Review: Instant Classic
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 6, 2012
Reminiscent of the Jean Craighead George novel, "My Side of the Mountain," "Lost Indian Gold" has the potential to be a classic.  Set in 1940 rural Mississippi, the narrative is told from the perspective of an eleven-year-old boy nicknamed Spud. When his family is evicted from their farm, Spud's family loads up the truck for a long-distance move. Along the way, the family stops to fish.  Young Spud goes off to find a good spot of his own, but misses the call to return. When the truck takes off and leaves him behind, Spud becomes lost. With the help of his fishing hook, a pocket knife, and his brains, Spud manages to survive.I loved the way this kid kept his head and relied on the basic survival skills he'd been taught by his family. Whether it was staring down the barrel of a shotgun wielded by a character straight from "Deliverance" or escaping the jaws of a hungry 'gator, Spud shows grit, spunk, and a likeable sense of humor. The story drips with authentic details, whether it be descriptions of the swampy snake-infested countryside or the life of a rural Southern family.Very well done adventure/suspense/historical fiction novel!