The young volcano explorers : $b Or, American boys in the West Indies

"The Young Volcano Explorers: Or, American Boys in the West Indies" by Edward Stratemeyer is an early 20th-century adventure story about five American boys and their professor traveling through Venezuela and the West Indies. Part of the "Pan-American Series," the book opens with the boys in Caracas, Venezuela, sharing letters from home and planning their travels to places like Jamaica and Cuba. The main characters—Mark, Frank, Darry, Sam, and Jake—have different backgrounds, which builds a sense of both friendship and conflict. The group hopes to visit historic sites from the Spanish-American War and seek out new adventures. Early on, there are hints that Jake Hockley’s unpredictable attitude might cause problems, casting a shadow over their upcoming journey.