Spineless

By Samantha San Miguel

Part of the Spineless series

A boy discovers a new species and must protect it from a collector and a mysterious curse.

3.7/5 Goodreads · 515 ratings

256 pages· 47,392 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Algie Emsworth, at a health resort in Gilded Age Florida, stumbles upon a new species in the swamps. With a collector of exotic animals nearby and a strange curse causing chaos, Algie must unravel the mystery to save the creatures and the hotel. Can he protect his discovery from danger and uncover the truth behind the eerie events?

From the publisher

This exciting middle-grade adventure is Hoot for the Gilded Age–with scientific discoveries, secret plots, and surprisingly enormous fauna. When his asthma lands him at a health resort in the wilds of Gilded Age South Florida, twelve-year-old Algie Emsworth is over the moon. The scientific treasure trove of unexplored swamps may launch his dream career as a naturalist. But even Algie is startled when he happens upon a brand-new species and her brood in the karst springs surrounding the resort. Algie quickly realizes he must keep his discovery a secret: a famous collector of exotic animals is also staying at the hotel, and the new species is threatened by his very presence. An apparent curse has also descended upon the hotel, bringing with it a deadly red tide. But when the pool starts filling with ink and guests start getting mysterious, sucker-shaped wounds, Algie must pluck up his courage to find the truth about the goings-on at the Grand Hotel–and save the new species from destruction.

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