DogStar (A Sirius Mystery)

Juneau, Alaska, 1933. This is where 13-year-old Jeff Beacon gets stranded when his parents take him on a cruise to help him get over the death of his beloved dog, Buddy. The problem: Jeff is a millennium kid, with a laptop computer and hightop sneakers. Why has he been transported to the Alaskan frontier? And how can he find his way home? Jeff must answer these questions quickly — and his only help is the town's bull terrier, Patsy Ann. With Patsy Ann as his guide, Jeff befriends the gruff Captain of the DogStar and an adventurous girl named Rose, and uncovers a dangerous secret. When the Captain, Rose, and Jeff hatch a plan to set things right in Juneau, Jeff must make a surprising choice about going home — and Patsy Ann holds the key.

A time-travel adventure story, DogStar contains plenty of fast-paced action involving counterfeit money, sunken ships, and lost treasure. But its theme is more serious. Returning to the present helps Jeff discover the true treasure — his ability to keep Buddy alive in his heart forever.