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Treasure Tracks
A debut middle-grade adventure about a young teen who goes on a treasure hunt for undersea riches to help his ailing abuelo.
Twelve-year-old Fernando “Fin” joins his grandfather on a secret quest to find a long-lost treasure swept to sea. But when their first mission takes a near-deadly turn, leaving his abuelo weak and unable to speak, Fin’s left to navigate the hunt alone. Well, not exactly alone―his boring, totally unadventurous dad agrees to help out. With danger lurking at every turn, Fin dives into the mission in order to save Abuelo's life. But between Dad’s constant worrying, unwanted diving babysitters, and harrowing encounters in the deep sea, the boy finds himself in a race against time to locate the treasure. If he can’t succeed? He fears he might lose Abuelo for good.
S.A. Rodriguez's Treasure Tracks is a fast-paced story filled with heart and humor about the bonds of family, the meaning of a legacy, and most of all, the discovery of true treasure.
Twelve-year-old Fernando “Fin” joins his grandfather on a secret quest to find a long-lost treasure swept to sea. But when their first mission takes a near-deadly turn, leaving his abuelo weak and unable to speak, Fin’s left to navigate the hunt alone. Well, not exactly alone―his boring, totally unadventurous dad agrees to help out. With danger lurking at every turn, Fin dives into the mission in order to save Abuelo's life. But between Dad’s constant worrying, unwanted diving babysitters, and harrowing encounters in the deep sea, the boy finds himself in a race against time to locate the treasure. If he can’t succeed? He fears he might lose Abuelo for good.
S.A. Rodriguez's Treasure Tracks is a fast-paced story filled with heart and humor about the bonds of family, the meaning of a legacy, and most of all, the discovery of true treasure.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published June 28, 2022
8 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
S.A. Rodriguez
1 book6 followersS. A. Rodriguez is a writer, researcher, and former head of U.S. Hispanic marketing for Citibank, where she spent her career supporting diversity initiatives. She studied Communications at Loyola University in New Orleans and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami. She enjoys living near the coast of Miami with her family. Treasure Tracks is her first novel.
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February 28, 2022ARC received! Thank you, BYR!! I love a solid treasure hunting story. This one featuring a boy and his grandfather sounds like just the kind I like!!
April 8, 2025
There was some adventure and an interesting mystery with treasure but I think the relationships could have been handled a bit better
March 10, 2022
My mom wrote this book and told me to read it because I'm very picky about books and she wanted to make sure it grabbed my attention. I really liked it because it was fun.
July 24, 2022
Sometimes, as teachers, the books we think kids *should* read aren't necessarily the ones they *want* to read. And it can be so hard to navigate that line, especially with struggling readers who would rather be watching videos than picking up books.
TREASURE TRACKS, though, is perfect for upper elementary or lower middle school kids looking for an adventure that involves pirates, treasure, and sharks. It's full of scuba diving, snorkeling, and exploring, and the MC has a family that's both Cuban and Puerto Rican, just like me! Bonus points? Lots of grandpa/grandson & father/son time, which I don't see as often in Latinx MG as I do grandmas and moms.
TREASURE TRACKS, though, is perfect for upper elementary or lower middle school kids looking for an adventure that involves pirates, treasure, and sharks. It's full of scuba diving, snorkeling, and exploring, and the MC has a family that's both Cuban and Puerto Rican, just like me! Bonus points? Lots of grandpa/grandson & father/son time, which I don't see as often in Latinx MG as I do grandmas and moms.
May 10, 2023
When I wrote my review for Stand Up, Yumi Chung! I described it as ‘largely enjoyable if not a bit safe’. That goes double for Treasure Tracks minus the enjoyability.
S.A Rodriguez is doing nothing new here which I have said many a time is not the worst thing in the world nor the most important thing to me. I’m about a consistent narrative above all. The story could have been done a billion times over, but if it’s executed well then I don’t care. Treasure Tracks is not executed well.
It skips so many basic storytelling steps. Fin will tell the reader something we’re supposed to believe without any written evidence or he won’t say anything at all and then just jump to the end of the arc.
Abuelo has a stroke. Fin says he needs to get the treasure to show Abuelo that he has not wasted his life looking for something that doesn’t exist. These two aspects have no connection to one another. Abuelo never says he feels that way. Fin’s dad,Victor, thinks the whole thing is useless, sure, but Fin is not influenced by his opinion. Fin just thinks this for whatever reason.
Fin’s father says at the 83% mark that he’s also worried about Abuelo so he understands why Fin made a recent, risky decision. Except we have not seen anything to indicate Abuelo’s worsening mood or outlook on life. Despite Fin saying the family has visited Abuelo everyday since his stroke at the rehab facility he was moved to, we are not privy to any of these visits. On the page we do not actively go with Fin to see Abuelo until 74% in. Before that the last time we saw him was at the 40% mark. On top of that, in-story it’s been over a month already.
Why not actually depict the visits? That way we can see alongside Fin how Abuelo's mental health is deteriorating. Then we’ll understand more fully why Fin is so adamant about this. It would also give some much needed development to Fin’s father and Abuelo’s relationship. The two don’t get along, haven’t since Fin’s father was a child and yet there is never any deeper explanation as to why this is.
If Fin’s father has any warring emotions about seeing his father so vulnerable when he has
such a contentious relationship with him we don't see it. If Fin’s determination to follow in, what he views as, his father’s selfish thrill seeking shoes causes him any deeper internal conflict we don’t know. Again, we don’t even know what exactly the crux is. I cannot emphasize enough how much these two seem to despise one another: it desperately needs a backstory.
The emotional core of the story - Fin’s father being resentful of his own father only to repeat that cycle with Fin - is wasted without actual conversations or examples as to how Abuelo dropped the ball. Fin’s hero worship of Abuelo when Abuelo takes pains to undermine his fathers’ reputation in front of Fin is never punctured. Fin never has to confront the fact that while Abuelo is a wonderful grandfather he made mistakes as a father. Similarly, Abuelo never has to swallow his pride to recognize he could have done better. It’s like the author is buying into Fin’s flawed narrative that it is really Victor's fault for being a ‘wet blanket’ rather than accepting different people have different ideas of fun.
While Fin’s father could be less prickly when it comes to Abuelo, he was the child in this situation - it is far more on his father to recognize his faults than it is on Victor to act courteous. Abuelo’s lucky he even allows him to interact with Fin at all. The least he could do is remain neutral about him instead of encouraging the derision.
