book was probably when they were fighting the fish beast the second time because I was really into the book. When I finished reading this book I felt like it was complete and that the author did not leave anything out of the book. So overall if I were you and you're browsing on goodreads for a book choose "Reef of Death" by Paul Zindel. This book will keep you awake and into it throughout the entire book.
June 13, 2018
This book kept my attention, but mainly I credit that to its length. The story feels forced and rushed along. The characters will say things with absolutely certainty, after knowing the person or situation about which they speak for about 2 seconds. The realism of that is more of a stretch than the creatures in this story. This book is also quite gory and violent. It felt gratuitous. I skimmed a few parts for that reason. This is very solidly a 2 for me. Just okay.
June 1, 2021
Has haunted my dreams since I was 12
I first read this in middle school. I'm 28 now and have never been able to forget the opening chapter. Having finally tracked it down again, I'm happy (?) to say that the reread was just as disturbing. Apparently this was marketed to ages 12 and up, but there is quite a bit of gore so I'd be cautious in recommending it to younger readers. On the other hand, I loved that sort of thing back then, and obviously never grew out of it.
I first read this in middle school. I'm 28 now and have never been able to forget the opening chapter. Having finally tracked it down again, I'm happy (?) to say that the reread was just as disturbing. Apparently this was marketed to ages 12 and up, but there is quite a bit of gore so I'd be cautious in recommending it to younger readers. On the other hand, I loved that sort of thing back then, and obviously never grew out of it.
May 20, 2021
Better than the previous book in the series but not by much. Tried to give it the benefit of the doubt as it is supposedly a young adult work but the level of gore makes it branch over into more adult territory. Through that lends it is garbage: one dimensional characters, nothing really at stake and very linear prose.
April 7, 2022
I enjoyed the book, but it left me wanting more! I want to know more about the strange fish and the wall of dreams! I want to know what happens with them both! It’s a great quick read, for those who like horrifying ocean monsters and fast paced action.
April 2, 2025
Paul Zindel writes fun adventures for middle grades (or any age!).
PC goes to Australia to help his uncle and an Aboriginal girl. There is boating, adventure, scary fish, treasure and some death but also a really good story.
PC goes to Australia to help his uncle and an Aboriginal girl. There is boating, adventure, scary fish, treasure and some death but also a really good story.
August 7, 2021
I realized I forgot most of this book…it’s not as good as I remembered s
June 17, 2018
This book scared the bejeezus out of my as a kid, and its still scary. But great. Scary but great.
April 3, 2016
I read this book because one of my struggling readers (I teach 6th grade) is reading it. He asked me to read it, too, so we could talk about it. I definitely like the cover of his book (a old edition from the school library) better than the newer one I bought. His shows the sea creature, mine shows a shark. Why? The reader learns in the first chapter what the creature looks like. There is no shark. I hate misleading covers.
As for the content, it is a perfect book for a sixth grade boy who struggles to read. It has shockingly bloody scenes (attacks in the water) to keep the reader's attention, there's an attractive girl and an attraction between her and the main character is acknowledged, but there's nothing that physically transpires between them.
The premise of the novel is about PC, the main character, who is 17 and is called away to Australia to help his uncle solve the mystery of a missing teenager - but the reader already knows what happened to him from the first chapter. The title apptly describes what the book is about: horrid sea creature that eats people.
As for the content, it is a perfect book for a sixth grade boy who struggles to read. It has shockingly bloody scenes (attacks in the water) to keep the reader's attention, there's an attractive girl and an attraction between her and the main character is acknowledged, but there's nothing that physically transpires between them.
The premise of the novel is about PC, the main character, who is 17 and is called away to Australia to help his uncle solve the mystery of a missing teenager - but the reader already knows what happened to him from the first chapter. The title apptly describes what the book is about: horrid sea creature that eats people.
April 19, 2015
The Reef of Death is a action adventure book that is full of brutal deaths and plenty of fish. The book takes place in Australia and the main character PC is invited from America to Australia by his uncle Cliff to search for mysterious treasure. They encounter a giant man eating fish that is controlled by a crazy German geologist who is also in search for the treasure. The book introduces Maruul a native to Australia who will help PC find the treasure. I think the Reef of Death is a good action adventure that had me wondering if the main characters were going to make through this journey alive.
October 26, 2012
I thought this book was really action packed and intense. It is a good book to read if you are looking to read something adventurous and exciting. The only downside to this book is that it is really short and you might not want to read it if you have a report to do about a book which has to be a certain length or more. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, mystery, or just a lot of suspense.
October 7, 2016
Looking at the cover, you'd expect this to be the dumbest book out there ... and, I mean, you're not exactly wrong. So Paul Zindel wrote silly horror thrillers for kids, but at least it convinced a lot of them to read more.
I remember enjoying this book, but it wasn't the best in the series. I'd say that this entire genre lives only in the time it was written. I would be surprised to see a kid walking around and reading this today.
I remember enjoying this book, but it wasn't the best in the series. I'd say that this entire genre lives only in the time it was written. I would be surprised to see a kid walking around and reading this today.
February 23, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book, but if I went diving and seen the monster fish that lived there I would flip out. The fish was bigger than the sharks they have caught or seen in the area and hunted for fun and killed many people who was near the reef where it lived. Until a couple of diving tours tried to get rid of the fish but they didn't succeed and ended up putting their selves in harms way.
March 6, 2014
Intense! I couldn't put it down. Zindel is definitely one of the "greats" in his creation of characters and stories that could really happen! Unfortunatly, I don't think I will EVER scuba dive after having read this book.
January 20, 2015
I enjoyed this book there was more mystery than I had first expected and a very good story line. I didn't think that they would live to ever find the treasure. I also did not expect many of the creatures in this book to be the way they are.
June 17, 2007
GREAT TITLE.
May 29, 2009
Also amazing gore book by Paul Zindel.
Read
January 25, 2010this book is very interesting especially for teenagers. its about a group of teenagers who explore the Australian seas for treasure which they have only heard about and end up struggling to survive.
March 22, 2011
I pissed myself
November 19, 2013
This was a gruesome book full of twists and turns. I recommend this book to those who don't have a weak stomach.
May 21, 2014
Very good thriller about a monster
Read
February 13, 2018It was a little Greusome but it was a good book
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews