Manuel and the Lobsterman

Sometimes two unlikely people make the best of friends. A sleepy town on the coast of Maine is the last place where thirteen-year-old Manuel wants to spend his summer. He'd give anything to be back in New Haven, with the greatest pizza in the world and a twelve-theater Cineplex around the corner from his house. So far, the only thing that Manuel has found to do is watch Zeke, a cranky old lobsterman, unload his boat. Manuel soon discovers that even sleepy New England towns can bring trouble. In a twist of fate, Manuel's future hinges on Zeke, who has a big secret that could yield a lot of money if he and Manuel can make it to an island and a lagoon filled with "black gold." This fast-paced adventure features two unforgettable characters and a plot that grabs the reader at every turn. "What in tarnation do you think you're doing?" Zeke shouted as he pressed a long, three-pronged stick against Manuel's chest. "Hey, don't hurt me, okay? Just give me a try, Zeke." Manuel pushed the stick out of the way and stood up. "Let me help you out for one day. If it doesn't work out I promise I'll never bug you again." "I told you before I don't need any help and I don't want you on my boat." "But, I'm here already. What do you have to lose? Besides, I can't swim and the nearest piece of land is at least a mile away." "Then that makes you a stowaway. Law of the sea says stowaways go overboard, whether they can swim or not." —FROM THE BOOK