Uncorked, by Archimede Fusillo

When Lance finds an old bottle with a note in it on the beach, he is excited. Perhaps the message is a treasure map, or a letter from the grave. He can’t wait to get it home. On the way home, however, he is stopped by the school bully, who takes the bottle from him. The next day at school Lance watches in disbelief as the bully, Colin, shows the bottle and the note to the class, causing great excitement. The note, the teacher says, could well be very valuable.

Colin gives the bottle to Lance, taunting him that he collects junk. Is Lance going to get anything out of all this?

Uncorked is a humorous tale of bullying and friendship. A Quick Reads title from Word Weavers Press, it is likely to appeal to 8-12 year olds, and caters especially for reluctant readers with its digestible length and action-packed plot.

Uncorked, by Archimede Fusillo
Word Weavers Press, 2003