Jameson, a professional treasure hunter, teacher, and editor, continues his “Buried Treasure” series, which now numbers over a dozen titles. Each book begins with a brief introduction to the area, including the source of treasure. In the case of Buried Treasures of the Great Plains, the source is not piracy but returning gold miners who buried their wealth whenever they expected danger on the road. The stories all bear the same key elements: a short explanation of how the gold was earned or discovered; the reason it was buried, with a sketchy description of the location; how it was subsequently lost because the owners died or the terrain was drastically altered; a discussion of attempts to locate the treasure; and, finally, a challenge to the reader to find the lost treasure. Jameson is a good storyteller and has done extensive research in tracking down all these tales, but real treasure hunters will need much more detail to find the loot. These could be popular with younger readers and may even be highly requested in areas specific to the various titles.John Kenny, San Francisco P.L.
School Library Journal
Gr 4-8Two additions to a series of books about unclaimed treasure, each focusing on a different region. The titles are divided by state into chapters that include two or more stories concerning gold, jewels, money, and other valuables. Background about how the fortunes were acquired, buried, or misplaced is given, as are retellings of failed modern attempts to uncover and retrieve them. The stories appear to be thoroughly researched and are written in a lively, narrative style. Jameson features the typical pirate legends, such as Blackbeard, but also makes readers aware of the lesser-known reasons for lost treasure, such as weather-related shipwrecks and inland burial sites that are difficult to find. State maps indicate the probable locations of the lost booty discussed. An interesting piece of history for nonfiction and adventure buffs.Rita Soltan, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI.
AVAILABLE FROM THE FOLLOWING:
Amazon in Print: Buried Treasures of New England
Barnes & Noble in Print: Buried Treasures of New England