by Roald Dahl
First published 1999
A routine day in the fields takes an unexpected turn when English plowman Gordon Bucher unearths a stunning hoard of ancient Roman silver. Dazzled by the value of his discovery, Bucher tries to keep it secret, but word soon spreads. A vicious tug-of-war erupts as opportunists, thieves, and authorities all vie to claim the Mildenhall treasure. Bucher finds himself outmatched, outmaneuvered, and in over his head as the high-stakes conflict threatens to destroy him. In the end, this savage parable lays bare the corrosive power of greed and the fragility of innocence in the face of unchecked avarice.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, thriller
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: greed, innocence
Setting: England, Mildenhall (Suffolk), Mildenhall (Suffolk, England)
80 pages · Hardcover · Knopf Books for Young Readers