Deadman's Island

About the Book

"Jacob Bernard (better known to family and friends as ´HuggyBuggie´ or Huggy for short), has just experienced great changes in his young life. Following the tragic accident that killed his parents, he has moved from South Portland, Maine to a small town in Louisiana. Huggy has settled in to live with his Aunt Diddy and Uncle Bobby, who, like his dad, is a police officer. Huggy starts school and in no time makes a friend, a little Cajun girl named Posie, and an enemy-the class bully appropiately named, ´Bubba.´ While on his first fishing trip with his Uncle Bobby and Posie, he adopts a stray dog living in the swamp, that saves Posie from the deadly bite of a poisonous snake, and names him Scooter, the same name as his dog he lost along with his parents. While fishing, he becomes intrigued by a place called "Deadman´s Island." Located deep in a remote area on Bayou LaFitte. Local lore has painted an air of mystery around it, with fisherman and hikers alike, disappearing without a trace! Though deep in the countryside, the realities of the modern world, have intruded upon the inhabitants of this quiet community. Uncle Bobby is the lead investigator in a hunt for a drug lord rumored to be operating in the vicinity. As Huggy explores his environs and makes a life for himself in his new home, he, Posie, and Scooter play a vital part in the local war on drugs, after his Uncle is taken captive by the drug lord and held prisoner in the caves of Deadman´s Island. The locales of Louisiana and Maine offer an interesting contrast, although the action takes place in the South. The adventures begin quietly, but the pace picks up with several surprising revelations, followed by even more dramatic and surprising events. With strong characterization and patient plot developement, author, B. Franklin MacVane has written a rousing adventure tale, with warm human relations, and family values, for middle readers and adults that not only tells the tale of a plucky youngster, but also contains a strongly effective anti-drug message. In all, this is a well-constructed adventure novel, and a real good read."

About the Author

B. Franklin MacVane was born in Portland, Maine. His ancestors were all sea-going men, from building schooners and whalers on the Presumpscot River, to being lobster fisherman. The author chose a flying career and is a former instructor pilot at Keesler Air Force Base, a former corporate and airline pilot. He is a veteran, having served on active duty for almost eight years. Mr. MacVane has four children, Catherine, Timothy, Ben and Shellie-Kate. He has three brothers, Robert and Richard, living in Maine with their families and Edward and his family, living in Falls Church, Virginia. He is extremely proud of his oldest daughter, Catherine, who will soon graduate from the University of Maine, with degrees in Nursing, and business. Accomplishing this alone, while raising her son, buying her home, working 55 hours a week, plus carrying a full load at the University. She is truly an inspiration to all single mothers, and to her peers. Mr. MacVane's faith in our young people of today has prompted him to allocate a percentage of the proceeds from his books to St. Judes Children's Hospital, in Memphis, Tennessee, and to the Shriner's Children's Hospital's nationwide. (Of which there are 22 in number!) Mr. MacVane has lived in Louisiana for the past 22 years, returning to Maine often. He currently resides in Baton Rouge.