The synopsis directly states Fin ‘finds himself in a race against time’ which is patently untrue. Like I mentioned above, this book takes place over a month. Without detailing Abuelo’s spiral, why does Fin need to find the treasure as soon as possible? Or alternatively why not create a deadline out of Victor's participation? Instead of letting this go into the school year, why not have him tell Fin he’ll only help up until school starts? Or why not make it so the bills for the rehab facility are too high and Fin thinks their only hope is to find the treasure? I felt no sense of tension or stakes.
The search was uneventful. Fin goes out with his father multiple times to check out the ocean floor and nothing happens. His dad doesn’t know how to dive so he doesn’t even get in the water. Fin encounters nothing of consequence when diving - it’s all the same boring water and rocks. His father hires a diver to go out on dives with them and the diver might as well not be there considering how flat a character he is.
Also, Fin resents his father hiring the diver because he thought they could do this together, but again this is just implicit bias against Victor because this is basic safety for Fin considering the fact that his father knows absolutely nothing about diving or driving a boat. It’s presented as if Fin is totally correct for being upset with his father for being ‘unreasonably’ cautious except it’s just him being aware of his own limitations as any normal, responsible parent would do. It’s not a ‘betrayal’ as Fin says; it’s common sense.
What is Victor going to do if Fin has an issue diving? Literally the first dive they go on the 'babysitter' - as Fin calls him - keeps Fin from going up right into the blades of a passing ship. Victor would never have been able to stop that from happening since he literally wasn’t even in the water.
Fin never learns anything in this book. He's always right about everything from his dad being a square, to the treasure, to not trusting the 'babysitter'. He has no growth. Even when it doesn’t make sense for him to be right - ie not wanting the diver to tag along - he’s right.
Fin judges his first babysitter by his cover and gets him fired. That’s when his father hires the next one who turns out to be evil. Fin feels bad about this so he wants to give some of the treasure money to the first guy so he can take care of his grandmother.
Fin never trusted the second guy even after finding out the first babysitters’ sad backstory so clearly he didn’t internalize any kind of message about judging people too quickly. Also, Fin doesn’t ever even apologize to the man or have any other contact with him beside this. Yet, he deserves money because Fin saw him take care of his grandma one time for two seconds? Even horrible people can be nice for two seconds. Why not make the guy an actual character? Or somehow contribute to saving the day? Or at the very least interact with Fin one more time? It’s insane the guy gets a major payday because Fin got him dismissed from a job because he was mad at his dad and the guy doesn’t even talk to Fin again. Especially when part of the reason the guy got fired was because he was being patronizing and sarcastic to Fin. So Fin wasn't judging a guy for his cover at all; he was judging his actual actions.
Fin and his dad don’t get any closer along the search either as like the Abuelo visits they happen off-page in passing. It makes the ending where everyone is supposed to have a newfound appreciation for one another feel unearned. There was not a true exploration of the family dynamics at play so it felt shallow. I had no idea why there was tension initially and by the end I still don't know why. How could they possibly have overcome anything when there was no discussion of what the problem was? This book desperately needed a heart to heart between somebody.
Fin finds the treasure not through ingenuity or planning or technological advancement, but through a dream his great grandfather randomly delivers. Rodriguez also presents the second babysitter as terrible for wanting a cut of 'their' treasure - don’t get me wrong there’s no excuse for holding someone hostage - but I think it's wild that they didn't plan on giving him anything in the first place considering the assistance he'd been providing the last month. Yeah, he didn't know exactly what they were looking for but he was contributing nevertheless. It doesn’t seem fair to not cut him in when they literally could not have found it without him since Victor would not have even gone out on the water.
Also, there was a lot of subtle shade towards medical staff. I totally understand that many people have bad experiences with nurses, doctors, etc. But, if you’re going to be making that point then at least commit to it. I didn’t like the almost passive aggressive way that it was written. Like every medical person in this book - admittedly there were not that many - was portrayed as incompetent on some level. This is further supported by Abuelo’s offhand remarks about how the rehab facility was ‘a prison’ and his sneering at their help. I know many people struggle with the loss of autonomy that comes with growing older, however, as I stated before his attitude about his circumstances was not fleshed out. On top of that, I found it off putting how this sentiment went unchallenged when this so-called prison and the workers there are the only reason he was able to regain his faculties after a stroke. Like sorry it’s undignified, but could you show a little appreciation? Especially since the people who have this opinion typically treat the staff like garbage.
Abuelo literally pulls out his IV at the end to leave in a show of his reawakened vitality. One, you cannot do that without causing severe pain. Two, did he not still need those? He’s still in the rehab facility for a reason. Three, it’s another signifier of what I was just saying: Abuelo didn’t need medicine or those silly doctors. This is laid out flat at the beginning of the book when Victor and Fin argue over going after the treasure in the first place. Victor argues Abuelo needs medicine. Fin argues he needs the treasure. Guess who turns out to be right?
Above all else, I think the biggest issue is that the book is rather dull. There needed to be a another kid for Fin to bounce ideas off of, pirates chasing them down, a contest, a boat race, just something to break up the monotony. I can acknowledge as an adult I care more about the construction of a novel than a child would, but I normally can at least say I can see why a kid might enjoy the book regardless. I, unfortunately, cannot even give that to Treasure Tracks.
S.A Rodriguez is doing nothing new here which I have said many a time is not the worst thing in the world nor the most important thing to me. I’m about a consistent narrative above all. The story could have been done a billion times over, but if it’s executed well then I don’t care. Treasure Tracks is not executed well.
It skips so many basic storytelling steps. Fin will tell the reader something we’re supposed to believe without any written evidence or he won’t say anything at all and then just jump to the end of the arc.
Abuelo has a stroke. Fin says he needs to get the treasure to show Abuelo that he has not wasted his life looking for something that doesn’t exist. These two aspects have no connection to one another. Abuelo never says he feels that way. Fin’s dad,Victor, thinks the whole thing is useless, sure, but Fin is not influenced by his opinion. Fin just thinks this for whatever reason.
Fin’s father says at the 83% mark that he’s also worried about Abuelo so he understands why Fin made a recent, risky decision. Except we have not seen anything to indicate Abuelo’s worsening mood or outlook on life. Despite Fin saying the family has visited Abuelo everyday since his stroke at the rehab facility he was moved to, we are not privy to any of these visits. On the page we do not actively go with Fin to see Abuelo until 74% in. Before that the last time we saw him was at the 40% mark. On top of that, in-story it’s been over a month already.
