The mystery begins when thirteen year old Spinner (who is a real city slicker) catches a huge cutthroat trout, winning her family's coveted fishing trophy. Because cutthroats are supposed to be extinct in the river, Spinner and her cousin Al set out on a wilderness trek to discover why this one gigantic specimen was able to survive. They end up not only solving the mystery of how that one specimen survived, they also manage to discover what has been causing the disastrous decline of cutthroat trouts in the river in the first place.

An engaging and exiting read, alongside a clear message of what effects the exploitation of the environment (especially clear cutting) can have on the same. ( )