The treasure of Maria Mamoun (First edition.)

Twelve-year-old Maria lives a lonely, latchkey-kid's life in the Bronx.

Her Lebanese mother is working two nursing jobs to keep them afloat, and Maria keeps her worries to herself, not wanting to be a burden.

Then something happens one day between home and school that changes everything.

Mom whisks them to an altogether different world on Martha's Vineyard, where she's found a job on a seaside estate.

While the mysterious bedridden owner-a former film director-keeps her mother busy, Maria has the freedom to explore a place she thought could only exist in the movies.

Making friends with a troublesome local character, Maria finds an old sailboat that could make a marvelous clubhouse.

She also stumbles upon an old map that she is sure will lead to pirate's plunder-but golden treasure may not be the most valuable thing she discovers for herself this special summer.