A hurricane, a mysterious island, chatty animals, gnomes, a mermaid, a king, and some very wicked pirates come to life in a page-turning fantasy/adventure story for young readers ages 8-12. Lucas and his dog Applejack find themselves stranded in a mysterious place. Lucas wants to return home, which will require him to deal with a bossy tiger, a sometimes overly sensitive gorilla, and a funny, but not always helpful meerkat in this strange new land. After Lucas listens to the animal's wild stories, he decides that he must try to form a united group which will require trust, compassion, patience, and determination. Will they be able to work together to venture through the many adventures that lie ahead or will they all be doomed to their new and dangerous surroundings? Can the King of Zu Island help them? Lucas must give the challenges ahead his best effort.