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The award-winning Children’s Book Collection
Follow Charlie Pierce’s historic adventures through Florida’s untamed wilderness, based on actual events
The books
In 1872, eight-year-old Charlie Pierce arrived with his Mama and Papa in the frontier jungles of South Florida. The Atlantic coast of Florida was a wild place, populated by Seminole Indians, alligators, shipwrecks and a few hardy pioneer families. Charlie's adventures began right away. In this account, based on actual diaries, he explores old battlefields, learns to hunt and boat like a Seminole, faces down hurricanes, and makes an incredible discovery in the sand.
In the late 19th century, hunters killed millions of birds in the Florida Everglades to supply the booming trade in bird feathers for ladies' fashion. As teenagers, Charlie Pierce and his friends traveled deep into the unexplored Florida Everglades to hunt plume birds for their feathers. They never imagined the challenges they would encounter, what they would learn about themselves, and how they would contribute to American history.
The Last Egret is used in the 4th grade in the following Florida schools districts: Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Hendy, Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Marion.
When famous scientist Dr. George Livingston shows up in the steamy jungles of Florida, he makes teenage Charlie Pierce a very generous offer. He'll pay Charlie $5 a day to guide him and his young assistant deep into the Everglades in search of the rare ghost orchid. But it doesn't take long before the expedition discovers that the swamp is hiding much more than a rare flower as the oldest legends suddenly spring to life.
Charlie Pierce isn't looking for an adventure when he agrees to help out his friend Ed Hamilton. Hamilton's job is to walk the U.S. Mail from Palm Beach to Miami and back, following a dangerous route over land and water. When Hamilton goes missing, it's up to Charlie and Lillie to find out what happened to the missing Barefoot Mailman.
When industrialist Henry Flagler arrives in Florida in the late 19th century, the state is a wild jungle with few people. But that changes quickly as Flagler builds hotels and railroads down the Atlantic Coast - with the help of teenaged Charlie Piece. Along the way, Charlie and his family realize that building the future means saying goodbye to the Florida they know and love.
Order all five books in The Adventures of Charlie Pierce book series and receive 30% off. Experience all of Charlie's amazing adventures today! This makes a great gift.
Ordering “1 quantity” includes five books: The American Jungle, The Last Egret, The Last Calusa, The Barefoot Mailman, and Charlie and the Tycoon.
Buy all 5 books and save 30% — Plus Free Shipping
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Buy all 5 books and save 30% — Plus Free Shipping ⋆
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President's Book Award Winner
The American Jungle (2010)
The Last Egret (2011)
The Last Calusa (2013) -
Mom's Choice Award
Silver Medal (The Last Egret, 2010)
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Florida Book Awards
Bronze Medal - Children’s Literature (The Last Egret, 2010)
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Florida Department of Education
The Last Egret selected to the 3rd-5th Grade Back to School reading list (2020) by Commissioner Richard Corcoran
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Florida Historical Society
James J. Horgan Award for:
The Last Egret (2011)
The Last Calusa (2013)
Who Was Charlie Pierce?
Perhaps no other boy in America’s history experienced firsthand as many important events and met as many influential characters as Charlie Pierce. As the first settlers in the wild, untamed Florida frontier, Charlie and his family encounter wild animals, survive hurricanes, endure great personal challenges, and discover Spanish treasure.
Based on actual diaries and stories passed down over five generations, The Adventures of Charlie Pierce will captivate, educate, and entertain readers of all ages.
About the Author:
Harvey E. Oyer III
Harvey Oyer is the great grandnephew of Charles W. Pierce, the subject of this book series. An attorney in West Palm Beach, Florida, a Cambridge University educated archaeologist, and an avid historian, Oyer served for many years as the Chairman of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. He has written or contributed to numerous books and articles about Florida history.
Oyer realized that in nearly of all the writings about Charlie Pierce, none had ever focused on his childhood years. Pierce kept a diary from the day he arrived in Florida in 1872, at age eight years old, until he died in 1939. Many of the stories contained in The Adventures of Charlie Pierce have been passed down through five generations of his family. This book series aims to keep Pierce’s fascinating legacy alive and share Florida’s meaningful history with the next generation of young readers.
“Not only is The Last Egret an enthralling adventure story; it presents a vital message, perhaps even more important today than it was in the 19th century. Only if we understand and love the natural world will we preserve it. This is a book that will surely excite young people about the heritage they must preserve.”
