The Lost Loot of Lima

The Lost Loot of Lima by Melissa Wray (Wombat Books), RRP $14.99 Middle Grade ISBN 9-781761-111600

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

The Lost Loot of Lima for lower middle grade readers is a fun read covering themes of losing a grandparent, 19th century piracy and tales from the history of Queenscliff, Victoria. The title and cover get us excited to read about a search for buried treasure, but this is a pirate tale with a twist and a racing heartrate at the end is guaranteed.

Ben is going to his Nan’s to stay for a few days but he’s apprehensive. It will be his first time visiting since his Pa passed away and he’s scared he might encounter Pa’s ghost in the house. He misses Pa, but Nan has a surprise in store. She’s set a treasure hunt for him, just like Pa used to do, and it includes a bona fide treasure map. The map has been passed down through the generations of Ben’s family and originally came from South America. But the most exciting part? Ben learns that his ancestor was the infamous pirate, Benito Bonito!

Creepy noises from the cellar at night, awkward visits from Pa’s best mate Doug, an ancient gold coin and an unexpected turn of events have Ben and Nan scrambling over the boulders by the sea, running for their lives while we, the readers, turn the pages for more.

My 8-year-old son’s verdict of The Lost Loot of Lima: “the story was slow to start, but once Ben learnt that he was the descendant of a pirate, it became really good, and I wanted to read it every night.”