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In Too Deep
Annie Fleet, master scuba diver and history buff, knows she can’t fight her nerd status as a freshman at her Los Angeles private school. And she doesn’t care—except for the fact that her crush, Josh, thinks she’s more adorable than desirable. Annie is determined to set him straight on their school trip to Mexico. But her teacher has other plans: he needs Annie to help him find Cortez’s lost-long treasure.
Suddenly, Annie finds herself scuba diving in pitch-black waters, jetting to Hawaii with Josh, and hunting for the priceless Golden Jaguar. But Annie and Josh aren’t the only ones lured by the possibility of finding the greatest treasure ever lost at sea. Someone else wants the gold—and needs Annie dead. In deeper danger than she ever imagined, can Annie get the boy and find the Jaguar, or is she in over her head?
Critically-acclaimed author Coert Voorhees delivers breathtaking romance and non-stop action in his newest novel, the spirited and captivating In Too Deep.
Suddenly, Annie finds herself scuba diving in pitch-black waters, jetting to Hawaii with Josh, and hunting for the priceless Golden Jaguar. But Annie and Josh aren’t the only ones lured by the possibility of finding the greatest treasure ever lost at sea. Someone else wants the gold—and needs Annie dead. In deeper danger than she ever imagined, can Annie get the boy and find the Jaguar, or is she in over her head?
Critically-acclaimed author Coert Voorhees delivers breathtaking romance and non-stop action in his newest novel, the spirited and captivating In Too Deep.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2013
11 people are currently reading
724 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
June 7, 2013
When I was a little girl, I remember watching this movie about a bunch of kids who were trying to save their home town and goes off to look for the lost treasure of One-Eyed Willy. Since then, I've always considered myself a Goonie and continued to look for other stories like it and finding great titles such as; National Treasure, Pirates of the Caribbean and even Indiana Jones. I've always enjoyed a good archaeologist or treasure hunting story, but yet to have found any in books for my preferred genre.
In Too Deep is the first book I've read that has the treasure seeking story-line that I've been looking for and I'm glad to say that it's been well worth the wait. I had a lot of fun with this book!
Annie is such a wonderful character. When we first meet her, she seems shy and not very comfortable with her social setting. See, she goes to Pinedale Academy which is sort of school for teens with famous parents and Annie being a teachers kid doesn't exactly scream cool. And if her parental status wasn't enough she can't help going off about historical events and old buried treasure stories, and she even knows how to scuba dive since she was a little girl. On a school trip to Mexico for a disaster-relief program, Annie will discover that some of her 'non-cool' hobbies are about to pay off (in more ways then one) when her teacher asks for her help to find the Golden Jaguar, the lost treasure of Cortez. Only things don't exactly plan out the way they were suppose to and Annie and Josh (her long time crush) find themselves on a journey of a lifetime discovering hidden secrets, dodging danger and tumbling into a romance they never thought possible.
I had so much fun with this story-line! Coert Voorhees is an amazing writing who made this adventure really standout in my mind. I loved every surprising twist and turn he gave us. I've read a lot of books that has us following the clues to solve the mystery, but it feels so much more thrilling to follow the clues to find the buried treasure. I also really love how Voorhees goes into vivid details about scuba diving. From learning the terminology, to diving, to being under the brilliant crushing ocean. The setting from ocean to land was rich and engaging. I also love the way he nails that feeling of sweet and unsure when it comes to first romance and being young. It was adorably and hilariously captured.
I really enjoyed every single one of these characters, even the bad dudes, they were all strongly developed and played their parts well. The only one I was really conflicted with was the teacher, Mr. Alvarez. In all fairness he isn't all bad, but I really question his morals since he was willing to put teenagers in harms way to gain his fortune. Tsk!
Gracia and Mimi were the feisty and sassy best friends who connected with the more comical level of the story which I found refreshing, well placed and very amusing.
I love Annie's awkward voice. I like that she stayed true to herself and doesn't try to dumb-herself down to impress anyone. I like that when she comes out of her shell, she's a witty and sarcastic person who can stand-up for herself when her confidence is at it's best, but most of all, I love her enthusiasm about the things she's most passionate about.
Josh is a wonderfully flawed character who isn't as smooth as he thinks he is. He may not always do or say the right thing but he's got a good heart and genuinely cares for Annie. Some of their moments were really quite precious and equally frustrating but not in a bad way. Just a really sweet and clean summer romance that will make you smile.
All in all, I thought In Too Deep was the perfect summer escape. Lost relics, a bubbling romance and an exciting journey consumed with thrills and danger. How can I ask for more? It makes me want to explore the unknown and see what I can find, but one things for sure, this book turned out to be a real gem and I only hope that Voohees decides to write more stories about Scuba Girl & friends, looking for more long-lost treasure! Fun stuff!
In Too Deep is the first book I've read that has the treasure seeking story-line that I've been looking for and I'm glad to say that it's been well worth the wait. I had a lot of fun with this book!
Annie is such a wonderful character. When we first meet her, she seems shy and not very comfortable with her social setting. See, she goes to Pinedale Academy which is sort of school for teens with famous parents and Annie being a teachers kid doesn't exactly scream cool. And if her parental status wasn't enough she can't help going off about historical events and old buried treasure stories, and she even knows how to scuba dive since she was a little girl. On a school trip to Mexico for a disaster-relief program, Annie will discover that some of her 'non-cool' hobbies are about to pay off (in more ways then one) when her teacher asks for her help to find the Golden Jaguar, the lost treasure of Cortez. Only things don't exactly plan out the way they were suppose to and Annie and Josh (her long time crush) find themselves on a journey of a lifetime discovering hidden secrets, dodging danger and tumbling into a romance they never thought possible.
I had so much fun with this story-line! Coert Voorhees is an amazing writing who made this adventure really standout in my mind. I loved every surprising twist and turn he gave us. I've read a lot of books that has us following the clues to solve the mystery, but it feels so much more thrilling to follow the clues to find the buried treasure. I also really love how Voorhees goes into vivid details about scuba diving. From learning the terminology, to diving, to being under the brilliant crushing ocean. The setting from ocean to land was rich and engaging. I also love the way he nails that feeling of sweet and unsure when it comes to first romance and being young. It was adorably and hilariously captured.
I really enjoyed every single one of these characters, even the bad dudes, they were all strongly developed and played their parts well. The only one I was really conflicted with was the teacher, Mr. Alvarez. In all fairness he isn't all bad, but I really question his morals since he was willing to put teenagers in harms way to gain his fortune. Tsk!
Gracia and Mimi were the feisty and sassy best friends who connected with the more comical level of the story which I found refreshing, well placed and very amusing.
I love Annie's awkward voice. I like that she stayed true to herself and doesn't try to dumb-herself down to impress anyone. I like that when she comes out of her shell, she's a witty and sarcastic person who can stand-up for herself when her confidence is at it's best, but most of all, I love her enthusiasm about the things she's most passionate about.
Josh is a wonderfully flawed character who isn't as smooth as he thinks he is. He may not always do or say the right thing but he's got a good heart and genuinely cares for Annie. Some of their moments were really quite precious and equally frustrating but not in a bad way. Just a really sweet and clean summer romance that will make you smile.
