First published 1982
Thirteen-year-old Simon boards a ship to Venezuela with his cousin Poly. But the voyage takes a dark turn when a fellow passenger is found dead. Simon and Poly find themselves drawn into a mystery with roots in the revolutionary history of Simon Bolívar. As they uncover unexpected connections to an indigenous tribe, Simon must confront his own doubts and fears to unravel the truth. At its heart, this is a story of family, identity, and the powerful legacy of the past.
Genres: family, historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, young-adult
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, mystery-thriller
Setting: Venezuela
320 pages · Paperback