Why not actually depict the visits? That way we can see alongside Fin how Abuelo's mental health is deteriorating. Then we’ll understand more fully why Fin is so adamant about this. It would also give some much needed development to Fin’s father and Abuelo’s relationship. The two don’t get along, haven’t since Fin’s father was a child and yet there is never any deeper explanation as to why this is.
If Fin’s father has any warring emotions about seeing his father so vulnerable when he has
such a contentious relationship with him we don't see it. If Fin’s determination to follow in, what he views as, his father’s selfish thrill seeking shoes causes him any deeper internal conflict we don’t know. Again, we don’t even know what exactly the crux is. I cannot emphasize enough how much these two seem to despise one another: it desperately needs a backstory.
The emotional core of the story - Fin’s father being resentful of his own father only to repeat that cycle with Fin - is wasted without actual conversations or examples as to how Abuelo dropped the ball. Fin’s hero worship of Abuelo when Abuelo takes pains to undermine his fathers’ reputation in front of Fin is never punctured. Fin never has to confront the fact that while Abuelo is a wonderful grandfather he made mistakes as a father. Similarly, Abuelo never has to swallow his pride to recognize he could have done better. It’s like the author is buying into Fin’s flawed narrative that it is really Victor's fault for being a ‘wet blanket’ rather than accepting different people have different ideas of fun.
While Fin’s father could be less prickly when it comes to Abuelo, he was the child in this situation - it is far more on his father to recognize his faults than it is on Victor to act courteous. Abuelo’s lucky he even allows him to interact with Fin at all. The least he could do is remain neutral about him instead of encouraging the derision.
The synopsis directly states Fin ‘finds himself in a race against time’ which is patently untrue. Like I mentioned above, this book takes place over a month. Without detailing Abuelo’s spiral, why does Fin need to find the treasure as soon as possible? Or alternatively why not create a deadline out of Victor's participation? Instead of letting this go into the school year, why not have him tell Fin he’ll only help up until school starts? Or why not make it so the bills for the rehab facility are too high and Fin thinks their only hope is to find the treasure? I felt no sense of tension or stakes.
The search was uneventful. Fin goes out with his father multiple times to check out the ocean floor and nothing happens. His dad doesn’t know how to dive so he doesn’t even get in the water. Fin encounters nothing of consequence when diving - it’s all the same boring water and rocks. His father hires a diver to go out on dives with them and the diver might as well not be there considering how flat a character he is.
Also, Fin resents his father hiring the diver because he thought they could do this together, but again this is just implicit bias against Victor because this is basic safety for Fin considering the fact that his father knows absolutely nothing about diving or driving a boat. It’s presented as if Fin is totally correct for being upset with his father for being ‘unreasonably’ cautious except it’s just him being aware of his own limitations as any normal, responsible parent would do. It’s not a ‘betrayal’ as Fin says; it’s common sense.
What is Victor going to do if Fin has an issue diving? Literally the first dive they go on the 'babysitter' - as Fin calls him - keeps Fin from going up right into the blades of a passing ship. Victor would never have been able to stop that from happening since he literally wasn’t even in the water.
Fin never learns anything in this book. He's always right about everything from his dad being a square, to the treasure, to not trusting the 'babysitter'. He has no growth. Even when it doesn’t make sense for him to be right - ie not wanting the diver to tag along - he’s right.
Fin judges his first babysitter by his cover and gets him fired. That’s when his father hires the next one who turns out to be evil. Fin feels bad about this so he wants to give some of the treasure money to the first guy so he can take care of his grandmother.
Fin never trusted the second guy even after finding out the first babysitters’ sad backstory so clearly he didn’t internalize any kind of message about judging people too quickly. Also, Fin doesn’t ever even apologize to the man or have any other contact with him beside this. Yet, he deserves money because Fin saw him take care of his grandma one time for two seconds? Even horrible people can be nice for two seconds. Why not make the guy an actual character? Or somehow contribute to saving the day? Or at the very least interact with Fin one more time? It’s insane the guy gets a major payday because Fin got him dismissed from a job because he was mad at his dad and the guy doesn’t even talk to Fin again. Especially when part of the reason the guy got fired was because he was being patronizing and sarcastic to Fin. So Fin wasn't judging a guy for his cover at all; he was judging his actual actions.
Fin and his dad don’t get any closer along the search either as like the Abuelo visits they happen off-page in passing. It makes the ending where everyone is supposed to have a newfound appreciation for one another feel unearned. There was not a true exploration of the family dynamics at play so it felt shallow. I had no idea why there was tension initially and by the end I still don't know why. How could they possibly have overcome anything when there was no discussion of what the problem was? This book desperately needed a heart to heart between somebody.
Fin finds the treasure not through ingenuity or planning or technological advancement, but through a dream his great grandfather randomly delivers. Rodriguez also presents the second babysitter as terrible for wanting a cut of 'their' treasure - don’t get me wrong there’s no excuse for holding someone hostage - but I think it's wild that they didn't plan on giving him anything in the first place considering the assistance he'd been providing the last month. Yeah, he didn't know exactly what they were looking for but he was contributing nevertheless. It doesn’t seem fair to not cut him in when they literally could not have found it without him since Victor would not have even gone out on the water.
Also, there was a lot of subtle shade towards medical staff. I totally understand that many people have bad experiences with nurses, doctors, etc. But, if you’re going to be making that point then at least commit to it. I didn’t like the almost passive aggressive way that it was written. Like every medical person in this book - admittedly there were not that many - was portrayed as incompetent on some level. This is further supported by Abuelo’s offhand remarks about how the rehab facility was ‘a prison’ and his sneering at their help. I know many people struggle with the loss of autonomy that comes with growing older, however, as I stated before his attitude about his circumstances was not fleshed out. On top of that, I found it off putting how this sentiment went unchallenged when this so-called prison and the workers there are the only reason he was able to regain his faculties after a stroke. Like sorry it’s undignified, but could you show a little appreciation? Especially since the people who have this opinion typically treat the staff like garbage.
Abuelo literally pulls out his IV at the end to leave in a show of his reawakened vitality. One, you cannot do that without causing severe pain. Two, did he not still need those? He’s still in the rehab facility for a reason. Three, it’s another signifier of what I was just saying: Abuelo didn’t need medicine or those silly doctors. This is laid out flat at the beginning of the book when Victor and Fin argue over going after the treasure in the first place. Victor argues Abuelo needs medicine. Fin argues he needs the treasure. Guess who turns out to be right?
