ABOUT THE BOOK
Quagmire
Written by Sam Campbell
Ages: 8–12 | 179 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (2026) | ISBN-13: 979-8197255112
Publisher's Book Summary: Cooper Knox joined the Gator Island Public Library's weekly book club to get his mind off his parents selling his late grandfather's motel—not help solve a missing persons case.
But old Mr. O'Malley has become a dear friend, so when the local news reveals his boat washed ashore unoccupied, Cooper's determined to find his fellow club member. The only clue? A crude map left behind by Mr. O'Malley.
As summer days grow hotter on Gator Island, twelve-year-old Cooper, along with Mr. O'Malley's granddaughter, Penny, navigate the winding canals and marshes in hopes of finding the missing bookworm. But following the map also means plunging into the Dark Swamp, where a legendary monster is said to be lurking….
Can Cooper find Mr. O'Malley AND save Pops' motel before it's too late?
Praise for Quagmire:
"This novel is perfect for third or fourth graders looking for contemporary realism with a dash of mystery and endearingly quirky characters." —Kirkus Reviews
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon: https://link.amazon/B083tm778
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/2078/
MY REVIEW
Cooper Knox has a problem. Well, several problems. He doesn’t have a cell phone. His younger sister Daisy speaks with a fake British accent and wants to be a Disney princess or a Broadway star when she grows up. And his parents are selling the motel that they inherited when his grandfather died. But at least he has the friends he has made in the library’s book club.
Just when it seems things can’t get any worse, his friend Mr. O’Malley disappears. Penny, Mr. O’Malley’s granddaughter, appeals to the book club for help in finding her missing grandpa. Together, the two kids set out to retrace the path they believe Mr. O’Malley took the night he was last seen. The search leads them to some strange occurrences and people - an odd local psychic called Madame Mira, an enormous alligator known as “the Baba,” and pink bioluminescent fish (among many other things). Can finding Penny’s missing grandpa hold the key to saving the motel and allowing Cooper to stay with his new friends?
This story has many attractive elements - the mysterious disappearance of Mr. O’Malley, the dangers of the swamp, the tension of whether the motel will be sold, and the humor that crops up in unexpected places (let me just say there is an episode with ketchup, a stuffed cat toy, and a pet dog). The pacing will keep readers turning the pages as quickly as they can to find out what happens next.
Sam Campbell began writing his first novel at the age of fourteen, which was (surprise surprise) total garbage. He hopes he has improved since then. When he's not writing, he likes to read, work out, and watch movies with his family. He also suffers from a terrible addiction to McDonald's frappes. Mocha, of course.
Website: https://www.samcamwrites.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
TOUR SCHEDULE
Tue, Oct 6 – The Children's Book Review – Book Tour Kick-Off
Thu, Oct 8 – The Starlit Path – Book Review
Fri, Oct 9 – Deliciously Savvy – Book Review
Mon, Oct 12 – The Fairview Review – Book Review
Tue, Oct 13 – Country Mamas With Kids – Book Review
Thu, Oct 15 – icefairy's Treasure Chest – Book Review
Fri, Oct 16 – Q&As with Deborah Kalb – Author Interview with Sam Campbell
Mon, Oct 19 – Cover Lover Book Review – Book Review
Tue, Oct 20 – @
Thu, Oct 22 – Crafty Moms Share – Book Review
Fri, Oct 23 – Confessions of a Book Addict – Book Spotlight
Mon, Oct 26 – @avainbookland – Instagram Post
Tue, Oct 27 – @nissa_the.bookworm – Instagram Post
Wed, Oct 28 – Lisa's Reading – Book Spotlight
Thu, Oct 29 – A Blue Box Full of Books – Instagram Post
Fri, Oct 30 – One More Exclamation – Author Interview with Sam Campbell
This post is sponsored by Sam Campbell. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
