Finders Keepers

What do a tough 10-year-old girl, a lonely 11-year-old boy, and a grumpy grandfather do when they're thrown together for the summer? Look for treasure, of course! Al Capone's hidden loot is a Northwoods legend, but Christa, Alex, and Alex's grandfather, "Grumpa," have reason to believe the money is no myth. What's more, Christa feels certain she can save her family's beloved lake cabin if she can find the hidden mob money. Sharp, earnest dialogue among the engaging, multigenerational cast keeps the plot moving briskly as what starts as a quiet story of summer friendship and a family's financial struggle builds to a dramatic conclusion with collapsing tunnels, near-drownings, and even a death. Christa and Alex are the foundation of Tougas's (The Graham Cracker Plot) imaginative adventure, quick friends and determined detectives, building a friendship fueled by Grumpa's steady stream of orange soda and the comforting realization that they are the same kind of weird%E2%80%94their imaginative roleplaying as adventurers Chase Truegood and Buck Punch is almost as fun as their actual treasure hunt. Ages 8%E2%80%9312. Agent: Susan Hawk, The Bent Agency. (Sept.)