Above all else, I think the biggest issue is that the book is rather dull. There needed to be a another kid for Fin to bounce ideas off of, pirates chasing them down, a contest, a boat race, just something to break up the monotony. I can acknowledge as an adult I care more about the construction of a novel than a child would, but I normally can at least say I can see why a kid might enjoy the book regardless. I, unfortunately, cannot even give that to Treasure Tracks.
March 2, 2023
2.25. This was entertaining, and apart from one aspect, it had a nice ending. Unfortunately that's where my praise stops.
For a lot of this book, the MC Fin complains about how his dad has hired a professional to supervise his diving. He thinks his dad is being overly-cautious and annoying. But his dad's deicison makes perfect sense because, as is pointed out in the book, it would be illegal for Fin to dive otherwise given his age, and Fin also makes near-fatal mistakes multiple times and is only saved because of the professional being with him. I totally get that parents can be overprotective, but this wasn't the case here so it was just frustrating to read.
Additionally, given the conflict outlined in the beginning of the book between Fin and his dad, and his dad and his abuelo, I thought there would be time taken for the characters to actively work on their relationships. This didn't really happen. When they ended up okay with each other at the end of the book, it didn't feel earned.
Furthermore, Fin finds the treasure through a deus ex machina-esque plot device.
Finally, I want to draw attention to two things that I found borderline problematic, and which I think other readers could find problematic, too. The first is when Fin is excited to go to a haunted area of the sea, and it is in this context where the fact is introducted that a slave ship sunk there, drowning the enslaved people on board. It made it seem like Fin was excited to see the ghosts of these enslaved people too, as if they were a spectacle, which probably wasn't the author's intention, but was disconcerting nonetheless. I feel as though this section could have been removed, and Fin could have still discussed this important part of history in relation to something else, for example, his general research into shipwrecks.
The second thing occurs in the ending, .
Rep: Cuban/Puerto Rican-American MC, Cuban-American SCs, Puerto Rican-American SC
For a lot of this book, the MC Fin complains about how his dad has hired a professional to supervise his diving. He thinks his dad is being overly-cautious and annoying. But his dad's deicison makes perfect sense because, as is pointed out in the book, it would be illegal for Fin to dive otherwise given his age, and Fin also makes near-fatal mistakes multiple times and is only saved because of the professional being with him. I totally get that parents can be overprotective, but this wasn't the case here so it was just frustrating to read.
Additionally, given the conflict outlined in the beginning of the book between Fin and his dad, and his dad and his abuelo, I thought there would be time taken for the characters to actively work on their relationships. This didn't really happen. When they ended up okay with each other at the end of the book, it didn't feel earned.
Furthermore, Fin finds the treasure through a deus ex machina-esque plot device.
Finally, I want to draw attention to two things that I found borderline problematic, and which I think other readers could find problematic, too. The first is when Fin is excited to go to a haunted area of the sea, and it is in this context where the fact is introducted that a slave ship sunk there, drowning the enslaved people on board. It made it seem like Fin was excited to see the ghosts of these enslaved people too, as if they were a spectacle, which probably wasn't the author's intention, but was disconcerting nonetheless. I feel as though this section could have been removed, and Fin could have still discussed this important part of history in relation to something else, for example, his general research into shipwrecks.
The second thing occurs in the ending, .
Rep: Cuban/Puerto Rican-American MC, Cuban-American SCs, Puerto Rican-American SC
September 29, 2024
A MG adventure that will pull kids in!
🤿
Fernando aka Fin loves going out on the boat with his grandfather to find a long-lost treasure that was swept out to sea, but when his abuelo collapses and ends up in the hospital, Fin decides to find the treasure on his own. Fin’s boring and unadventurous dad reluctantly agrees to help Fin, but hires a shady guy to take him out on the boat with them. Knowing this might be the only thing to get his abuelo back to his usual self, Fin braves sharks, a thief and more to find the treasure and save the day.
🌊
What a romping good time by author S. A. Rodriguez! I enjoyed Fin’s tenacity and his bravery in the face of danger. Great Cuban and Puerto Rican rep too. Fans of Outer Banks and shipwreck shows will devour this one!
CW: hospitalization, medical content, blood, injury, stroke, hurricane, property destruction
🤿
Fernando aka Fin loves going out on the boat with his grandfather to find a long-lost treasure that was swept out to sea, but when his abuelo collapses and ends up in the hospital, Fin decides to find the treasure on his own. Fin’s boring and unadventurous dad reluctantly agrees to help Fin, but hires a shady guy to take him out on the boat with them. Knowing this might be the only thing to get his abuelo back to his usual self, Fin braves sharks, a thief and more to find the treasure and save the day.
🌊
What a romping good time by author S. A. Rodriguez! I enjoyed Fin’s tenacity and his bravery in the face of danger. Great Cuban and Puerto Rican rep too. Fans of Outer Banks and shipwreck shows will devour this one!
CW: hospitalization, medical content, blood, injury, stroke, hurricane, property destruction
March 26, 2022
Treasure Tracks by Sallie Anne Rodriguez was a fun and quick read. You will not want to put this book down once you start. Make sure to go out and purchase this book on June 28th 2022. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux for this advanced copy.
July 27, 2022
A great YA book for read as I enjoy Shark Week on Discovery. I’ve been tuning in since the 90s for shark shows!
This book has a shark, underwater hunting g for a treasure, a plucky 12 year old who wants to help his abuelo and also gets closer with his dad. Possible treasure, pirates, secrecy, a semi-battle over the prize and much more is packed into it!!
Thanks to Macmillan for the copy.
This book has a shark, underwater hunting g for a treasure, a plucky 12 year old who wants to help his abuelo and also gets closer with his dad. Possible treasure, pirates, secrecy, a semi-battle over the prize and much more is packed into it!!
Thanks to Macmillan for the copy.
May 8, 2023
A pretty good book with adventure, family drama, treasure hunting, etc. No Florida book is complete without a hurricane.
July 3, 2022
I received a copy of Treasure Tracks from a giveaway on Twitter. Many of my students have never seen the ocean and probably never will, so reading about ocean adventures is a great experience for them and could also lead them to further reading about ocean animals. This is a true middle-grade book, a fast-paced book that explores family bonds and the true treasure that comes from being a part of a family. A great debut!
July 21, 2022
This book was so fun! There’s adventure, intrigue and thrill, mixed in with well-researched history. As a Latina, I found myself immersed in the characters. A very authentic, fast-paced and enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to Fin’s next adventure!
