The Sugar Creek Gang Digs for Treasure

"The Sugar Creek Gang Digs for Treasure" by Paul Hutchens is a children's adventure novel written in the mid-20th century. The story centers around a group of boys known as the Sugar Creek Gang, particularly focusing on their imaginative escapades during a camping trip, where they mix their playful adventures with real-life mysteries, particularly regarding a ransom and a kidnapper. The opening of the story sets a vivid scene as the narrator, Bill Collins, enjoys a moment of peace in a rowboat while reflecting on his surroundings and the rules of camp life. Soon, he is joined by his friend Little Jim, who is busy with his wildflower studies, and together they spark an imaginative game inspired by "Robinson Crusoe." As their adventure evolves, they encounter fellow gang members, come up with fun play scenarios, and plan a treasure hunt, unaware that their make-believe might lead them to a genuine mystery involving a kidnapper and the search for ransom money. The beginning establishes the playful dynamics of the group while hinting at serious undertones of danger and intrigue that will unfold as the story progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Paul Hutchens was an American author. In addition to writing The Sugar Creek Gang, a series of 36 Christian-themed juvenile fiction books about the adventures of a group of young boys, he also wrote numerous adult fiction books, many with a romance theme. The author was a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. The Sugar Creek Gang books have been popular in evangelical Christian homes and have remained in print through multiple format and cover art changes. The books have also been dramatized on the radio, and in 2004, the stories were made into a series of movies, directed by Joy Chapman and Owen Smith. His books were originally published by Wm. B. Eerdmans, and later reprinted by other publishers such as Van Kampen Press and Moody Press.