about the book
It’s an alternate universe where computers were invented in the 1880s. Now, only a century later, they have failed, along with all other electric devices, and steam technology has taken over. The most lucrative occupation is now exploration, as this alternate Earth has more lands than ours. One of the greatest explorers of all time has just died, and he has left behind a very important piece of a map to his kids…
Those kids are Zander, Kit, and M.K. West. Their father actually created the map in question, but they only have half of it. Even this half is exciting, though, as it seems to suggest that their father has found the lost gold of the early Spanish conquistadors! But of course they cannot find it without the other half.
Who has it? Can they trust whoever does? The Bureau of Newly Discovered Lands, a powerful branch of the government, is eager to help the children—that is, until they can get their hands on the map and keep it for themselves.
Now the West children, along with their bionic parrot named Pucci and a new friend named Sukey Neville, daughter of another famous explorer, must go on the run to save their lives and fulfill the memory of their beloved father.
Will the Expeditioners find the gold?
about the author
Born in Long Island, New York, Sarah Taylor is a children’s book author, a mystery writer, and a gothic novelist. She studied creative writing at Middleburg College and at Trinity College in Dublin. She teaches literature and writing at the Center for Cartoon Studies. Sarah lives with her husband and small son on a farm in Vermont.
Source:
Author website
Author spotlight: Cracking the Cover
about the illustrator
Katherine Roy grew up in California and now calls New York City her home. But these are not the only places she has ever lived: she has lived in six different states as well as two countries, and one time her home was limited to a 138-ft schooner sailing on Puget Sound in Washington State!
Katherine loves traveling and adventures. She is also fascinated by life of all kinds, none more than great white sharks. Her first nonfiction project is about great whites and how they hunt, specifically off the coast of her childhood home in California.
Source:
Illustrator website
Also illustrated by Katherine Roy:
Buried Beneath Us : Discovering the Ancient Cities of the Americas by Anthony Aveni. Roaring Brook Press. 2013.
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