November 8, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
When Hurricane Irma threatens the Florida Keys, Fernando "Fin" and his abuelo Kiki leave and come to Fin's parents on the mainland, leaving behind the grandfather's boat, which the two were going to use to locate an almost century old lost treasure. Fin's great grandfather worked on a railroad that went over the water, Flagler's Folly, which was utterly destroyed by a 1935 storm. He had helped a man get a heavy suitcase on the train right before it went down, so family lore maintains that it had valuables in it. The greatgrandfather, as well as the grandfather, spent significant amounts of time looking for the treasure, to no avail. After staying with Fin's parents for a while, the two head back to the Keys to assess the damage and resume their search. Unfortunately, the grandfather has a heart attack while out on the boat. Quick thinking on Fin's part gets him airlifted to a Miami hospital, where they are met by Fin's parents. His grandfather recovers, but faces a long recuperation. Fin is desperate to complete his grandfather's mission to find the treasure, and his "boring" father goes to a lot of trouble and expense to help Fin, who has recently been certified to dive, go to various locations to look. Fin is glad to connect to his father, who fights a lot with the grandfather, but angry that his father hires people to help Fin dive. He's afraid they will want to steal the treasure if he gets close. Will Fin be able to locate the treasure and help his grandfather get better?
Strengths: This was fast paced and engaging, and featured very realistic family dynamics. Tweens are old enough to enjoy being with grandparents, but often are in the process of watching their inevitable decline. This doesn't wallow in grief, but shows Fin's displacement of that emotion-- if he can just find the treasure, his grandfather will get better. His parents are protective and supportive, but give him a lot of freedom. The diving details are great, the history of the railroad was fascinating, and Fin went about his mission in a fairly organized way.
Weaknesses: I was personally irritated with Fin because he was so ungrateful to his father, who was really trying to help him find the treasure even though he didn't really believe it was there, but younger readers will side with Fin! Also, why in the world does anyone live in the Florida Keys? Every time I read a book set there, it seems like SUCH a bad idea! Beautiful, I'm sure, but... no.
What I really think: This reminded me a bit of Sneed Collard's Double Eagle, and was a fantastic debut. Lots of action and adventure, treasure, and a compelling family dynamic makes this a book that should appeal to both students and teachers. This might even work for a science class read aloud, if marine biomes are being studied, and students will enjoy this.
When Hurricane Irma threatens the Florida Keys, Fernando "Fin" and his abuelo Kiki leave and come to Fin's parents on the mainland, leaving behind the grandfather's boat, which the two were going to use to locate an almost century old lost treasure. Fin's great grandfather worked on a railroad that went over the water, Flagler's Folly, which was utterly destroyed by a 1935 storm. He had helped a man get a heavy suitcase on the train right before it went down, so family lore maintains that it had valuables in it. The greatgrandfather, as well as the grandfather, spent significant amounts of time looking for the treasure, to no avail. After staying with Fin's parents for a while, the two head back to the Keys to assess the damage and resume their search. Unfortunately, the grandfather has a heart attack while out on the boat. Quick thinking on Fin's part gets him airlifted to a Miami hospital, where they are met by Fin's parents. His grandfather recovers, but faces a long recuperation. Fin is desperate to complete his grandfather's mission to find the treasure, and his "boring" father goes to a lot of trouble and expense to help Fin, who has recently been certified to dive, go to various locations to look. Fin is glad to connect to his father, who fights a lot with the grandfather, but angry that his father hires people to help Fin dive. He's afraid they will want to steal the treasure if he gets close. Will Fin be able to locate the treasure and help his grandfather get better?
Strengths: This was fast paced and engaging, and featured very realistic family dynamics. Tweens are old enough to enjoy being with grandparents, but often are in the process of watching their inevitable decline. This doesn't wallow in grief, but shows Fin's displacement of that emotion-- if he can just find the treasure, his grandfather will get better. His parents are protective and supportive, but give him a lot of freedom. The diving details are great, the history of the railroad was fascinating, and Fin went about his mission in a fairly organized way.
Weaknesses: I was personally irritated with Fin because he was so ungrateful to his father, who was really trying to help him find the treasure even though he didn't really believe it was there, but younger readers will side with Fin! Also, why in the world does anyone live in the Florida Keys? Every time I read a book set there, it seems like SUCH a bad idea! Beautiful, I'm sure, but... no.
What I really think: This reminded me a bit of Sneed Collard's Double Eagle, and was a fantastic debut. Lots of action and adventure, treasure, and a compelling family dynamic makes this a book that should appeal to both students and teachers. This might even work for a science class read aloud, if marine biomes are being studied, and students will enjoy this.
February 13, 2023
Treasure Tracks is the story of a 12-year-old boy, Fin (Fernando), who lives for adventure. He and his abuelo are two peas in a pod, and the duo has been busy looking for treasure in the Florida Keys. A family legend of a lost treasure chest motivates them to dive and search, even though abuelo's father died searching for the same treasure. I loved hearing the Spanish dialogue mixed into the English, and the references to Fin's Cuban/Puerto Rican heritage.
When Hurricane Irma hits the Keys, life is turned on its head for Fin's family. Shortly afterward, his abuelo suffers a stroke. Fin is convinced that finding the treasure is the key to helping his abuelo heal. Fin's father is not adventurous at all, something that Fin has always resented, but he agrees to take his son out to look for the treasure.
In order to drive a boat or go diving, Fin's father insists on hiring a "babysitter" to go diving with him. But can the babysitters be trusted? Will they be able to find the treasure against all odds?
Unfortunately, I did struggle a little bit with Fin's attitude. While it is most likely an accurate depiction of a 12-year-old boy's mind, I did get tired of how entitled he was and his disrespectful treatment of his father and other authority figures. It took longer than I would have liked to get any character development in this area. He makes some very dangerous decisions a number of times in the story. In addition, dishonesty seemed to be rewarded rather than having consequences. I didn't love how resentful he seemed of his Hispanic heritage and his parents' use of Spanish, though this may be an accurate representation of many 3rd or 4th generation immigrants. He just didn't seem like the best role model.
All in all, however, this was an enjoyable story, and very different from other books I have read recently. Woven into the story are many interesting facts about diving that were educational for me. I loved the tropical setting and the cultural elements, and of course the Spanish phrases woven into the story.
