The main character, Turtle, is eleven years old and lives in Key West, Florida during the Great Depression.

As the summer begins to draw to a close, Turtle and the boys hear rumors of buried pirate treasure somewhere in the Keys.

Believing that the treasure would improve their lifestyles, Turtle and the gang set to find it, but are caught off guard when a hurricane hits the Keys and they are forced to take shelter in a shack.

Once the hurricane passes, they take their discovered loot and head home where Turtle finds her mother and Archie Meeks, a cunning conman, are waiting for them.

Before she knows what's happened, Turtle comes out of the shell she's spent her life building, and discovers a world that's more exciting than any Hollywood blockbuster.

The sales rank 96,734 in 6 months Reed Elsevier in Publishers Weekly in 2010 states "Turtle, the witty 11-year-old narrator of this standout historical novel, is a straight shooter.

Though her narrative is peppered with references from the time, modern-day readers will have no trouble relating, and the fast-moving plot will keep them interested to the end.