Book Reviews and More: The Discovery - Gordon Korman

The Discovery

Dive Series Book 1

Scholastic Canada

ISBN 9781546142232

eISBN 9780545628112

ASIN B00C2YW7Z8

The Discovery - Gordon Korman - Dive Book 1 Rebranded

This book was originally published in 2003 and went through a rebranding in 2025, I really love the rebranded covers, but the eBook editions still have the old covers. The old covers are pretty cool with actual photo’s of people scuba diving. According to Goodreads there are 16 editions of the first volume in this series, including editions in English, French, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish editions listed. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read 64 of his books including this volume. I am over half way thorough his canon, and have completed all the stand alone books and am now just working my way through the remaining series. Not counting omnibus editions I believe that as of the summer of 2025 Korman has published 109 books. With each that I read I am entertained and often challenged, and I am always entertained. I do plan on trying to read them all. My son, who is 17 often, reads these books to me or with me, and he still loves them.

A description of this volume states:

“Sharks, shipwreck, and sunken treasure in this action packed survival series from bestselling and award-winning author Gordon Korman.

Kaz, Dante, Adriana, and Star aren't the best divers in the world. But they've been chosen to spend the summer exploring the depths of the sea.

There are only a few problems. First, the sharks. Killer sharks. And then the fact that the people running the program are covering up something big... and mysterious.

These four kids are about to make the discovery of their lives -- and put themselves in danger because of it.”

This story is being told in 2 parts. The first is a modern day story and the chapters are numbered with no titles and interspersed are chapters or sections set back in 1665. The first of those is:

“08 September 1665

When the explosion rocked the Griffin, young Samuel Higgins knew instantly that the boat was doomed.

Thirteen years old, and dead already, the ship’s boy thought to himself as the towering mainmast splintered in a shower of sparks.

The sail, now a billowing sheet of flame, settled down over the treasure that lay stacked about on the deck of the barque. Chests piled high with coins and jewels, silver bars by the hundredweight, ropes of pearls, chains of gold. Samuel watched it disappear beneath the burning canvas. He could feel the deck heaving under his feet as the Griffin began to break apart. A flood of gleaming pieces of eight poured through the gaping holes between the deck planks. It was more money than Samuel had ever seen, worth more, probably, than his entire village in the north of England, and perhaps the surrounding shire as well. It was a fortune that would have turned the head of the king himself.

And yet it could not buy five more minutes of life for the Griffin and her doomed captain and crew.

The voyage back to England would have taken at least three months. The descent to the bottom of the Caribbean took less than three minutes.

There lay the treasure, the spoils of a new world, silent, waiting….”

It is a story in the adventure story with four young divers they are in the Caribbean serving a short term internship as divers for a crew. The four are Kaz, Star, Adriana, and Dante, each was surprised they got the gig for the summer, 3 are new divers or trained specifically for this program. Soon they realize things at the institute are not exactly what they appear to be. And specifically the captain and crew they are supposed to be with are definitely on the shady side. The four along with the Captain of another ship and his mate “English” have started what looks like it will be an epic adventure.

This series is published as three short works, it is also published in an omnibus edition with all three stories in 1 volume. What I like about the shorter versions, is they are great for the classroom, or reluctant readers. This volume is short, it grabs your attention, and draws you in. And the ending leaves you desperate for the next installment.

This story is another excellent read from Korman’s pen.

I still have about 40 books from series left to read to have completed the canon of Korman’s works. I am grateful I finally gave this one a read; I look forward to the other 2 in the trilogy. It is an excellent start to what looks to be an exciting series!