Wrecker

Valdez Jones VIII—better known as Wrecker—is about to discover that salvaging shipwrecks runs in the family, but so does trouble.

When Wrecker stumbles upon a speedboat run aground on a Key West sand flat, he thinks he’s just witnessing another boating mishap. But the sketchy men aboard offer him cash to forget what he’s seen, and suddenly, Wrecker’s simple life of Zoom school and hanging with his pet iguana gets a whole lot more complicated. These strangers keep appearing everywhere—lurking at the marina, prowling through the cemetery, even showing up at his doorstep. Now they want more than his silence. They want him as their lookout.

Master storyteller Carl Hiaasen delivers another rollicking Florida adventure packed with his signature blend of ecological mystery, laugh-out-loud humor, and genuine heart. Wrecker must navigate a treacherous world of smugglers and grave robbers while staying true to his conscience—all before his next Zoom class starts. It’s a wild ride through the quirky, sun-soaked underbelly of the Keys, where the water is turquoise, the characters are unforgettable, and danger lurks beneath the surface.

Perfect for middle-grade readers who crave action, mystery, and stories where kids outsmart the bad guys, Wrecker proves once again why Hiaasen is beloved by young readers and adults alike. This paperback edition brings all the adventure of Key West right to your fingertips—no sunscreen required.

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