— Frank B. Gill, President, National Audubon Society; Past President, American Ornithologists’ Union
“I was enthralled. An unforgettable tale of adventure that will captivate young readers and educate them about the wonders of what Florida once looked and felt like. The Adventures of Charlie Pierce: The Last Egret is an important ‘must read’ for generations of young people who crave adventure.”
— Nathaniel Reed, Former Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Interior; Chairman, Natural Resources Defense Council; Vice Chairman, National Audubon Society; Vice Chairman, The Nature Conservancy
“A compelling picture of Florida’s magnificent natural history during the time of the early pioneers. Harvey Oyer’s deft prose introduces readers to the great diversity of wildlife and plants that make Florida’s biological treasures unique across the globe and worth conserving for future generations.”
— Evan M. Hirsche, President, National Wildlife Refuge Association
“Florida is a natural setting for adventure stories, and Harvey Oyer’s books prove that kids don’t need a magic wand to enter a magical place. A great read that will get kids thinking about what they know - and what they don’t know - about the history of the places where they live.”
— James G. Cusick, President, Florida Historical Society
“Harvey Oyer reminds us… of Florida's remarkable history in the late 1800s and of the resilience and the diversity of its people. This is a beautifully told story of young people who lived and explored Florida’s complex and fragile environment. It reminds us how blessed we are to have this rich environmental treasure passed down to us as well as the responsibility we bear in preserving it.”
— Bob Graham, former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator
“History teachers will love it for obvious reasons. Science teachers will love it for the flora and fauna. Writing teachers will revel in the many examples of similes and the rich vocabulary... A superb story!”
— Pat Kissel, Elementary School Teacher
Experience 19th century Florida through the captivating adventures of a young pioneer.
How would you have survived?
In The Press
The Books
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![Book cover of "The Adventures of Charlie Pierce: The American Jungle" by Harvey E. Oyer III, illustrated with a boy holding a match in a jungle setting.]()
The American Jungle
In 1872, Charlie Pierce arrives in the frontier jungles of South Florida. It was a wild place populated by Seminole Indians, alligators, shipwrecks and a few hardy pioneers. Based on actual diaries, Charlie explores old battlefields, learns to hunt and boat like a Seminole, faces down hurricanes, and makes an incredible discovery in the sand.
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![Illustration title from book cover: "The Adventures of Charlie Pierce: The Last Egret" by Harvey E. Oyer III, depicting a scene with seagulls flying over a river with people in boats.]()
The Last Egret
In the late 19th century, hunters killed millions of birds in the Florida Everglades to supply the booming fashion trade. A teenage Charlie Pierce and his friends travel to hunt plume birds for their feathers. They never imagined the challenges they would encounter and how they would contribute to American history.
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![Cover of a book titled "The Last Calusa" with four children viewing a heron and surrounded by jungle foliage, masks, and hanging decorations. In the background, there is a pond with a heron and a thatched hut.]()
The Last Calusa
When scientist Dr. George Livingston shows up in the steamy jungles of Florida, he makes teenage Charlie Pierce a generous offer. He'll pay $5 a day to guide him deep into the Everglades in search of the rare ghost orchid. It doesn't take long before the expedition discovers that the swamp is hiding much more than a rare flower.
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![Book cover titled 'The Barefoot Mailman' from 'The Adventures of Charlie Pierce' series, showing a young man walking barefoot on the beach holding a stick, with seagulls, a dolphin jumping out of water, and dune grass in the background.]()
The Barefoot Mailman
Charlie Pierce isn't looking for an adventure when he agrees to help out his friend Ed Hamilton. Hamilton's job is to walk the U.S. Mail from Palm Beach to Miami and back, following a dangerous 66-mile route over land and water. When Hamilton goes missing, it's up to Charlie and Lillie to find out what happened to the Barefoot Mailman.
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![A book cover for 'Charlie and the Tycoon' from 'The Adventures of Charlie Pierce' series. The cover shows a young man with blonde hair holding a paint can, standing in front of a large, historic hotel or building with a white facade and red roof. Flanking the scene are caricatured images of two older men with serious expressions, one on each side, surrounded by green trees and foliage.]()
Charlie and the Tycoon
Industrialist Henry Flagler arrives in Florida in the late 19th century, when the state is a wild jungle with few people. But that changes quickly as Flagler builds hotels and railroads down the Atlantic Coast—with the help of teenage Charlie Piece. For Charlie and his family, building the future means saying goodbye to the Florida they know and love.
