The Lunch Money Treasure by Gary Rivera depicts the adventures of Smoochie, an inquisitive girl starting sixth grade at Osceola Middle School. When Mr. Cavanaugh, a beloved camp counselor and school janitor, tells Smoochie and her friends the story about John and Mary—two students subjected to lost love—Smoochie is fascinated by their tale. John and Mary's story is connected to a hidden treasure that Smoochie hopes to recover to reunite them. Smoochie, her brother, and her friends diligently search for clues to the treasure in her school. She even relies on Luna, her neighbor, for help. At the same time, Smoochie grapples with her own feelings of first love and jealousy, making her quest all the more complex and intriguing. Nevertheless, each challenge helps her grow in kindness and courage as she navigates this riveting mystery.

Gary Rivera's The Lunch Money Treasure is a heartwarming and thought-provoking coming-of-age story. It takes readers on an emotional journey that creatively combines the protagonist's school life with themes like forgiveness and redemption. The author does a splendid job of blending the fantasy of a treasure quest with authentic teenage issues such as first love, family, community support, bullying, insecurities, and friendship. Smoochie is a relatable teen character driven by altruism and positivity. She also offers an engaging portrayal of teen angst as she navigates various adolescent experiences. Thankfully, the people in her life, her family, friends, neighbors, and Mr. Cavanaugh, add warmth and insight, which ultimately impact her character growth. Middle graders and readers who enjoy YA stories about the complexities of growing up will enjoy this heartfelt story.

Gary Rivera’s The Lunch Money Treasure: A Smoochie Adventure is a middle-grade novel that blends childhood friendship with the thrill of a mystery. The story centers on Smoochie, a young girl whose nickname reflects her curious and determined nature. After hearing a camp counselor’s story about a bully who buried stolen lunch money at Osceola Middle School, she becomes convinced that finding the treasure could help reunite the bully, John, with his former love, Mary. What starts as a playful search soon turns into a personal mission driven by her desire for happy endings and her belief in second chances.

Gary Rivera captures the way a sixth grader processes the world, blending pop culture references with the everyday rhythms of school, camp, and family life. The plot works on two levels. On the surface, it is a mystery-adventure story centered on a hidden treasure and the clues that might lead to it. Beneath that, however, it explores themes of forgiveness, the lingering effects of mistakes, and the search for meaning in stories passed down from adults. Rivera resists the urge to simplify his characters, allowing them to be flawed, caring, distracted, or stubborn in ways that make them genuine. Young readers will enjoy the puzzle-like aspect of the treasure hunt, while older readers may find themselves touched by the emotional stakes woven into the adventure. The Lunch Money Treasure is a lighthearted and thoughtful offering, presenting an engaging story that captures the curiosity and determination of youth while raising larger questions about forgiveness. It’s an excellent book for middle school classrooms. I highly recommend it.