The strange seaman Billy Bones lodges in The Admiral Benbow Inn and before he dies, conveys a secret to young Jim Hawkins, the proprietor’s son. So begins the most amazing and horrific adventure a young lad might imagine. With a gang of piratical looking fellows on their heels, Jim flees with his mom to the protection of the Squire who upon discovering the secret takes Jim upon a voyage to recover a fantastic treasure. Jim and his protector believe they’ve left the pirates behind but the brigands are not finished yet . . . “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest . . . ,” a theme park ditty, but one that takes on sinister overtones in this book.
In Treasure Island the Honest and dutiful young Jim Hawkins trusts God and models what is good, brave, and impetuous in a boy. In contrast, the pirate Long John Silver calls on “the powers” and engages in every sort of deception, avarice and bloodshed. Stevenson’s genius for characters, plot, and realistic pirate and 18th century sailing talk is extremely entertaining. And yet, the masterful tale reveals the self destructiveness of wickedness. Treasure Island is a classic and with good reason.
Age Range: 10 and up
Genre: Historical-classic, Action Adventure
Available at:
Free Audiobooks are available from Librivox, Free Text available from Project Gutenberg, Also available at your local library
A classic