When Hurricane Irma hits the Keys, life is turned on its head for Fin's family. Shortly afterward, his abuelo suffers a stroke. Fin is convinced that finding the treasure is the key to helping his abuelo heal. Fin's father is not adventurous at all, something that Fin has always resented, but he agrees to take his son out to look for the treasure.
In order to drive a boat or go diving, Fin's father insists on hiring a "babysitter" to go diving with him. But can the babysitters be trusted? Will they be able to find the treasure against all odds?
Unfortunately, I did struggle a little bit with Fin's attitude. While it is most likely an accurate depiction of a 12-year-old boy's mind, I did get tired of how entitled he was and his disrespectful treatment of his father and other authority figures. It took longer than I would have liked to get any character development in this area. He makes some very dangerous decisions a number of times in the story. In addition, dishonesty seemed to be rewarded rather than having consequences. I didn't love how resentful he seemed of his Hispanic heritage and his parents' use of Spanish, though this may be an accurate representation of many 3rd or 4th generation immigrants. He just didn't seem like the best role model.
All in all, however, this was an enjoyable story, and very different from other books I have read recently. Woven into the story are many interesting facts about diving that were educational for me. I loved the tropical setting and the cultural elements, and of course the Spanish phrases woven into the story.
March 8, 2023
Fin's abuelo lives in the Florida Keys. He taught Fin to dive and now they love searching for a treasure chest his great abuelo says sunk in a train derailment in the hurricane of 1935. When the book opens, Fin and his abuelo must cut their diving trip short as Hurricane Irma (2017) begins to gain strength. They finally make it back to Fin's parents in Miami where they wait out the hurricane.
Once the storm has passed, Fin and Abuelo are right back in the Keys heading out to dive, but tragedy strikes and Abuelo must be airlifted back to Miami. Fin is not going to let that stop him, so his dad agrees to help him resume his diving expeditions. To Fin's dismay, his dad will only go for it if they have a certified diver on board. Fin is frustrated because he considers himself an excellent diver and more importantly, he doesn't want anyone discovering what he's looking for. After weeks of diving, Fin gets the break he's been looking for and the "hired babysitter" proves to be just what he feared.
There's a lot to like about this story. I've been along the highway to Key West and seen the remaining skeleton of the old Flagler railway, so I love all the historical mentions. Most kids have never been scuba diving, but probably have a romantic notion about it and think it would be cool to have Fin's life.
There were some character issues which are probably minor in the mind of a kid, but I'll mention. I didn't understand the animosity between Fin's dad and abuelo. Fin's dad didn't strike me as the type who would take Fin out diving since he himself didn't have an interest in it. I didn't understand where Fin's jerky attitude toward his dad came from, especially when he was going out of his way to help him.
As for the plot, it's fun. Full of adventure, with a little mystery and history mixed in. Kids will love the ending. I thought it was completely unrealistic. But who am I to spoil the fun?
Once the storm has passed, Fin and Abuelo are right back in the Keys heading out to dive, but tragedy strikes and Abuelo must be airlifted back to Miami. Fin is not going to let that stop him, so his dad agrees to help him resume his diving expeditions. To Fin's dismay, his dad will only go for it if they have a certified diver on board. Fin is frustrated because he considers himself an excellent diver and more importantly, he doesn't want anyone discovering what he's looking for. After weeks of diving, Fin gets the break he's been looking for and the "hired babysitter" proves to be just what he feared.
There's a lot to like about this story. I've been along the highway to Key West and seen the remaining skeleton of the old Flagler railway, so I love all the historical mentions. Most kids have never been scuba diving, but probably have a romantic notion about it and think it would be cool to have Fin's life.
There were some character issues which are probably minor in the mind of a kid, but I'll mention. I didn't understand the animosity between Fin's dad and abuelo. Fin's dad didn't strike me as the type who would take Fin out diving since he himself didn't have an interest in it. I didn't understand where Fin's jerky attitude toward his dad came from, especially when he was going out of his way to help him.
As for the plot, it's fun. Full of adventure, with a little mystery and history mixed in. Kids will love the ending. I thought it was completely unrealistic. But who am I to spoil the fun?
July 7, 2023
This was not bad. I think for kids who like adventure stories it would be good. I listened to it as an audio book and the narrator was decent. I did not struggle with listening to it.
The story was fairly fast paced the story was easy to get through in general. You do want to know what happens next and it keeps you wanting to read.
There were some unexpected twists definitely, but not in a bad way.
One weird quirk to the book, and I'm not sure how it worked in the physical novel, but in the audiobook there were a couple of points where the main character laughed and the narrator would then narrate "hee-hee", it is also written as this and seems to come across better in written format.
I am not a fan of how the nurses speak in the hospital either, it just feels very forced and fake, and while I know there are some cases where it is supposed to exemplify the nurse treating the main character as a little kid when he feels like he is not, at the end of the book when the family goes to see the grandfather the nurse is narrated as saying when the family enters the room "Oopsie. Seems he dozed off." and this line just feels out of place for her position.
It is not a bad book over all and I would still probably recommend it to kids who like adventure stories, but I would more likely recommend this to 4th/5th graders than 6th - 8th graders which is the grade level list I found this book on.
The story was fairly fast paced the story was easy to get through in general. You do want to know what happens next and it keeps you wanting to read.
There were some unexpected twists definitely, but not in a bad way.
One weird quirk to the book, and I'm not sure how it worked in the physical novel, but in the audiobook there were a couple of points where the main character laughed and the narrator would then narrate "hee-hee", it is also written as this and seems to come across better in written format.
I am not a fan of how the nurses speak in the hospital either, it just feels very forced and fake, and while I know there are some cases where it is supposed to exemplify the nurse treating the main character as a little kid when he feels like he is not, at the end of the book when the family goes to see the grandfather the nurse is narrated as saying when the family enters the room "Oopsie. Seems he dozed off." and this line just feels out of place for her position.
It is not a bad book over all and I would still probably recommend it to kids who like adventure stories, but I would more likely recommend this to 4th/5th graders than 6th - 8th graders which is the grade level list I found this book on.
