National Treasure: A Gates Family Mystery Changing Tides

They've made a mistake on the product review. The noval isn't about Benjamin Gates or the Templar Treasure, its about Ben Gates' ancestors and how the Gates family migrated to America. In 1612, just as America is first being colonized, Samual Gates and his family are living in London. Having always been drawn to brave explorers and tales of treasure in far off lands, Samual is dissatisfied with his poor simple life but cannot escape it, having little money. Then not long after, his father makes a foolish mistake that costs the Gates family everything. Determined to save his family and restore the Gates's reputation, Samual and his brother, William, travel to the Americas and the newly organized Jamestown, hoping to find a fortune that will help their fate. As they cross the ocean, Samual meets a man who talks of a hidden treasure somewhwere in Jamestown. But before he can find out much more, the man suddenly and suspiously dies but not before passing the clues of the treasure to Samual. Now armed with a letter and only a few cryptic messages to go on, samual finds himself caught up in a hunt that goes back to the very begining of the New World, and traces back to a vanished colony.

Having seen the movies I was skeptical about a prequel. However, from the introduction to the satisfying ending I enjoyed meeting the characters, reading the reasonably fictionalized historical character's activities and exchanges with the Gates boys, and following the clues to the resolution. This is family entertainment at its best and I look forward to the next installment. Hurry!