Lost on the Orinoco; Or, American Boys in Venezuela
1902
Edward Stratemeyer, the mastermind who would later give the world the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, wrote this adventure before he revolutionized children's publishing. Five American academy boys receive thrilling news: their professor, the redoubtable Professor Strong, will lead them on an expedition to Venezuela and the legendary Orinoco River. The boys bristle with excitement as they prepare, though their anticipation is tinged with unease, not least because their classmate Jake Hockley, whose sour disposition has made him universally unpopular, will be joining the trip. What awaits them in the tropical unknown: dangerous wildlife, treacherous currents, foreign customs, and perhaps a few lessons about friendship forged under pressure. This 1902 adventure captures the restless energy of an era when American boys dreamed of exploring the world's wild places.
