Robert Leckie
Secret Mission to Alaska
Sandy Steele Adventures #5
"Secret Mission to Alaska" by Roger Barlow is a children's adventure novel written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around Sandy Steele, a young protagonist who embarks on a thrilling expedition to Alaska alongside his father, Dr. John Steele, and his friend Jerry James. As they interact with the local characters and explore the uncharted wilderness, they soon find themselves entangled in a series of mysteries and dangers, including a potentially threatening encounter with an intruder. The opening of the novel introduces Sandy and Jerry as they board a plane headed for Alaska. They converse about the expedition, which has an educational focus on geological surveying, while also meeting their father and a professor involved in the project. As they make their way to meet Professor Crowell, Sandy discovers that his father is carrying a gun, which raises questions about their safety. The narrative hints at underlying threats, as Sandy learns about a burglary that seems connected to their trip. This sets up an atmosphere of mystery and anticipation, suggesting that their adventure in Alaska will be far more dangerous than they initially expected.