One of Joelbooks’ Top 8 adventure novels for teens
Matt’s working journal
Matt’s dad left him the South Florida Fishing Guidebook with blank pages in the back. One summer in the Ten Thousand Islands filled them. This is that journal: every fish, every person, every place, every trick Dan taught him, chapter by chapter.
Open to Chapter 1 Browse the journal ↓
Reading the paperback? The code at the top of each chapter opens that chapter’s page here. No spoilers past where you are.
Twenty-three chapters
Pick up where you are
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Ch. 1 Off Ground -
Ch. 2 Welcome -
Ch. 3 Early Morning -
Ch. 4 The Monster of South Point -
Ch. 5 Unexpected Voices -
Ch. 6 Second Chances -
Ch. 7 A Tarpon to Remember -
Ch. 8 Dangerous Encounters -
Ch. 9 Wrong Place at the Wrong Time -
Ch. 10 Run for It -
Ch. 11 Escape to Lostman's River -
Ch. 12 The Storm -
Ch. 13 Hungry Visitors -
Ch. 14 The Unseen Giant -
Ch. 15 Silent Shadows and Warm Memories -
Ch. 16 A Dolphin in Trouble -
Ch. 17 Stranger in White -
Ch. 18 Push and Pull -
Ch. 19 The Return of Old Scarface -
Ch. 20 Finding an Old Friend -
Ch. 21 A Final Tarpon Entry -
Ch. 22 An Uncle's Promise -
Ch. 23 In It Together
The Chart
Every place on a real chart
Twenty-nine places from Chokoloskee down to Lostman’s River, with Matt’s route drawn for every chapter that goes somewhere. Linda’s hand-drawn map lays over the real coastline so you can see where the houseboat stuck on the oyster bar.
Ch. 1 · Flight into NaplesCh. 2 · Tahoe to ChokoloskeeCh. 3 · First client tripCh. 7 · Old Scarface, round oneCh. 8 · Comer Key campingCh. 9 · Dawn at Pavilion KeyCh. 10 · Run for itCh. 11 · Escape to Lostman'sCh. 14 · Into the backcountryCh. 17 · Finding DocCh. 19 · Trolling homeCh. 21 · To Doc's houseCh. 23 · Alligator Alley home
23 species
Fish
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Common snook Fishing royalty. The black lateral stripe is the tell-tale. Matt's 36-inch, 20-pound monster at South Point… Ch. 1Ch. 2Ch. 4Ch. 5 +2 -
Tarpon ('silver king') The trophy fish of South Florida and the tournament's main event. Old Scarface. Rose's 68-inch, 81-pound… Ch. 1Ch. 2Ch. 7Ch. 8 +3 -
Redfish (red drum, 'spot-tail') The first keeper Matt ever caught, at Comer Key. Rose's cooler-toppling redfish at the marina. The 22- and… Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 7Ch. 8 +1 -
Spotted seatrout 'Grass bed fishing meant trout.' Three keepers on the first client trip; Dave's trout off Little Pavilion Key. Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 7Ch. 16 +1 -
Mangrove (gray) snapper Dave's 22-incher; the snapper bonanza at the river mouth ('leave that snapper in the water, it'll attract… Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 7Ch. 13 +2 -
Grouper (goliath / gag) Matt's favorite eating fish. The 'unseen giant' that dragged the anchored Bonefisher across the channel; the… Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 13Ch. 14 +2 -
Shark on the beach ('Mako') Black dorsal fin and red eyes in the lantern light at Comer Key. Dan cuts the line: 'There is such a thing as… Ch. 8 -
Hammerhead shark Arrives at the ghost net while Matt is freeing the baby dolphin; driven off by the mother dolphin. Ch. 16
17 of them, counting the pelicans
Crew
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Matthew 'Matt' Creek protagonist Ch. 1Ch. 3Ch. 4Ch. 5 +18 -
Daniel Walter Panther Jr. ('Uncle Dan') Matt's uncle, charter captain Ch. 1Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 4 +13 -
Snapper Dan's neighbor, retired guide Ch. 2Ch. 7Ch. 8Ch. 9 +13 -
Rose Matt's oldest friend Ch. 1Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 4 +5 -
Doc Brown Old fishing guide and retired Navy physician Ch. 16Ch. 17Ch. 18Ch. 19 +2 -
'Rawley' Simms Grocery-store owner / undercover FBI agent Ch. 2Ch. 5Ch. 9Ch. 10 +2 -
James W. Creek ('Dad') Matt's late father Ch. 1Ch. 5Ch. 15Ch. 22 +1 -
Josh and Ben Matt's ten-year-old twin brothers Ch. 23 -
Old Scarface The legendary tarpon Ch. 7Ch. 19 -
Bertha and Oscar Pelicans of the rookery Ch. 2Ch. 5
19 critters
Critters
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Brown pelican Bertha and Oscar; the hooked pelican Snapper carries to the door; the fish-head thief at Lostman's. Ch. 2Ch. 5Ch. 7Ch. 13 +1 -
Bottlenose dolphin The playful pair at Lopez River; the mother who rams the hammerhead and bites her calf free of the net. Ch. 3Ch. 16 -
American alligator The marina gators tourists get too close to; the grouper thief at Lostman's; Alligator Alley; the poachers… Ch. 3Ch. 13Ch. 23 -
Cottonmouth (water moccasin) The snake drawn to the lantern at Comer Key. Ch. 8 -
Mangroves Everywhere. The hideout at Pavilion Key, the storm tie-off, the overhangs where snook wait. Ch. 3Ch. 9Ch. 12Ch. 14
12 boats and a Tahoe
Boats
34 terms, five knots
Tackle Box
29 places, painted
Places
Summer to-do
Matt’s List
- Learn a new word each day · Ch. 1
- Mental rebound · Ch. 1
- Smile like you're awesome · Ch. 1
- Change is good (remember)
- Be an amazing fishing boat captain's assistant · Ch. 23
- Get the girl · Ch. 23
- Get into trouble · Ch. 9
- …and 11 more.
11 drawings by Linda McKillop
Sketchbook
The book
Escape to Lostman’s River
An Everglades adventure novel by Linda & John McKillop. One summer, one houseboat, one legendary tarpon. One of Joelbooks' Top 8 Short Adventure Books for Teens.
Next summer
Hear when the airboat is running
The sequel is in the works. One email when there’s news, none otherwise. No spam, no sharing your address.