The Hidden Treasure of Dutch Buffalo Creek

By: Jackson Badgenoone

Narrated by: Adam Hanin

Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

An eight-year-old boy named James, aka the wannabe Cisco Kid, nearly lost his life as he searched for precious metal in a bone dry southwest Arizona gulley. He retrieved only pyrite before a desert flood swept away his world.

Over the course of half a century James acquired several additional nicknames. They were reflections of his multiple personalities. His dad called him Traveler or Trav. Some coworkers referred to him as Point Man. A few colleagues labeled him Knowledge Navigator or Nav. Under the cool, shimmering waters of Dutch Buffalo Creek, in 2014 A.D., Trav came upon a rusty bayonet. It was buried long ago in the Carolina Piedmont. This discovery is no coincidence; indeed, this bayonet is a symbol of the abundant riches found in the river of history that connects both the past and future. The blade reminded Point Man that all that glitters is not gold.

Nav expanded the search for real treasure beyond the water's edge. The blade was a catalyst that drove James to sift through a lifetime of artifacts and bittersweet memories. He found riches from the past and caught a glimpse of the future. Just as the bayonet glimmered in the depths of the water, so does the ongoing work of his family's unseen witnesses, the Neverborn. They reveal ancient treasures that go far beyond mere gold and silver.

James is guided into a deeper understanding that he and countless loved ones have been called by name as spoken by the prophet Isaiah: I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. Your search for real treasure begins when you realize that you are called by name. You are special in the eyes of your Creator. Your spiritual wealth will overcome all of the conflict and competition that troubles the waters in your life.

©2015 Jackson Badgenoone (P)2018 Jackson Badgenoone

All that glitters may not be gold

The Hidden Treasure of Dutch Buffalo Creek is an unusual look at several generations of a family as seen and documented by individuals who have never been born. The book clearly expresses Christian values as the individual lives are described and followed throughout their life experiences. I noted two key points in the story (and there are others as well) 1) the importance of knowing you are called by name by the Creator God and 2) the importance of legacy--what one's life will mean to those who come in the future. It is definitely a thought-provoking book written in a unique manner. I was given a complimentary copy of the audiobook and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

A Short Review of a Great Read

The Hidden Treasure of Dutch Buffalo Creek is a wonderful well written book. If you are a historical fiction reader or a fan of history, this book may be for you. It provides a historical view into objects which are cleverly interwoven into the lives of multiple family members across centuries. Although Jackson Badge-no-one has never physically walked upon the earth, she manages to find a way to thoughtfully counsel others. This novel carries a spiritual thread tying the past to the present and even offers insight into the future. However, in my opinion, the message delivery might have been more powerful had James told his story through dialogue versus narration.