By Connor Boyack
In this book, Ethan and Emily Tuttle go on a surprising adventure to Jekyll Island, Georgia, with their quirky and well-informed grandma. But this isn’t just a beach trip — it’s a journey into the secret history of money and banking in America.
They soon learn that over a century ago, a group of wealthy bankers and politicians held a secret meeting on Jekyll Island to plan what would become the Federal Reserve System — a powerful central bank that controls America’s money supply.
As Grandma teaches them through stories and discussions:
They learn what money really is, and how it used to be tied to gold and silver.
They discover how inflation and money printing quietly rob people of their purchasing power.
They explore the consequences of central banking, including boom-bust cycles and national debt.
They hear about alternatives to fiat currency and the idea of sound money.
By the end of the book, the twins begin to see how important it is to understand economics and money, and how the system we live under today came to be — not through open debate, but through secret deals that benefit a few at the expense of many.
🧠 Main Lessons:
The Federal Reserve has enormous influence over the economy, and it began in secret.
Inflation is a hidden tax.
Honest money (like gold or silver) protects savings and purchasing power.
Kids (and adults) need to understand how the financial system works so they can protect their future.
This book is a simplified but accurate retelling of the 1910 Jekyll Island meeting that inspired the formation of the U.S. Federal Reserve — turning a complex and controversial subject into a story kids can follow and families can talk about.