Spineless

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.

After months away at boarding school, Lulu Davenport was looking forward to summer vacation at her home on the southwest Florida coast, especially since her best friend, Algie Emsworth, will be spending his vacation with the Davenport family. But since his widowed mother has fallen on hard times, he’s gotten a job nearby that keeps him away from the house most of the day. And Frankie, Lulu’s sister and usual companion, is out of commission after injuring herself while sailing.

Frankie Davenport; her sister, Lulu; and their best friend, Algie Emsworth, are eager for their next adventure. When they see an ad in the local paper for a river cruise and hear rumors of a monster in that very same river, they know that this is just the trip for them. During an outing, the trio stumble upon a strange creature in distress. Could this be Sabrina, the fabled river monster? When an unidentifiable aquatic corpse is discovered, Professor Champion, Frankie’s nemesis, is called in to investigate.