All in all, I thought In Too Deep was the perfect summer escape. Lost relics, a bubbling romance and an exciting journey consumed with thrills and danger. How can I ask for more? It makes me want to explore the unknown and see what I can find, but one things for sure, this book turned out to be a real gem and I only hope that Voohees decides to write more stories about Scuba Girl & friends, looking for more long-lost treasure! Fun stuff!
June 19, 2013
This was a fun adventure story with engaging characters, even if it was hard to take them seriously as, well, people. I liked Annie and Josh, our main characters, quite a bit. Annie is that mixture of competent and uncertain that pretty much defines a fifteen year-old girl. Her mom owns a diving shop, where Annie helps out with both the retail store aspects and the scuba instruction. Child labor laws aside, this aspect of the story just works and gives Annie focus. Her dad is a history teacher at a posh private school who loves lost treasure stories. Annie attends the school he teaches at on a faculty scholarship. Annie is, of course, interested in the natural intersection of her parents' passions.
The rest of her friends and peer group is where the unlikely intrudes. It could be that the “private school for the rich and famous” is just too easy a crutch and that bothered me. Or it could be that there was a touch too much “win” associated with them as a whole. Or it could be that Annie's friends, or, more specifically, their talents or connections, were a little too crucial to the plot in points (Mimi knows the right politician to get them access to a national preserve, and I get that Gracia is smart and all, but a top-notch hacker as well?). It stretched a plot already thin from adults a little too eager to involve High School students into their plans for my taste.
And that's before we get to Josh. Who, let me be clear, is adorable. He's cute, capable, famous, rich, and interested in Annie. That sounds more unrealistic than he turns out to be, really. Even with all the overblown trappings, he's a good guy and I actually bought him falling for Annie—maybe because he started with finding an interest in the things that interested her (and not because he was trying to get close to her in the first place). Their friendship (with just a hint of maybe a little bit more) felt genuine, even if I couldn't buy his complete package.
Anyway, for its purpose, this book does well. It's a fun adventure and the technical aspects of the diving, at least, were solid and felt natural. The history, suppositions, and background (i.e. everything about the treasure hunting, essentially) was fantastically unrealistic but that didn't bug me as much as I thought it might when I began. Over all, an entertaining read that I enjoyed, though with enough caveats to prevent me from marking it “outstanding”.
NetGalley acquisition: This is the first book I’ve acquired through NetGalley. I’ve no idea why people post that as a detail, but far be it from me to break with common usage. I get that the books are free, and come with a soft obligation to review, but they’re also rather rough formatting-wise and hardly what I’d call an “asset” as such. And I certainly don’t feel any pressure to tailor my reviews and/or opinions as a result. Still, there you go…
The rest of her friends and peer group is where the unlikely intrudes. It could be that the “private school for the rich and famous” is just too easy a crutch and that bothered me. Or it could be that there was a touch too much “win” associated with them as a whole. Or it could be that Annie's friends, or, more specifically, their talents or connections, were a little too crucial to the plot in points (Mimi knows the right politician to get them access to a national preserve, and I get that Gracia is smart and all, but a top-notch hacker as well?). It stretched a plot already thin from adults a little too eager to involve High School students into their plans for my taste.
And that's before we get to Josh. Who, let me be clear, is adorable. He's cute, capable, famous, rich, and interested in Annie. That sounds more unrealistic than he turns out to be, really. Even with all the overblown trappings, he's a good guy and I actually bought him falling for Annie—maybe because he started with finding an interest in the things that interested her (and not because he was trying to get close to her in the first place). Their friendship (with just a hint of maybe a little bit more) felt genuine, even if I couldn't buy his complete package.
Anyway, for its purpose, this book does well. It's a fun adventure and the technical aspects of the diving, at least, were solid and felt natural. The history, suppositions, and background (i.e. everything about the treasure hunting, essentially) was fantastically unrealistic but that didn't bug me as much as I thought it might when I began. Over all, an entertaining read that I enjoyed, though with enough caveats to prevent me from marking it “outstanding”.
NetGalley acquisition: This is the first book I’ve acquired through NetGalley. I’ve no idea why people post that as a detail, but far be it from me to break with common usage. I get that the books are free, and come with a soft obligation to review, but they’re also rather rough formatting-wise and hardly what I’d call an “asset” as such. And I certainly don’t feel any pressure to tailor my reviews and/or opinions as a result. Still, there you go…
June 30, 2013
My Thoughts:
This is coming from Disney Hyperion July 9th - complete with a waterproof cover! - and I was given this copy for review via netgalley.com. I am a huge fan of films like 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'National Treasure', so the idea of a YA book along these lines captured my imagination.
“It turns out that sunken treasure and an unrequited crush have a lot in common, starting with that fact that it makes no real sense to chase either of them.”
The story is narrated by Annie Fleet, a scholarship student who attends a Los Angeles school where everyone else's bank account is bigger than hers and most of the students have their own wikipedia entry. When Annie joins a class trip to Mexico she considers it to be her one chance to impress Josh, her long time crush, whose mum is a massive movie star – making him massively out of her league. Unbeknownst to Annie however, their teacher intends to turn their visit into an impromptu treasure hunt for Cortez's long lost treasure: the Golden Jaguar.
Annie was a cute character, she loves the ocean, diving and she's more comfortable in a one piece than the bikini her friends keep urging her to wear. I liked the fact that the author made her the hero of this story, empowering her. In contrast cocky, confident Josh gets to learn what the term 'sidekick' looks like up close and personal – and play the role of 'damsel in distress'. His character could have been given more page time; I wanted to know more about Josh's reasons for helping Annie and about his home life. As regards romance, their relationship transformed slowly... there's a sense of patience in these prose and I liked that.
Annie's treasure hunt is fun to follow and her friends – Garcia and Mimi – provided lots of humorous, dialogue filled passages. I won't say my imagination wasn't stretched: apparently Garcia is a master computer hacker and Mimi has a black credit card with an unlimited spending limited (from her grandfather, for emergencies) – and yes, I mean, unlimited. Oh and Josh's family has a private jet. But if you can skate past these flights of fancy and minor conveniences then you'll enjoy this light hearted summer adventure story.
This is the perfect beach book for fans of Ally Carter and a great read for younger teens.
My Favourite Moment:
When Annie asks her friend why she joined her on their dangerous and expensive treasure hunt, her answer is that she wants to live in the now and I loved that - it's so simple, so obvious, so real. Whether you're fifteen or twenty-five, I suspect all of us can relate.
“...day after day, class after class, test after test, everything we do is geared toward positioning ourselves for the future, which means that even the parts of our lives that aren't built on fantasy [PR] have nothing to do with today – with right now.”
http://bookblather.wordpress.com/2013...
This is coming from Disney Hyperion July 9th - complete with a waterproof cover! - and I was given this copy for review via netgalley.com. I am a huge fan of films like 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'National Treasure', so the idea of a YA book along these lines captured my imagination.
“It turns out that sunken treasure and an unrequited crush have a lot in common, starting with that fact that it makes no real sense to chase either of them.”