January 20, 2023
Did not finish this contemporary adventure for ages 10-12. Taking place during Hurricane Irma in 2017, in the Florida Keys, there is some Spanish sprinkled throughout. The narrator, Fin, is Latinx, and his mom (mami) uses the most Spanish. His paternal abuelo is also an important part of the story. I stopped reading because I got tired of the narrator, and how he and his father talked to each other. They have a strained relationship, and his abuelo and dad don't get along, either. Again, the first-person narrative didn't work that well, using words a 12-year-old boy would never say. Fin, Abuelo, and Victor (dad) are too gruff and grumpy, and I wasn't enjoying it enough to continue. The book was a bit too masculine for me, but I'm assuming the 10-12 set will like it just fine. I read the first 100 pages. To quote a review by Andrea Beatriz Arango, "perfect for upper elementary or lower middle school kids looking for an adventure that involves pirates, treasure, and sharks. It's full of scuba diving, snorkeling, and exploring, and the MC has a family that's both Cuban and Puerto Rican, just like me! Bonus points? Lots of grandpa/grandson & father/son time, which I don't see as often in Latinx MG as I do grandmas and moms." MC means main character, and I'm assuming MG means middle grade. Very good author's note at the BEGINNING with some background info.
May 24, 2023
Some spoilers ahead.
Positives first - I love the portrayal of the Keys and the history. Cuban-American representation is good.
Meh - Mami kind feels like she's bordering on Puerto-Rican stereotypes and is minimally developed as a character. There are a lot of minor characters that could have been interesting if developed (like Sly). Most medical staff seem to be portrayed as inept. And no one just pulls out the IV and walks out of rehab magically "cured". There's also some gaps - like a few months of dives with nothing to find, few details on visits to abuelo in the research center, or more on the after effects of Irma.
Negatives - Fin never gets past this idea that only by finding the treasure can he "save" his grandfather. This is a terrible burden to bear and the ending of the story only reinforces it. The first person narration doesn't really feel like a 12 year old boy (no one says "hee-hee").
Fin's Dad is always portrayed as this unadventurous spoil sport, but he's usually being reasonable (not taking a 12 year old out diving when you have no diving experience is reasonable). His shift at the climax doesn't make sense and the strained relationship between him and abuelo is never dealt with. Abuelo eggs him on and they both are at fault for how the relationship has become.
Positives first - I love the portrayal of the Keys and the history. Cuban-American representation is good.
Meh - Mami kind feels like she's bordering on Puerto-Rican stereotypes and is minimally developed as a character. There are a lot of minor characters that could have been interesting if developed (like Sly). Most medical staff seem to be portrayed as inept. And no one just pulls out the IV and walks out of rehab magically "cured". There's also some gaps - like a few months of dives with nothing to find, few details on visits to abuelo in the research center, or more on the after effects of Irma.
Negatives - Fin never gets past this idea that only by finding the treasure can he "save" his grandfather. This is a terrible burden to bear and the ending of the story only reinforces it. The first person narration doesn't really feel like a 12 year old boy (no one says "hee-hee").
Fin's Dad is always portrayed as this unadventurous spoil sport, but he's usually being reasonable (not taking a 12 year old out diving when you have no diving experience is reasonable). His shift at the climax doesn't make sense and the strained relationship between him and abuelo is never dealt with. Abuelo eggs him on and they both are at fault for how the relationship has become.
May 29, 2023
This is an excellent book for middle-graders who like adventure and a fast-moving story. The 12-year-old protagonist, Fernando, is on a quest to find a lost treasure with his grandfather. Readers wade through a hurricane, a heart attack, a helicopter ride, all in the first 75 pages. Even reluctant readers will find this book accessible, but it is also accurate in its setting. The author clearly knows the details of the Keys in Florida, and even the hospital in Miami with a helicopter landing site. The writing is also detailed where it needs to be so that readers can feel as if they are there: "...the helicopter leaned to the left and lurched forward in a movement that pressed me back into my seat." Eventually, Fernando, his boater's license in hand, takes his father with him on the treasure hunt. But they don't go alone. His father insists on taking professional divers with them, causing a bit more trouble than necessary. Any boy or girl who ever craved a pirate adventure will find this realistic story easy to dive into and enjoy.
July 4, 2022
A very fun modern-day treasure hunt adventure that is super quick to read and absolutely fun! The characters are wonderfully fun and colorful and diverse - Cuban and Puerto Rican - and not only does the author draw on lots of local history, it's clear from every word she writes how much she loves the Keys. This book had me stopping more times than not to check pictures of the Florida Keys, to find the spots where the story took place, to research the ship wreck of the City of Washington and one day I really would love to visit!! (It's wonderful to read a book that gives you such wonderlust). On top of all of that, there's some wonderful lessons about living each day, not judging people by their looks, and the true meaning of family (even a treasure hunting family!). Cannot recommend enough!
July 19, 2022
Although this book is categorized as “Children’s Hispanic and Latino”, I must say that it touches a wider expanse of age ranges and generations then just that. The adult-themed undertones, if you will, of family bonding (between Fin and his father and grandfather), the passing down of traditions through multiple generations (great grandfather, grandfather, father and son), and the importance of family culture and heritage resonate among readers of all ages. The core principles we yearn for in humanity - paying it forward, being kind to others, not being so quick to judge and doing what’s right, to name a few - also resound quite nicely in this novel. Kudos to the author for being able to share these life lessons in such an easy-to-read and relatable way. Like Fin, I too am excited about the next adventure!
April 22, 2023
A combination of clunky narration, uninteresting characters, and an unengaging plot leave this novel floundering. Other than the climax of the novel itself, this book was very difficult for me to get through. This book was recently put on a summer reading list for my state and I don't anticipate seeing many students doing projects on it come the fall.
This novel also suffers from "definitely feels like an adult trying to mimic child dialogue" syndrome. As someone who spends multiple hours, every weekday inside a classroom with 12 year olds, most of Fin's dialogue and interactions feel extremely fabricated and unrealistic which clashes with the overall novel's genre. It's difficult to feel invested in a story when you're consistently pulled out of the "realistic fiction" based on the unrealistic nature of the main character.
This novel also suffers from "definitely feels like an adult trying to mimic child dialogue" syndrome. As someone who spends multiple hours, every weekday inside a classroom with 12 year olds, most of Fin's dialogue and interactions feel extremely fabricated and unrealistic which clashes with the overall novel's genre. It's difficult to feel invested in a story when you're consistently pulled out of the "realistic fiction" based on the unrealistic nature of the main character.
October 25, 2023
Treasure Tracks was a charming adventure story that swept me away on a sunny afternoon. Following 12-year-old Fin on his quest for long-lost treasure alongside his Abuelo Kiki was a delightful ride. The book struck a perfect balance between fun and excitement, making it an enjoyable and engaging read.
