In Old Neb and The Lighthouse Treasure , it is the 1930s and we meet Neb, a horse who belongs to himself, and two families living on a white-beached island jewel set in the blue water of the Gulf of Mexico. Papa, the lighthouse keeper on St. George Island, does his best to help Elizabeth Ann and her friends come of age. He balances keeping them safe with allowing them to learn about life in a world filled with beauty and, sometimes, a little too much adventure. In this first Old Neb story, the three children spend a summer searching for pirate treasure. This is a charming adventure story for middle grade readers set at an appealing time and place.