The story is narrated by Annie Fleet, a scholarship student who attends a Los Angeles school where everyone else's bank account is bigger than hers and most of the students have their own wikipedia entry. When Annie joins a class trip to Mexico she considers it to be her one chance to impress Josh, her long time crush, whose mum is a massive movie star – making him massively out of her league. Unbeknownst to Annie however, their teacher intends to turn their visit into an impromptu treasure hunt for Cortez's long lost treasure: the Golden Jaguar.
Annie was a cute character, she loves the ocean, diving and she's more comfortable in a one piece than the bikini her friends keep urging her to wear. I liked the fact that the author made her the hero of this story, empowering her. In contrast cocky, confident Josh gets to learn what the term 'sidekick' looks like up close and personal – and play the role of 'damsel in distress'. His character could have been given more page time; I wanted to know more about Josh's reasons for helping Annie and about his home life. As regards romance, their relationship transformed slowly... there's a sense of patience in these prose and I liked that.
Annie's treasure hunt is fun to follow and her friends – Garcia and Mimi – provided lots of humorous, dialogue filled passages. I won't say my imagination wasn't stretched: apparently Garcia is a master computer hacker and Mimi has a black credit card with an unlimited spending limited (from her grandfather, for emergencies) – and yes, I mean, unlimited. Oh and Josh's family has a private jet. But if you can skate past these flights of fancy and minor conveniences then you'll enjoy this light hearted summer adventure story.
This is the perfect beach book for fans of Ally Carter and a great read for younger teens.
My Favourite Moment:
When Annie asks her friend why she joined her on their dangerous and expensive treasure hunt, her answer is that she wants to live in the now and I loved that - it's so simple, so obvious, so real. Whether you're fifteen or twenty-five, I suspect all of us can relate.
“...day after day, class after class, test after test, everything we do is geared toward positioning ourselves for the future, which means that even the parts of our lives that aren't built on fantasy [PR] have nothing to do with today – with right now.”
http://bookblather.wordpress.com/2013...
June 29, 2013
This is the perfect beach read!!! Full of adventure and also some cute romance. Oh and this needs to be made a movie! ;-)
Oh and please I want another story with Annie!
Oh and please I want another story with Annie!
dnf
May 21, 2017Annie is insipid and shallow and I refuse to read any more of this poppycock. (I love that word) =D
April 4, 2014
ARC was provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
I think this is a really nice adventure young adult (YA) story, though in some part I felt like what happened with the treasure hunting was way simpler and easier than it could be. I spent most of my YA life reading adventure stories and remember that I always wanted to be part of it, this book brings those memories.
I know nothing about scuba diving or places that take place in this story. But the way the author wrote it, made it wasn't difficult for me to be there in the story. It's well written with enough description to guide reader, who doesn't familiar with diving and treasure hunting like myself, to picture it and understand what Annie was talking about.
As YA, I'm aware that there is romance story in it. I'm glad that it didn't take over the story. It wasn't an insta-love, and when it happened, it felt more real and natural. It's a subplot but it didn't overwhelm the main focus, the treasure hunting. And that treasure hunting part was really good. In some part I really couldn't wait of what will happen with the characters and their golden jaguar hunting.
However, my favorite part was Annie Fleet, the main character and narrator of this book. She's what I think a scuba diving and treasure hunting geek is. She's well train and a certified scuba diver and has a huge crush to Josh Rebstock a son of an academy award winning actress. I think she's a lovable character. It was easy to love her from the moment she's introduced. She's smart, witty and I just love her geekiness, though she tries to hide it so many times. But it's just cute and most importantly she could be funny without being force to do it.
I think this is a really nice adventure young adult (YA) story, though in some part I felt like what happened with the treasure hunting was way simpler and easier than it could be. I spent most of my YA life reading adventure stories and remember that I always wanted to be part of it, this book brings those memories.
I know nothing about scuba diving or places that take place in this story. But the way the author wrote it, made it wasn't difficult for me to be there in the story. It's well written with enough description to guide reader, who doesn't familiar with diving and treasure hunting like myself, to picture it and understand what Annie was talking about.
As YA, I'm aware that there is romance story in it. I'm glad that it didn't take over the story. It wasn't an insta-love, and when it happened, it felt more real and natural. It's a subplot but it didn't overwhelm the main focus, the treasure hunting. And that treasure hunting part was really good. In some part I really couldn't wait of what will happen with the characters and their golden jaguar hunting.
However, my favorite part was Annie Fleet, the main character and narrator of this book. She's what I think a scuba diving and treasure hunting geek is. She's well train and a certified scuba diver and has a huge crush to Josh Rebstock a son of an academy award winning actress. I think she's a lovable character. It was easy to love her from the moment she's introduced. She's smart, witty and I just love her geekiness, though she tries to hide it so many times. But it's just cute and most importantly she could be funny without being force to do it.
June 25, 2013
Yay! That was such a fun sweet read. Nothing beats a great treasure hunt adventure with a hot guy. Right? I think we all at some point in our youth have dreamed of going on a grand treasure hunt whether by land or sea. Having that youthful energy and excitement that we are invincible and we will be successful. I don't know about you but other than my make believe treasure hunt in my backyard of pretty rocks of petrified gold were my spectacular treasure. I think those feelings are what make this story so appealing for both young and old alike.
Annie has always loved treasures and treasure hunting whether it be on the beach with her dad and a metal detector, or doing research for a class presentation. Her teacher Mr Avarez when not in school is and avid treasure hunter. Well as fate would have it thanks to Mr. Avarez Annie gets her first real live treasure hunt expedition along with some of her classmates. It was fun to see her all stary eyed and full of excitement, ah and adventure. Annie is a also a scuba diver and has trained for years as you can imagine this will come in handy as she and her classmates search for the long lost Golden Jaguar. There are lots of twist and turns, who can and can not be trusted, does he like me or does he not like me. Some really humorous moments as well, I liked the whole saving life moment. Really well written and nicely paced. Really a fun and enjoyable read.
content: Clean read
Annie has always loved treasures and treasure hunting whether it be on the beach with her dad and a metal detector, or doing research for a class presentation. Her teacher Mr Avarez when not in school is and avid treasure hunter. Well as fate would have it thanks to Mr. Avarez Annie gets her first real live treasure hunt expedition along with some of her classmates. It was fun to see her all stary eyed and full of excitement, ah and adventure. Annie is a also a scuba diver and has trained for years as you can imagine this will come in handy as she and her classmates search for the long lost Golden Jaguar. There are lots of twist and turns, who can and can not be trusted, does he like me or does he not like me. Some really humorous moments as well, I liked the whole saving life moment. Really well written and nicely paced. Really a fun and enjoyable read.
content: Clean read
October 9, 2014
I think It was an amazing book with struggles,hardships,and sacrifice, when Annie goes on a regular school trip to Mexico to help with hurricane damage. She ends up having to dive for a clue to bring them to the Golden Jaguar. Annie finds a box with a gold disk in it she paces the disk in her pocket and gives her partner Wayo the box he turns Of Annie's air and from there on It's a race to the finish who will find the Golden Jaguar.
