Trouble on the St. Johns River

In Trouble on the St. Johns River, the Johnson kids—Joey, Bobby and Katy—are up to their adventurous way again. But this time, instead of exploring history, they’re making it! Joey and Bobby start their summer vacation by setting out for their favorite fishing pond, but end up leading a crusade to clean up the environment instead. Finding the pond covered with green muck and dead fish, the brothers decide to “do something” about it. That leads to a close encounter with a manatee, a visit to a center that rehabilitates injured sea turtles, and a boat tour on the St. Johns River. What they learn through these experiences inspires them to create “The Greenies” and chart a course of action that captures the attention of many, including a local TV station. By the end of the story, Joey, who thought there was nothing kids could do to make a difference, realizes that perhaps they are the very ones who can. It’s a story of awakening that will inspire young readers to become more aware of their environment and give them some ideas on how to preserve it. Several environmental groups have described the book as “…informative and fact-based…an inspiring tale of kids taking action…an investigative journey of discovery and enlightenment…a good example of how a small group of kids can generate a wave of positive awareness regarding environmental issues.”

Jane R. Wood was born in Astoria, Oregon, but moved to Florida when she was ten. She grew up near the Kennedy Space Center, witnessing America’s early journeys into space. She graduated from the University of Florida, and taught middle school and high school English for six years. She also wrote for a local newspaper. In 1988, she earned a Masters degree from the University of North Florida, and spent the next twelve years producing educational television programs for the cable television company in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2004, her first juvenile fiction book, Voices in St. Augustine, was released. Adventures on Amelia Island: A Pirate, a Princess, and Buried Treasure was published in 2007. Trouble on the St. Johns River continues the escapades of the Johnson family. Mrs. Wood and her husband, Terry, live in Jacksonville, Florida, near the St. Johns River. She has two grown sons who also live in Jacksonville.