• Age: 9 to 14
• Grade: 4 to 9
• Reading age: 9 to 14

Joel and Emma never expected to spend the summer digging in the Money Pit, seaching for untold millions in gold and jewels on famous Oak Island. But soon after their adventurer uncle Jake telephones them in Britsh Columbia to ask for their help with the excavations, they're in the air flying to the coast of Nova Scotia.
Exploring the island on their bikes, Joel and Emma find intriguing hints of the treasure's whereabouts: an ancient rock painting and cryptic Latin inscriptions. When a mysterious old man appears and gives them one final clue, they're sure they have all the pieces of the Oak Island puzzle. But as Jake's dig starts to fall apart, they have to race to put the pieces together in time.
Set against the background of one of the most famous treasure hunts of all time, The Secret Treasures of Oak Island is the action-packed story of two childrens' summer quest for pirate gold.

J.J. PRITCHARD, born in Seattle, Washington, first became intrigued by Oak Island when he was a young boy and read a news story about the Money Pit. His interest flourished as more accounts about the exploration of the island were available in print and shown on television. He has an undergraduate degree in Cinematography from the University of Southern
California and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of California at Long Beach. He has worked in the investments field for more than 20 years. In 1993, Pritchard established the Helmets For Youth Foundation which provides bicycle safety helmets to low income children in Washington State, after he was in a near-fatal bicycle accident. Over 10,000 helmets have been distributed, free of charge. In 2000, he received a national Lifesaver Award, from the U.S.
Department of Transporation as recognirion for his efforts in transportation related injury prevention.

He lives on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, with his wife, two kids and three cats. He is the author of Quest for the Pillars of Wealth for young readers. The Secret Treasures of Oak Island is his first adventure novel.

J.J. Pritchard's profile page

"Pritchard has done a marvellous job of creating a suspenseful story ... this well-paced novel is a very enjoyable read!"

Canadian Review of Materials

"A treasure chest of fact, fancy and fiction to readers ages nine to 14."

The Bulletin and The Progress Enterprise