Published: July 04, 2011
Words: 32,091 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9780986967825

Short description

"A real page-turner, I couldn't put it down." - Alberta Writing for Youth Competition (anonymous judge) ***** "I did finish reading Ransom...I did enjoy it. The characters were unique, had grit, and brought their own unique elements to the story." - ECW Press ***** Three friends face off against a larger gang in a suspenseful story of integrity, bravery, and friendship in a territorial battle.

Extended description

A hot summer day and a typical trip into the woods for a raft ride and turtle hunt erupts into a gang war over territorial rights. Tony, Big Bill, and our protagonist, Squirt, are attacked by a gang and narrowly escape to lick their wounds. Their secret tree house is now exposed and ruined by the gang. They choose to up the ante, seeking revenge, thereby escalating the battle. However, there may be a slight hitch as the rival group is led by Fat Harold, Big Bill’s cousin. The trio decide to raid the rival gang’s hideout; stealing items and trashing the place. Their loot turns out to be inferior and poor compensation for the damage the gang caused on their tree house. Bill cajoles his two friends into returning to the scene of the crime to steal better items. It proves disastrous as they stumble into an ambush. Three against twelve are bad odds. Out-manned, out-sized, and outsmarted, they are shocked when Big Bill, their strongest and bravest, is captured and held for ra.. (Read more) A hot summer day and a typical trip into the woods for a raft ride and turtle hunt erupts into a gang war over territorial rights. Tony, Big Bill, and our protagonist, Squirt, are attacked by a gang and narrowly escape to lick their wounds. Their secret tree house is now exposed and ruined by the gang. They choose to up the ante, seeking revenge, thereby escalating the battle. However, there may be a slight hitch as the rival group is led by Fat Harold, Big Bill’s cousin. The trio decide to raid the rival gang’s hideout; stealing items and trashing the place. Their loot turns out to be inferior and poor compensation for the damage the gang caused on their tree house. Bill cajoles his two friends into returning to the scene of the crime to steal better items. It proves disastrous as they stumble into an ambush. Three against twelve are bad odds. Out-manned, out-sized, and outsmarted, they are shocked when Big Bill, their strongest and bravest, is captured and held for ransom.
All they need is an army--or a fantastic plan. Squirt and Tony must face their fears and rescue Big Bill from the clutches of the gang led by the formidable Fat Harold. Bill's very life and limb may be at stake. Or are they?
(Less)

Tags

friendship, courage, danger, bravery, adventure action, dangerous mission, loyalty and disloyalty, courage adventure

Available ebook reading formats

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Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)	Buy	Download sample
PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing)	Buy	No sample available
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LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub)	Buy	Download sample
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)	Buy	Download sample
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting)	Buy	No sample available
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page)	Buy	No sample available

Reviews

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Review by: Danielle Christine on May 02, 2012 :
I didn't think this book was going to keep my kid entertained but it did. No zombies or supernatural stuff just straight ahead action when three boys get attacked and caught by a bigger gang. One of them is taken hostage and the other two have to get their act together and rescue him. I used to read stories like this when I was a kid. It's nice to there's a few still around. Reminds me a little of Lord Of The Flies--boys left alone to fend for themselves. Good read for kids.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: David Dostaler on April 13, 2012 :
I found the start of this story a little dull. It's about three kids "Billy, Tony, and the main character whose name is never mentioned (or I missed it) who generally run around, build tree-forts, and do other kid stuff like that.

The end is 'very' funny though, if you get that far.

***

Warning: The rest of this review contains Spoilers on the Story!

***

One day they find a rival gang in their 'territory' and steal all the other kids gear from their tree fort. The other kids respond by kidnapping their friend Billy and threaten to cut off one of his fingers if they don't give everything back and 'in addition' their most prized possessions: a baseball mitt and a coonskin hat.

Instead of sensibly going to the police or a responsible adult, the two kids don't want to get into trouble so recruit Tony's older brother, Johnny, who owns a dirt bike and has a plan.

This is where the story gets really interesting and funny. Johnny has a stick of dynamite (really it's just a smoke flare). The two kids confront the gang and find out Billy was actually the gang leader's cousin. They're mad at him and tell the gang that they told a factory worker about the kidnapping.

Johnny in a mask comes jumping in like a psycho wearing a hard hat with the company logo on it. He screams and lights the dynamite stick. The gang freaks out and runs into their tree fort (who knows why). Johnny locks them in with a hammer and stick and breaks one board to toss in the 'dynamite'. The kids scream, piddle their pants, and generally pray for their life.

The main character laughs his head off. The smoke flare goes off and eventually the fat kid breaks out and a blast of smoke like a cannon shoots out of the tree fort.

To get a good feel for the story, I'd recommend checking out the sample. I hope this review helps you to make a more informed decision about whether to download this book or not.

Sincerely,

David L. Dostaler
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Helen Rose on Sep. 06, 2011 :
Three boys go to play in the forest and only two return.
It is the biggest and the bravest friend that is captured by a rival gang who are bigger and have more boys in it. The two boys find out their friend is a captive and to get him back they have to give up their prized possesions. They have to confront the gang and exchange the captive for the possessions. The boys have to outsmart the bigger gang. My son liked this book even though Harry Potter was nowhere in sight. It was good enough that I'll read the others by this author.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: C KYM on Sep. 02, 2011 :
Three boys end up in a gang war and have to save their friend who's been captured by a gang. They're not really brave or courageous kids and there's only three of them so they have to come up big time to rescue him before their friend gets hurt or their parents find out. A fun summer story about carefree boys. Worthy of four stars, I think.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

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