I appreciated how the author incorporated themes of family, determination, and resilience throughout the story. Fin's determination to continue the treasure hunt after his Abuelo's stroke tugged at my heartstrings and added depth to his character. The underwater world of the Florida Keys was beautifully described, and I could easily visualize the settings and immerse myself in the adventure. Though the story didn't delve into heavy themes, it was a great escape, allowing me to embark on a thrilling journey alongside Fin and his Abuelo.
I appreciated how the author incorporated themes of family, determination, and resilience throughout the story. Fin's determination to continue the treasure hunt after his Abuelo's stroke tugged at my heartstrings and added depth to his character. The underwater world of the Florida Keys was beautifully described, and I could easily visualize the settings and immerse myself in the adventure. Though the story didn't delve into heavy themes, it was a great escape, allowing me to embark on a thrilling journey alongside Fin and his Abuelo.
August 20, 2024
12-year-old Fernando "Fin" Ramon is OBSESSED with the ocean, so when he finds out about a lost family treasure, he is determined to find it. However, after Hurricane Irma occurs, all of his grandfather's charting has no meaning, so Fin has to restart the entire journey. One afternoon while he is out in the sea with his grandpa, his grandpa falls unconscious and they have to make an emergency trip to the hospital. Because of this and because of Fin's dad's wavering trust in Fin's diving skills, Fin is forced to have a diving "babysitter" even though he is looking for a secret family treasure. He thought his first babysitter was bad but his second babysitter was even worse, as he ended up hurting Fin's dad to get the treasure and ending up in custody!
Will Fin be able to save the treasure and his grandpa?
Will Fin be able to save the treasure and his grandpa?
June 3, 2022
A tiny treasure hunter in the making. Twelve-year-old Fernando “Fin” joins his grandfather on a quest to find lost treasure. Young fans of Indiana Jones will love this ocean based action movie in a book.
Abuelo is left injured after their first outing and Fin is joined by his father to help finish the search. But his dad isn’t exactly the adventurous type. More of the nagging nanny.
I love the Latinx representation in this book. Cultural elements like family ties and strong relationships with grandparents is front and center. Having a young boy as the main character with such a special bond with his family is such a crucial thing for boys to see at this influential age.
Bravery and love, adventure and mystery. A good one for all to read.
Abuelo is left injured after their first outing and Fin is joined by his father to help finish the search. But his dad isn’t exactly the adventurous type. More of the nagging nanny.
I love the Latinx representation in this book. Cultural elements like family ties and strong relationships with grandparents is front and center. Having a young boy as the main character with such a special bond with his family is such a crucial thing for boys to see at this influential age.
Bravery and love, adventure and mystery. A good one for all to read.
June 25, 2022
If Clive Cussler and Rick Riordan wrote a book together. This is the perfect adventure for middle grade readers.
Being a Conch myself, it was so cool to have a book set in the Florida Keys and to recognize so many of the places in the book. And the culture. Fin’s parents are definitely mainlanders!
The story itself moved along nicely, though I didn’t feel like there was a true villain during most of it to light a fire under Fin’s butt. Max becoming the villain at the end wasn’t shocking, but did feel out of charterer for him so was a fun twist.
The mix of Cuban culture into the book was also nice as it is a major part of the south Florida culture. But it’s also something I don’t see often in books.
Being a Conch myself, it was so cool to have a book set in the Florida Keys and to recognize so many of the places in the book. And the culture. Fin’s parents are definitely mainlanders!
The story itself moved along nicely, though I didn’t feel like there was a true villain during most of it to light a fire under Fin’s butt. Max becoming the villain at the end wasn’t shocking, but did feel out of charterer for him so was a fun twist.
The mix of Cuban culture into the book was also nice as it is a major part of the south Florida culture. But it’s also something I don’t see often in books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2022
A highly engaging ocean adventure story about Fin aka Fernando, a 12-year-old boy, who tries to carry out his grandfather's long-time, secret mission - to find a lost treasure chest in the ocean that his father (Fin's great-grandfather) told him about. Fin's grandfather becomes ill and Fin thinks finding the treasure will help heal him. Fin goes on many scuba dives, some in secret and some not, to keep looking for the treasure even when danger lurks from humans or fish. Conflicts among the family members in the story have an undercurrent of love and strong bonds.
Readers will love the feeling of anticipation while waiting to find out if Fin will ever find the treasure. I highly recommend TREASURE TRACKS.
Readers will love the feeling of anticipation while waiting to find out if Fin will ever find the treasure. I highly recommend TREASURE TRACKS.
July 10, 2022
Treasure Tracks is a story filled with wonder and adventure! I loved being submerged in water with Fin and his discoveries. The story behind the treasure his Abuelo searched for was fascinating. The setting of the florida keys instantly made me want to visit again. The story takes place against the backdrop of hurricane Irma and the subsequent devastation that resulted. The family dynamic and the father’s growth throughout the story was satisfying. Fin’s incentive for his determination for diving shined through. I loved reading this story so much! Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!
July 19, 2023
A family's ocean adventure at its best!
Hurricane history, family, culture, intrigue, and a lost treasure are all part of this cleverly written adventure that will delight middle graders and adults. An ode to sea-life, Treasure Tracks is a tale about family bonding, family dynamics, family legacy, culture, a hidden treasure and the value of listening, instincts, resilience, kindness and communication. Engaging and adventurous, each chapter is filled with action-packed scenes that spark imagination and remind us about many important life-lessons. Bravo, S.A Rodriguez! I can’t wait for Fin’s and Abuelo’s next adventure!
Hurricane history, family, culture, intrigue, and a lost treasure are all part of this cleverly written adventure that will delight middle graders and adults. An ode to sea-life, Treasure Tracks is a tale about family bonding, family dynamics, family legacy, culture, a hidden treasure and the value of listening, instincts, resilience, kindness and communication. Engaging and adventurous, each chapter is filled with action-packed scenes that spark imagination and remind us about many important life-lessons. Bravo, S.A Rodriguez! I can’t wait for Fin’s and Abuelo’s next adventure!
July 29, 2022
This book is exciting to the max. There’s hidden treasure, a hurricane, sharks, scuba diving, and so much more. Even though this takes place in modern times, there was something historical and magical about this story with the treasure aspect and the lush Florida Keys setting. I loved the family dynamics between the main character Fin, his grandfather, and his father—plenty of realistic tension there. I’m a fan of mystery and detective books, so of course I enjoyed Fin’s entire journey of searching for the treasure. Rodriguez wrote a middle grade gem.
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