October 21, 2014
This book is slow to get into, but yet the plot is very good. It's nice to have a romantic treasure hunt written by a guy. I recommend it very much.
May 18, 2013
Two-second recap: In Too Deep is a perfect book for the summer. With treasure hunting, pirate face-offs, a hint of Hollywood intrigue and a unique heroine proving herself in the face of naysayers, readers will be inspired by Annie’s journey to jet off to the nearest beach and find their own adventures.
***
Full review:
Whenever summer rolls around, I find that I’m always in the mood for a deep-sea adventure.
Something about the warm weather and the long days always makes me think of jetting off to an exotic location, and getting wrapped up in the type of adventure that will completely enthrall me and change my life.
Fortunately for me, Coert Voorhees has written that very adventure in the form of In Too Deep. It’s a fabulous treasure hunting adventure, with a smart-as-a-whip heroine, some wonderful secondary characters, and three fabulous settings.
***
Plot overview:
As a freshman in a prestigious Los Angeles high school, Annie Fleet knows that she’s different from the rest of her classmates.
While the rest of the student body is involved in the entertainment industry – with many of Annie’s classmates often making the tabloids – Annie prefers to live a quieter life, full of history and scuba diving.
However, after her teacher invites Annie and a group of students including her crush on a history trip to Mexico, Annie becomes embroiled in an adventure she never expected. For her teacher, Mr. Alvarez, is also a treasure hunter on the side. And now he needs Annie’s help in recovering Cortez’s lost treasure.
Now, it’s a race against time as Annie and a group of friends try to recover the treasure. There are other people who want the gold and aren’t afraid of doing anything they can, including killing Annie.
Can Annie and her friends cover the mystery behind Cortez’s treasure, before it’s too late?
***
Things that worked:
* Characterizations.
I loved Annie. She’s passionate and enthusiastic, and not afraid to show that she’s very good at certain things.
Sure, she’s somewhat embarrassed initially to show her crush and her class that she’s a complete history buff, but she quickly gets over that when she sees how intellect can open up the door to unimaginable adventures.
The secondary characters were also very well thought out and sketched out – particularly Gracia and Mimi. Voorhees could have easily gone the route of making a character like Mimi into the stereotypical celebrity bad girl/nemesis, but he didn’t. Instead, Voorhees chose to make them into reliable, steady friends who relish at helping Annie out.
I think that for educators and parents, both Annie’s unabashed refusal to hide her intelligence and the type of friendships that she makes, can be pointed to as healthy, strong examples that can be emulated.
* Plotting
Voorhee’s plotting is fantastic. We start off immediately with an introduction to the background on Cortez’s treasure, which sets up the reader’s expectations for Annie’s treasure hunt later on. There’s no real downtime after that – the plotting moves very quickly from LA to Mexico and back, but also with the requisite information needed to fill in missing holes in the story.
Of especial note: the pivotal nighttime diving scene. Voorhees wrote a scene that was tense and nail biting, while also making sure to throw in the details that filled out the picture for people who may be inexperienced/novice divers, like myself.
* Writing/world building
Voorhees writes about L.A. and Mexico like a native. As someone who is originally from L.A., the book’s intelligent, slightly snarky commentary on the entertainment-driven culture in the city were very true to life. He also did a great job of explaining how Annie and her family fit into that specific culture.
As for Voorhee’s details about Mexico – he covers the culture in a rich, genuine sort of way that made it very clear that he was very interested in what he had read and researched about the region, and eager to share it with others.
One thing I especially enjoyed: Voorhees makes great use of the classroom environment. Annie and her friends very much use their education to great effect, using it to further their research, figure out next steps, and using it to accomplish their goals. These are very book-smart characters. They’re great role models – especially for younger readers.
* The romance.
I loved the fact that the romance between Josh and Annie isn’t insta-love. They take the time to get to know each other, making it a point to spend time together and talk to each other – all with an international and historical mystery playing out in the background, of course!
As a result, when they finally get together, it felt very genuine and organic. I wasn’t left wondering whether the two of them would break up in the future, like I am with some other YA couples.
(Yeah, I think about these things).
* The ending.
Annie doesn’t entirely get everything she wants in the end, and I strongly appreciated this about the book.
Voorhees could’ve easily gone the wish-fulfillment route, and used the treasure to make Annie a billionaire beyond her dreams. Instead, he leaves her satisfied only with the knowledge that she’s found something that has been lost for generations, and can be now shared with the world at large.
This is a very strong, important lesson for impressionable younger readers – the idea that they can be satisfied with their achievements without the international fame and riches.
Things that didn’t work/Things to consider:
I did have some minor nitpicks with the story.
* Annie’s inaction/indecisiveness.
After Wayo’s attempt on her life, Annie decides that no one can be trusted. She keeps both the discovery and the attempt on her life from everyone - including her own father - until it’s almost too late.
While I can understand being in a situation where you feel uncertain of whom to trust, I also think that having Annie hesitate from doing something logical like going to the police, somewhat undermined her (previously impressive) intelligence. After all, why wouldn’t a normal teenager not go to the police when in trouble, unless they had something to hide? It didn’t make sense to me.
And yes, I totally realize that if she had gone directly to the police, there wouldn’t have been much of a story to tell. However, I still think they could have been worked in somehow.
Ultimately, while I didn’t like Annie’s inaction, I also think her decisions can be used as a good discussion point between educators/students or parents/readers – how would they have handled the situation differently? And is it better or worse to not involve the authorities?
* Everything falling into place too easily.
I’ve seen some other reviews state that they didn’t like the fact that everything seemed to fall into place too easily for Annie and her friends – e.g. their ability to drop a substantial amount of money on scuba diving equipment; having all of their travel arrangements be arranged at the drop of a hat, etc.
While I can see why some readers found the storyline hard to believe, I also think that the instant ability of the main characters to do anything is part of the charm of In Too Deep.
The fact that the main characters have the capacity to do such extraordinary things - makes it very much similar to a movie. Kids can dream the impossible, and actually make it happen. If anything, I would encourage educators and parents to encourage younger readers to be inspired by this storyline, and see it as a sign they can do anything they put their mind to.
***
Disclaimer: I received a copy of In Too Deep from Disney-Hyperion, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
***
Full review:
Whenever summer rolls around, I find that I’m always in the mood for a deep-sea adventure.
Something about the warm weather and the long days always makes me think of jetting off to an exotic location, and getting wrapped up in the type of adventure that will completely enthrall me and change my life.
Fortunately for me, Coert Voorhees has written that very adventure in the form of In Too Deep. It’s a fabulous treasure hunting adventure, with a smart-as-a-whip heroine, some wonderful secondary characters, and three fabulous settings.
***
Plot overview:
As a freshman in a prestigious Los Angeles high school, Annie Fleet knows that she’s different from the rest of her classmates.
While the rest of the student body is involved in the entertainment industry – with many of Annie’s classmates often making the tabloids – Annie prefers to live a quieter life, full of history and scuba diving.
However, after her teacher invites Annie and a group of students including her crush on a history trip to Mexico, Annie becomes embroiled in an adventure she never expected. For her teacher, Mr. Alvarez, is also a treasure hunter on the side. And now he needs Annie’s help in recovering Cortez’s lost treasure.
