The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island by Linda Maria Frank with illustrations by Marianne Savage is a wonderful mystery story that is sure to entertain young readers. Set in 1947 at a small Catholic school on a remote island, it follows the adventures of five kids who form a secret club to investigate what happened to the money that disappeared from the church vestry; money that was raised by their class over an entire year to buy toys for orphans in New York City. After a beach shack they use as their clubhouse burns down and other suspicious and threatening events occur around them, can the Buccaneers, their families, their Native American and “beach people” friends find the clues to get the money back, and just how deep does this crime go?

I enjoyed The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island. Linda Maria Frank gives us an engaging tale told primarily through the eyes of a determined young girl, code-named Sprocket, who is the leader of the Buccaneers. The well-paced narrative takes full advantage of the mysterious pirate-themed history of the island as well as the cultural variety of its current residents and the stereotypical milieu of a Catholic school. The full-color illustrations bring Sprocket, her multi-talented gang, and other characters to life as they move from one surprising clue or plot turn to another. I especially appreciated the Native American context as well as WWII references such as the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), Rosie the Riveter, and others. A fun read.

The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island: Sibby's Secret is a children's mystery adventure novel by Linda Maria Frank. After Lily and her friend Frank find Sibby Fintail, the bay constable of St. Frederick Island, beaten and left knocked out in one of the caves on the island, they are determined to solve the mystery. Alongside the fellow eighth-grade members of their sleuth club, the Buccaneers, the duo delves into the investigation. Meanwhile, town council member Lois Crammer breaks into the offices of The Foghorn, the local newspaper owned by Lily's mother, Becca Dawes, and tries to steal crucial documents related to the property rights of the caves. Additionally, Becca barely dodges a kidnapping attempt while a mysterious speedboat almost rams into Sibby's boat. Are these events related? Will the Buccaneers be able to find the truth?

If you're a fan of Enid Blyton's books or sleuth adventure mysteries in general, The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island: Sibby's Secret is an absolute must-read. Linda Maria Frank has crafted an enthralling tale steeped in adventure, mystery, and drama that young readers will find exciting. Using a fast-paced plot featuring many twists and turns, the author takes you on a sleuth mystery ride you don't want to get off. Although primarily written for children, I think even young adult adventure lovers will enjoy this book. The cast of characters is compelling and immensely likable, especially the members of the Buccaneers. Even the secondary characters, such as Becca and Sibby, will have readers rooting for them. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to preteen and young teenage readers.

In The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island: Sibby's Secret by Linda Maria Frank, Lily "Sprocket" Dawes and her friends with code names like Wingnut, Ratchet, Bletch, and Snap Shackle uncover clues after their friend, Sibby Fintail, the Bay Constable, is attacked while searching caves. The children belong to the secret society, the Buccaneers, a group organized to investigate strange occurrences. The Buccaneers know the caves well, and it doesn't take long for Sprocket's mother, Becca Dawes, to remember that the North Breeze Tribe owned the caves when she discovers a councilwoman trying to take her notes about them. A kidnapping, a threatening picture, and a map that washes up in a nearby cove deepen the mystery.

Linda Maria Frank builds a tight-knit community with quirks and strengths in the narrative. The characters connect easily and lend their talents to help everyone on their small island. The children's unique nicknames make the characters relatable and more entertaining. Within the story, Frank provides terminology, like parts of a ship, that helps readers build their vocabulary as they move through the chapters. The author's full descriptions put readers right on the island as the Buccaneers uncover clues and solve the crimes. The illustrations by Marianne Savage give readers a clear picture of the characters. With her background in teaching forensic science, Frank assembles and breaks down clues in the story effectively. Reading The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island: Sibby's Secret is like diving into a classic young adult mystery with characters who feel like they're friends.

The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island: Sibby's Secret by Linda Maria Frank takes young readers on an exciting adventure. Lily and her crew return for another dangerous mission that kicks off with a daring rescue instigated by Lily (using her code name Sprocket, of course) and her partner Wing Nut (real name Frank). A trail of clues leads them into the caves where they make a startling discovery: a beaten-up Sibby! The caves are where Sibby harvests crystals and now they’re under threat by strangers that want to take them from the native tribe. Meanwhile, Becca worries about the children’s safety when her own safety is threatened just as various attacks send the Buccaneers scrambling for answers.

The world of the Buccaneers is inventive with a unique atmosphere that feels timeless and fun. This creates the background of adventure for the clever Buccaneers to use their wits in solving the mystery and proving that nothing is too big for them to handle. The caves are at the center of the mystery because of their importance to Sibby and to the tribe, which also ramps up the stakes that the children are facing. The setting occurs on tribal land which places lovely elements into the story such as an appearance by the Tribal Police and is a refreshing setting that is not often seen. The story blends clever sleuthing, delightful antics, and daring adventure with a 1940s flavor to provide a classic mystery flair. The storytelling style is reminiscent of well-loved mysteries such as Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldon, or the Hardy Boys. Humor is a tactic that Linda Maria Frank uses to create an upbeat lightness to keep the adventure fun and is derived from the Buccaneers’ antics. The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island: Sibby's Secret is a charming read that brings a classic feeling into the present with engaging characters, daring adventure, and a clever mystery.

There’s something amiss on St. Frederick Island – again! And the buccaneers, Lilly (code name Sprocket) and Frank (code name Wing Nut), are in for another adventure and a big mystery to solve before someone else gets hurt. In Linda Maria Frank’s The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island: Sibby’s Secret, local fisherman and bay constable, Sibby Fintail, goes missing only to be found by the buccaneers. Sibby is unconscious, and was badly beaten while harvesting some crystals from the island’s caves, crystals he uses in his artwork. Who could have done this terrible deed? And why? When Lilly’s mother, Becca, goes missing, the young people fear the worst and they put their sleuthing skills into high gear to solve the mystery and find Becca before it’s too late.

Linda Maria Frank’s young people’s novel, The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island: Sibby’s Secret, is the second book in the St.Frederick Island series. Most of the story is told in the first-person narrative from Lilly’s point of view. The language is simple and the author uses lots of dialogue to move the story along with ease. The characters are well developed and the plot moves forward with rising tension, lots of adventure, and a dash of humor to make it realistic as well as a fun read. There are some interesting and detailed black-and-white drawings by Marianne Savage to add drama to the plot. The story will inspire young readers to take note of the world around them, to work and collaborate with friends and family, and to use their clever skills and imaginative powers to find adventure at every turn in their lives.