Gators Don't Brush

Fourteen-year-old Kevin expects a routine summer visit with his mother in Florida, but when she abandons him to her shady relative, Uncle Darien, in the remote swamps, his vacation turns into a nightmare of survival. Thrust into a ragtag group of neglected kids living off the grid, Kevin discovers Darien's ruthless world of illegal alligator poaching, where danger lurks in every murky waterway and human lives are expendable bait.

Amidst the humid wilderness teeming with predators—both reptilian and human—Kevin forms unlikely alliances, uncovers dark family secrets, and hones his wits to navigate treacherous hunts, rival clans, and his own fears. As the threats escalate—from razor-toothed gators to lawless shootouts—Kevin must summon courage he never knew he had to escape this lawless backcountry and protect those caught in its grip.

Blending heart-pounding adventure with themes of resilience and makeshift family, Gators Don't Brush is a gripping tale of a boy's fight for freedom in the untamed Florida wilds.

©2025 Gary Lisle (P)2026 Gary Lisle