Now, it’s a race against time as Annie and a group of friends try to recover the treasure. There are other people who want the gold and aren’t afraid of doing anything they can, including killing Annie.
Can Annie and her friends cover the mystery behind Cortez’s treasure, before it’s too late?
***
Things that worked:
* Characterizations.
I loved Annie. She’s passionate and enthusiastic, and not afraid to show that she’s very good at certain things.
Sure, she’s somewhat embarrassed initially to show her crush and her class that she’s a complete history buff, but she quickly gets over that when she sees how intellect can open up the door to unimaginable adventures.
The secondary characters were also very well thought out and sketched out – particularly Gracia and Mimi. Voorhees could have easily gone the route of making a character like Mimi into the stereotypical celebrity bad girl/nemesis, but he didn’t. Instead, Voorhees chose to make them into reliable, steady friends who relish at helping Annie out.
I think that for educators and parents, both Annie’s unabashed refusal to hide her intelligence and the type of friendships that she makes, can be pointed to as healthy, strong examples that can be emulated.
* Plotting
Voorhee’s plotting is fantastic. We start off immediately with an introduction to the background on Cortez’s treasure, which sets up the reader’s expectations for Annie’s treasure hunt later on. There’s no real downtime after that – the plotting moves very quickly from LA to Mexico and back, but also with the requisite information needed to fill in missing holes in the story.
Of especial note: the pivotal nighttime diving scene. Voorhees wrote a scene that was tense and nail biting, while also making sure to throw in the details that filled out the picture for people who may be inexperienced/novice divers, like myself.
* Writing/world building
Voorhees writes about L.A. and Mexico like a native. As someone who is originally from L.A., the book’s intelligent, slightly snarky commentary on the entertainment-driven culture in the city were very true to life. He also did a great job of explaining how Annie and her family fit into that specific culture.
As for Voorhee’s details about Mexico – he covers the culture in a rich, genuine sort of way that made it very clear that he was very interested in what he had read and researched about the region, and eager to share it with others.
One thing I especially enjoyed: Voorhees makes great use of the classroom environment. Annie and her friends very much use their education to great effect, using it to further their research, figure out next steps, and using it to accomplish their goals. These are very book-smart characters. They’re great role models – especially for younger readers.
* The romance.
I loved the fact that the romance between Josh and Annie isn’t insta-love. They take the time to get to know each other, making it a point to spend time together and talk to each other – all with an international and historical mystery playing out in the background, of course!
As a result, when they finally get together, it felt very genuine and organic. I wasn’t left wondering whether the two of them would break up in the future, like I am with some other YA couples.
(Yeah, I think about these things).
* The ending.
Annie doesn’t entirely get everything she wants in the end, and I strongly appreciated this about the book.
Voorhees could’ve easily gone the wish-fulfillment route, and used the treasure to make Annie a billionaire beyond her dreams. Instead, he leaves her satisfied only with the knowledge that she’s found something that has been lost for generations, and can be now shared with the world at large.
This is a very strong, important lesson for impressionable younger readers – the idea that they can be satisfied with their achievements without the international fame and riches.
Things that didn’t work/Things to consider:
I did have some minor nitpicks with the story.
* Annie’s inaction/indecisiveness.
After Wayo’s attempt on her life, Annie decides that no one can be trusted. She keeps both the discovery and the attempt on her life from everyone - including her own father - until it’s almost too late.
While I can understand being in a situation where you feel uncertain of whom to trust, I also think that having Annie hesitate from doing something logical like going to the police, somewhat undermined her (previously impressive) intelligence. After all, why wouldn’t a normal teenager not go to the police when in trouble, unless they had something to hide? It didn’t make sense to me.
And yes, I totally realize that if she had gone directly to the police, there wouldn’t have been much of a story to tell. However, I still think they could have been worked in somehow.
Ultimately, while I didn’t like Annie’s inaction, I also think her decisions can be used as a good discussion point between educators/students or parents/readers – how would they have handled the situation differently? And is it better or worse to not involve the authorities?
* Everything falling into place too easily.
I’ve seen some other reviews state that they didn’t like the fact that everything seemed to fall into place too easily for Annie and her friends – e.g. their ability to drop a substantial amount of money on scuba diving equipment; having all of their travel arrangements be arranged at the drop of a hat, etc.
While I can see why some readers found the storyline hard to believe, I also think that the instant ability of the main characters to do anything is part of the charm of In Too Deep.
The fact that the main characters have the capacity to do such extraordinary things - makes it very much similar to a movie. Kids can dream the impossible, and actually make it happen. If anything, I would encourage educators and parents to encourage younger readers to be inspired by this storyline, and see it as a sign they can do anything they put their mind to.
***
Disclaimer: I received a copy of In Too Deep from Disney-Hyperion, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 26, 2021If treasure hunting, deep-sea diving, and the chance to impress that cute boy with dimples sounds appealing, then this is the book for you. Annie fleet might as well be half fish she spends so much time in the water. When she isn’t helping out at her family’s scuba shop she aids her reputation as the scuba diving history nerd of her L.A. private school by obsessing over sunken treasures. The only other thing that can grab her attention like Golden doubloons is her crush Josh, and she might finally have a chance to make him notice her on their community service trip to Mexico. Before she knows it Annie is thrust into the adventure of her life, searching for a long-lost Golden Jaguar and trying to survive the dangers of deep-sea diving for clues when you don’t know who you can trust.
Voorhees illustrates the wonders of deep-sea diving as he spills the knowledge of a certified PADI Master Scuba Diver onto the page. His writing makes you feel as though you are scuba diving with Annie, feeling the currents against your suit as you descend lower into the ocean. His depiction of relationships is also knit into the story just as well. Unlike most books In Too Deep switches from the dramas within friendship, to family, and romance effortlessly. Capturing the dramas a 15-year-old girl faces in high school and adding the adventure of looking for lost treasure. Annie’s search for the Golden Jaguar will propel you through the book until you reach the last page. In Too Deep is the perfect summer book it is easy to follow and finish while still offering you an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to teenage girls looking for an adventure with a “chick flick” feel. Lastly consider reading it on the beach, the waves are the perfect backdrop to this book.
Voorhees illustrates the wonders of deep-sea diving as he spills the knowledge of a certified PADI Master Scuba Diver onto the page. His writing makes you feel as though you are scuba diving with Annie, feeling the currents against your suit as you descend lower into the ocean. His depiction of relationships is also knit into the story just as well. Unlike most books In Too Deep switches from the dramas within friendship, to family, and romance effortlessly. Capturing the dramas a 15-year-old girl faces in high school and adding the adventure of looking for lost treasure. Annie’s search for the Golden Jaguar will propel you through the book until you reach the last page. In Too Deep is the perfect summer book it is easy to follow and finish while still offering you an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to teenage girls looking for an adventure with a “chick flick” feel. Lastly consider reading it on the beach, the waves are the perfect backdrop to this book.
July 10, 2018
Great for fans of mystery!
