The Puddle Jumpers

The Puddle Jumpers is a story about a spry octogenarian, who begins the narrative reminiscing about college graduation in the U. S. A. From there, he travels to Australia where he teams up with a genius inventor from South Africa and a chef in training from France. Together, the three friends venture to Antarctica where they successfully build a solar panel. Eventually, our traveler ends up in South Africa where he settles on a career in apple farming. During his stay, he meets the inventor's girlfriend who exhibits signs of loneliness and neglect. Slowly, he woos her away from the inventor and eventually marries her. This separation, along with his inability to achieve peace of mind, ultimately leads to his suicide. The Puddle Jumpers is a wonderful read replete with drama and desultory comedy. It was written for young adults, but will appeal to the seasoned reader as well.