A Discovery From "Across the Pond"

At first glance. most readers in the United States will think there is little to be said about this chapter book. The key characters, Tempest and Wallace, are English preteens as the eye catching cover image by illustrator Macha Yao shows. Also, the plot seems to be a Nancy Drew rip-off - curious innocents on a hidden treasure hunt. Yet, readers who pass up London-based author Ariane Chapelle's, Tempest and the Brighton Treasure, will deprive themselves of a literary treat.

The plot is straightforward, even though the setting might be about a place unfamiliar to American youth. Brighton, the UK's most famous seaside amusement, like Atlantic City, New Jersey in our country, is not hard to imagination. Even so, the easily readable story includes a quick history of how the 1850 Brighton Palace Pier came into existence. That background breeds leads into the mystery. Tempest and Wallace befriend a sister and brother, Jane and Oliver Dalton, related to the pier’s creator who themselves seem to be a blast from the past. The new acquaintances claim to be near their age, yet Chapelle’s plot twists make readers wonder.

More, the visuals - arcades, games, rides, barkers, and crowds - come alive through descriptions of the meals and environs. Tempest and Wallace's grandmother makes certain they stay fed and warm. Nonetheless, the highly atypical senior citizen is a cut-up.

The author sketches Tempest so real that readers will smile how the 12-year-old who brags about her disinterest in boys slowly warms up to Oliver Dalton. For the curious, a treasure exists, and there is even a sort of villain who tries to keep it away from Tempest's crew. The race for the prize resolves, but the end is not predictable.

Tempest and the Brighton Treasure, is an excellent story for youths who love imagination, far-off adventure and mystery. The story could be a great addition to a school library. Better, the tale might be a gift for a grandparent or parent to encourage a fourth- or fifth-grader to discover the joy in a simple read.