Annie Fleet, master scuba diver and history buff, knows she can’t fight her nerd status as a freshman at her Los Angeles private school. And she doesn’t care—except for the fact that her crush, Josh, thinks she’s more adorable than desirable. Annie is determined to set him straight on their school trip to Mexico. But her teacher has other plans: he needs Annie to help him find Cortez’s lost-long treasure.
Suddenly, Annie finds herself scuba diving in pitch-black waters, jetting to Hawaii with Josh, and hunting for the priceless Golden Jaguar. But Annie and Josh aren’t the only ones lured by the possibility of finding the greatest treasure ever lost at sea. Someone else wants the gold—and needs Annie dead. In deeper danger than she ever imagined, can Annie get the boy and find the Jaguar, or is she in over her head?
Critically-acclaimed author Coert Voorhees delivers breathtaking romance and non-stop action in his newest novel, the spirited and captivating In Too Deep.
Annie Fleet, master scuba diver and history buff, knows she can’t fight her nerd status as a freshman at her Los Angeles private school. And she doesn’t care—except for the fact that her crush, Josh, thinks she’s more adorable than desirable. Annie is determined to set him straight on their school trip to Mexico. But her teacher has other plans: he needs Annie to help him find Cortez’s lost-long treasure.
Suddenly, Annie finds herself scuba diving in pitch-black waters, jetting to Hawaii with Josh, and hunting for the priceless Golden Jaguar. But Annie and Josh aren’t the only ones lured by the possibility of finding the greatest treasure ever lost at sea. Someone else wants the gold—and needs Annie dead. In deeper danger than she ever imagined, can Annie get the boy and find the Jaguar, or is she in over her head?
Critically-acclaimed author Coert Voorhees delivers breathtaking romance and non-stop action in his newest novel, the spirited and captivating In Too Deep.
May 14, 2025
I bought this because I wanted to read a book targeted for teens for my own research. I really struggled through the beginning, nothing about it made me want to read it. Other than the protagonist, none of the characters are very likable. After the first quarter or so of the book, it got more interesting with the build up of the treasure hunt. I managed to finish it and realized why it was a clearance book. In the end, the author does manage to make the characters a bit more tolerable but overall the book was mediocre. And maybe I’m a prude but all the sexual innuendo is unnecessary in a kids book. It wasn’t a cute romance, it was just the girl getting the jerky guy.
October 18, 2017
I read this book to preview it for our school library. It is a k-8 school, and due to the language and sex references in the book is not appropriate for middle grades. That's fine.
From a young adult standpoint, I did not enjoy the book either. The story was thin and a bit juvenile. I get it, it is a hard thing to balance. The main character is 15, she is juvenile. But 15 year olds don't view themselves as juvenile.
From a young adult standpoint, I did not enjoy the book either. The story was thin and a bit juvenile. I get it, it is a hard thing to balance. The main character is 15, she is juvenile. But 15 year olds don't view themselves as juvenile.
June 19, 2023
Very bare bones typical romance novel. Was extremely hard for me to start reading at first because I felt the plot was very rushed in the first few chapters. After around chapter 5-6 it got somewhat better. Josh I felt as the love interest was somewhat of a prick as he not only flirted with Annie but also dismissed her as "just a friend" at the same time. Overall somewhat subpar novel would not read again.
February 7, 2017
I like how this story tackles history and treasure hunting.
Annie "The Scuba Girl" Fleet has a great personality. Her friends: Gracia and Mimi are cool too, and her crush, Josh is a cutie.
I'm very interested in the beginning, but somehow in the middle, I got lost. However, when I am nearing the end, it pulls me back again.
Annie "The Scuba Girl" Fleet has a great personality. Her friends: Gracia and Mimi are cool too, and her crush, Josh is a cutie.
I'm very interested in the beginning, but somehow in the middle, I got lost. However, when I am nearing the end, it pulls me back again.
July 19, 2019
If you're looking for a fun summer read, this is the one! Scuba diving and treasure hunting with a budding romance, yes please! Annie was a lovable character and we get to see her transform in a way from awkward to confident. The treasure hunting aspect was what grabbed me, especially being a lover of the POTC films. Enjoyable from beginning to end, what an adventure!
1 week to complete
1 week to complete
May 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it had a mystery in it as well as romance. It was interesting during the whole book. I liked how you didn't really know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to other people.
November 1, 2017
Amazing! I love mystery and romance. I wish this author had more YA choices.
March 2, 2018
I honestly loved everything about this book! Can't wait to read more from this author!
June 29, 2018
Review by P.R. : "I like how the book is romantic, but also has some mystery. If you like romance & treasure books, you'll like this book."
November 18, 2019
Did not finish. No real reason, got about 70 pages in and wasn't feeling it. The characters are a little annoying/juvenile
August 30, 2020
So good!!!
January 8, 2022
It was ok, didn't really like Annie. I was told it was a romance book, it is definitely not.
November 9, 2022
Medio me gusto se me hizo una historia muy infantil
November 19, 2020
got an arc from netgalley. Full review at
https://www.daisychainoddities.com/en...
https://www.daisychainoddities.com/en...
June 4, 2013
3.5/5 Stars
When I first spotted this book at the Disney Hyperion booth at ALA Midwinter, I thought it looked interesting. Upon reading the synopsis, I thought it looked like a fun read, reminiscent of Fool's Gold (movie), and I was intrigued. I'm not quite sure what I expected from In Too Deep, but while it wasn't amazing (and I don't mean that in a rude way), it was a super fun book that's perfect for summer, and it helped to pull me out of my book slump. (And while reading it, whenever I put it down, I just wanted to get back to it!)
There was very little that I didn't like in this book. Sure, it lacked a wow factor, but I think it's meant to be a more simple read. I liked the writing; it was pretty readable, and the voice didn't annoy me. I enjoyed it. My main issue was the dialogue. On more than one occasion something would be said and I didn't understand why--it seemed to come out of left field, and if it fit with the current conversation, I didn't get what it meant. I was driven a slight bit crazy by conversations starting with He said, "..." I, personally, am just not a fan of that. Some terms--all this talk about boats and diving equipment and all that--kind of went right over me, but that wasn't too big a deal. Also, some things just seemed a little too unrealistic.
I liked the characters. Annie Fleet, a fifteen-year-old super scuba diver and lover of history (like lost treasure), was an entertaining POV. Her voice was pretty true to her age and personality, and it worked. Aside from a few things, she was just a normal teenager, and that was written well. Annie also happens to have a mega-crush on Josh Rebstock, the son of a movie star. I didn't see Josh as anything amazing, but he was a well-portrayed teenager who knows how to use the charm, and is a good guy; I liked him. And I liked the little "romance" between Annie and Josh. I like how it went on throughout the novel before much even happened, but wasn't dragged out; it was similar to a realistic portrayal of two people liking each other. The other characters were great, from Annie's strong-headed closet-geek best friend Gracia to Josh's unfortunate ninja friends Katy and Nate Sugar. No matter how minor, they all played a role in the book, and it worked out well. I liked it.
