Buff Carmichael is ten years old in 1943 when his father, Jimmy, takes him on what will be their last fishing trip together. Jimmy gives Buff Mr. Dynamite , his treasured, hand-carved, magic lure. The next day, Jimmy ships off to war. And, never returns. Three years later, while fishing, Buff loses the lure in the depths of a dark, spooky river. Angry and heartbroken, he immediately vows to do whatever it takes to get it back. With the help of his friends, Buff invents ever-more elaborate ways to dive perilously deep into the dangerous river where he discovers much more than his lost lure. The Lure is the adventure of a strong, self-reliant boy, his longing to remain connected to his father and his realization of the importance of commitment, friends and family.