In Too Deep is a super fun read with a touch of cuteness about some teenagers on the search for a long-lost piece of treasure, the Golden Jaguar. It has several settings, from a private school and dive shop in LA to the waters of Mexico and Hawaii. And of course treasure hunts are never a piece of cake. The Pinedale Academy treasure hunters have to race another, more viscous group of treasure hunters to the prize, finding clues along the way. With brushes of death, touches of sweet romance, and a super fun (I know, I use that word a lot) adventure, In Too Deep really is an enjoyable read.
When X marks the spot, I really did like this book. It's an easy breezy book that I just needed right now, something that's simple and not serious and just hits the spot. It was fun and funny, had a romance that I liked and wasn't the center of the story, just a nice subplot, and an adventure that I wouldn't mind going on. If, you know, being in oceans didn't freak me out. And I could swim. Anyway, In Too Deep wasn't too deep, and it wasn't shallow--it was just about at the right spot. If you're looking for a quick summer read that will make you laugh and smile (and maybe squeal and kick your legs in excitement), then this is the book for you. From page one you're on a treasure hunt, and you'll never know if you get the treasure unless you read it!
This review can also be seen on my blog Beauty and the Bookshelf.
When I first spotted this book at the Disney Hyperion booth at ALA Midwinter, I thought it looked interesting. Upon reading the synopsis, I thought it looked like a fun read, reminiscent of Fool's Gold (movie), and I was intrigued. I'm not quite sure what I expected from In Too Deep, but while it wasn't amazing (and I don't mean that in a rude way), it was a super fun book that's perfect for summer, and it helped to pull me out of my book slump. (And while reading it, whenever I put it down, I just wanted to get back to it!)
There was very little that I didn't like in this book. Sure, it lacked a wow factor, but I think it's meant to be a more simple read. I liked the writing; it was pretty readable, and the voice didn't annoy me. I enjoyed it. My main issue was the dialogue. On more than one occasion something would be said and I didn't understand why--it seemed to come out of left field, and if it fit with the current conversation, I didn't get what it meant. I was driven a slight bit crazy by conversations starting with He said, "..." I, personally, am just not a fan of that. Some terms--all this talk about boats and diving equipment and all that--kind of went right over me, but that wasn't too big a deal. Also, some things just seemed a little too unrealistic.
I liked the characters. Annie Fleet, a fifteen-year-old super scuba diver and lover of history (like lost treasure), was an entertaining POV. Her voice was pretty true to her age and personality, and it worked. Aside from a few things, she was just a normal teenager, and that was written well. Annie also happens to have a mega-crush on Josh Rebstock, the son of a movie star. I didn't see Josh as anything amazing, but he was a well-portrayed teenager who knows how to use the charm, and is a good guy; I liked him. And I liked the little "romance" between Annie and Josh. I like how it went on throughout the novel before much even happened, but wasn't dragged out; it was similar to a realistic portrayal of two people liking each other. The other characters were great, from Annie's strong-headed closet-geek best friend Gracia to Josh's unfortunate ninja friends Katy and Nate Sugar. No matter how minor, they all played a role in the book, and it worked out well. I liked it.
In Too Deep is a super fun read with a touch of cuteness about some teenagers on the search for a long-lost piece of treasure, the Golden Jaguar. It has several settings, from a private school and dive shop in LA to the waters of Mexico and Hawaii. And of course treasure hunts are never a piece of cake. The Pinedale Academy treasure hunters have to race another, more viscous group of treasure hunters to the prize, finding clues along the way. With brushes of death, touches of sweet romance, and a super fun (I know, I use that word a lot) adventure, In Too Deep really is an enjoyable read.
When X marks the spot, I really did like this book. It's an easy breezy book that I just needed right now, something that's simple and not serious and just hits the spot. It was fun and funny, had a romance that I liked and wasn't the center of the story, just a nice subplot, and an adventure that I wouldn't mind going on. If, you know, being in oceans didn't freak me out. And I could swim. Anyway, In Too Deep wasn't too deep, and it wasn't shallow--it was just about at the right spot. If you're looking for a quick summer read that will make you laugh and smile (and maybe squeal and kick your legs in excitement), then this is the book for you. From page one you're on a treasure hunt, and you'll never know if you get the treasure unless you read it!
This review can also be seen on my blog Beauty and the Bookshelf.
December 7, 2013
High school freshman Annie Fleet has several great passions: scuba diving, the mysteries of the ocean, and a crush on her schoolmate, Josh Rebstock. She finally gets a chance to get his attention when the two of them head to Mexico as part of a school field trip, a combination humanitarian and treasure hunting expedition. With her diving expertise, she’s perfect for teaching Josh how not to drown in new and embarrassing ways.
Only the “Good Deeds and Golden Doubloons” trip isn’t what it appears. The teacher running it, Mr. Alvarez, reveals that he’s still a treasure hunter on the side, and he has a line on a fabled treasure, found and lost centuries ago by Hernan Cortes. The Golden Jaguar, conservatively estimated at $100,000,000. With his original crew unavailable, Alvarez cons Annie and her companions into helping him dive for the first clue in uncovering the resting place of the Golden Jaguar.
When Annie’s success is followed immediately by someone trying to kill her, she realizes that she’s on the right path. But unable to trust Alvarez or anyone besides Josh, what she’s to do? Easy: round up her friends, call in some favors, and use every bit of her own resourcefulness and expertise to find the Golden Jaguar before the bad guys do. In a jetsetting adventure that takes her from Mexico, to Hawaii, to California and more, she embarks on a thrilling series of diving escapades. And along the way, she even finds a little time to romance Josh…
I absolutely loved In Too Deep. Annie is resourceful, clever, determined, geeky, and adorable. Her combination of book smarts and survival instincts makes her a plucky, admirable heroine, the sort who could totally front an ongoing series. Coert Voorhees likewise surrounds her with a cast of engaging, entertaining friends, avoiding all of the usual annoying stereotypes one might expect from a teen drama. By setting Annie and her peers at a school for the Hollywood elite—the sons and daughters of the rich and famous—it opens up doors to all sorts of opportunities. You end up with Mimi Soto, former child actress who remains relatively grounded despite her fame and fortune, and Gracia Berg, daughter of a producer, who, rather refreshingly, combines looks and a hidden talent for computer games and programming. (Say what you want, but it’s nice to see a character who’s not afraid to be pretty –and- let her geek flag fly, or a character who’s rich and confident and not a total jerk.) Josh, son of an award-winning actress, proves to be complex and interesting in his own right.
The plot itself has just the right mixture of mystery, action, and exotic settings, lending it a cinematic feel which would be perfect should Hollywood ever decide to reboot the National Treasure franchise to star teenagers instead of Nicholas Cage. It’s fast-paced, yet episodic as Annie and friends follow the clues from one location to the next, giving them the chance to delve into more history and up the tension. The way they utilize all their resources turns out to be pretty darn clever.
I may not know much about scuba diving, but Voorhees certainly makes it feel authentic, bringing the details and atmosphere with each trip beneath the water’s surface.
I don’t know if Voorhees has any sequels in mind, but I’d love to see more of Annie Fleet and her intrepid band of treasure hunters. The seeds for future installments were laid down in this story, so one can only hope. But even if this is a standalone, it’s a damned fine one, and one well worth checking out.
Only the “Good Deeds and Golden Doubloons” trip isn’t what it appears. The teacher running it, Mr. Alvarez, reveals that he’s still a treasure hunter on the side, and he has a line on a fabled treasure, found and lost centuries ago by Hernan Cortes. The Golden Jaguar, conservatively estimated at $100,000,000. With his original crew unavailable, Alvarez cons Annie and her companions into helping him dive for the first clue in uncovering the resting place of the Golden Jaguar.
When Annie’s success is followed immediately by someone trying to kill her, she realizes that she’s on the right path. But unable to trust Alvarez or anyone besides Josh, what she’s to do? Easy: round up her friends, call in some favors, and use every bit of her own resourcefulness and expertise to find the Golden Jaguar before the bad guys do. In a jetsetting adventure that takes her from Mexico, to Hawaii, to California and more, she embarks on a thrilling series of diving escapades. And along the way, she even finds a little time to romance Josh…
I absolutely loved In Too Deep. Annie is resourceful, clever, determined, geeky, and adorable. Her combination of book smarts and survival instincts makes her a plucky, admirable heroine, the sort who could totally front an ongoing series. Coert Voorhees likewise surrounds her with a cast of engaging, entertaining friends, avoiding all of the usual annoying stereotypes one might expect from a teen drama. By setting Annie and her peers at a school for the Hollywood elite—the sons and daughters of the rich and famous—it opens up doors to all sorts of opportunities. You end up with Mimi Soto, former child actress who remains relatively grounded despite her fame and fortune, and Gracia Berg, daughter of a producer, who, rather refreshingly, combines looks and a hidden talent for computer games and programming. (Say what you want, but it’s nice to see a character who’s not afraid to be pretty –and- let her geek flag fly, or a character who’s rich and confident and not a total jerk.) Josh, son of an award-winning actress, proves to be complex and interesting in his own right.
The plot itself has just the right mixture of mystery, action, and exotic settings, lending it a cinematic feel which would be perfect should Hollywood ever decide to reboot the National Treasure franchise to star teenagers instead of Nicholas Cage. It’s fast-paced, yet episodic as Annie and friends follow the clues from one location to the next, giving them the chance to delve into more history and up the tension. The way they utilize all their resources turns out to be pretty darn clever.
I may not know much about scuba diving, but Voorhees certainly makes it feel authentic, bringing the details and atmosphere with each trip beneath the water’s surface.
I don’t know if Voorhees has any sequels in mind, but I’d love to see more of Annie Fleet and her intrepid band of treasure hunters. The seeds for future installments were laid down in this story, so one can only hope. But even if this is a standalone, it’s a damned fine one, and one well worth checking out.
September 11, 2013
[Clarification on Rating: 2.5]
Adventure, Pirates, Danger, and Buried Treasure...
Oh how excited I was to read this book. I wanted nothing more than to get my hands on it. Why? Do you know how impossible it is to find a YA book with those good old cliches? Well, it's hard. Like searching goodreads for 4 hours and coming up with 7 books hard. So I was ecstatic when I saw this book.
But sadly, the reaction above sadly turned to this
We started off strong, with a wonderful speech on the mysterious Golden Jaguar, starting up the mystery and intriguing me about this mysterious treasure that vanished. Things went downhill from there.
First off, Annie's friends. Yeah. Has anyone here ever read a book where the main charrie has two so called best friends but you see/hear about 3 paragraphs of them in the whole book? Yeah, Annie's friends where snobs. They just annoyed me.
Then we get to Josh, who had everything and he knew it. He really bugged me. Maybe it was the insta-love thing. One second he barely notices Annie, the next he's totally in love with her. How convenient.
I was expecting a bit more when they started the trip, and was also really hoping that the mystery would run a little deeper and have them do crazy things to get the clues. Like remember the stealing of the Declaration of Independence in National Treasure? Nothing that extreme, but maybe just a bit harder than diving all over the place.
When I read a book that is fiction, I have no quips when it comes to the crazy imagination needed, but with this book I expected it to be a little more realistic since it takes place in the real world. And I don't care what you say, jetting off with a movie star's son whom you've had a crush on for ages to go hunt down more clues is in absolutely no way realistic. I was having flashbacks of all the Mary-Kate and Ashley movies I watched when I was little, where they jet off to some foreign place and meet hot guys and fall in love (seriously, it happens in almost every movie).
But even though it did have these annoying qualities about it, there were still a few I very much enjoyed.
First off, Annie. She was pretty cool, and I loved her passion for this stuff. It was inspiring. I also loved how much the author knew about diving. The equipment, procedures, and hand signals. All mentioned in the book, and I always enjoy authors who know what they're writing about. The way the treasure and all the clues linked back to history was pretty awesome to, and I can only imagine how long it took to incorporate it all like that.
If your bored and need a different type of book to read, go for it, just be ready to side step some annoying people and some ridiculous other junk.
Adventure, Pirates, Danger, and Buried Treasure...
Oh how excited I was to read this book. I wanted nothing more than to get my hands on it. Why? Do you know how impossible it is to find a YA book with those good old cliches? Well, it's hard. Like searching goodreads for 4 hours and coming up with 7 books hard. So I was ecstatic when I saw this book.
But sadly, the reaction above sadly turned to this
We started off strong, with a wonderful speech on the mysterious Golden Jaguar, starting up the mystery and intriguing me about this mysterious treasure that vanished. Things went downhill from there.
First off, Annie's friends. Yeah. Has anyone here ever read a book where the main charrie has two so called best friends but you see/hear about 3 paragraphs of them in the whole book? Yeah, Annie's friends where snobs. They just annoyed me.
Then we get to Josh, who had everything and he knew it. He really bugged me. Maybe it was the insta-love thing. One second he barely notices Annie, the next he's totally in love with her. How convenient.
I was expecting a bit more when they started the trip, and was also really hoping that the mystery would run a little deeper and have them do crazy things to get the clues. Like remember the stealing of the Declaration of Independence in National Treasure? Nothing that extreme, but maybe just a bit harder than diving all over the place.
When I read a book that is fiction, I have no quips when it comes to the crazy imagination needed, but with this book I expected it to be a little more realistic since it takes place in the real world. And I don't care what you say, jetting off with a movie star's son whom you've had a crush on for ages to go hunt down more clues is in absolutely no way realistic. I was having flashbacks of all the Mary-Kate and Ashley movies I watched when I was little, where they jet off to some foreign place and meet hot guys and fall in love (seriously, it happens in almost every movie).
But even though it did have these annoying qualities about it, there were still a few I very much enjoyed.
First off, Annie. She was pretty cool, and I loved her passion for this stuff. It was inspiring. I also loved how much the author knew about diving. The equipment, procedures, and hand signals. All mentioned in the book, and I always enjoy authors who know what they're writing about. The way the treasure and all the clues linked back to history was pretty awesome to, and I can only imagine how long it took to incorporate it all like that.
If your bored and need a different type of book to read, go for it, just be ready to side step some annoying people and some ridiculous other junk.
July 17, 2017
Fun fast read.
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