Isle of Swords (Hardcover)
by Wayne Thomas Batson
ISBN: 1400310180

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26 used & new available from USD 2.52

It all starts when Declan Ross, captain of the William Wallace, and his headstrong daughter Anne take on a badly injured boy who has no memory of his previous life. As time goes on, the truth about a great treasure, long believed lost, is revealed. Hidden by a mysterious order of monks, this treasure must be reclaimed—and Declan Ross is the one to do it. Perilous dangers await in the journey, and Bartholomew Thorne, the most dreaded pirate on the high seas, is determined to find the treasure first. So begins a deadly race to the Isle of Swords with more at stake than first meets the eye.

Despite a few flaws, I was quite impressed with this book. A great page-turner, memorable characters, and many intricate subplots. I debated whether to mark this for ages 13+, like the other Wayne Thomas Batson books we’ve reviewed, or to bump it up to 15+. I will leave it at 13+ with a warning: Bartholomew Thorne is not a nice fellow, and he does not treat his prisoners kindly. Nothing was overly vivid, but it had me grimacing on several occasions. So do take that into consideration.
Also, I was under the impression that Isle of Swords was a stand-alone book. Be forewarned! I raced through the climax right to the end where the story is left at a cliffhanger. While the main plot is resolved, many mysterious puzzles are left unsolved. All that to say, I’ll be watching for Isle of Fire, the sequel.

Treasure Island (Signet Classics) (Paperback)
by Robert Louis Stevenson
ISBN: 0451527046

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72 used & new available from USD 0.10

At the inn Admiral Benbow, an old sea dog appears with a large treasure chest. He stays as a permanent guest, terrorizing everybody, running up large bills, and growing sick. One day, he dies, and Jim Hawkins and his mother (who run the inn) open the chest to take the money the man owed them. However, the old man’s friends from his pirate days have the same idea, and to make up for what his mother hasn’t time to take, Jim grabs a small oilskin bag from the man’s neck. When they open the bag later, it’s found to be a map to Treasure Island!

And that’s just a summary of the first few chapters! It gets even better in the middle. Want a sample? Here you go: pirates, a dangerous sea voyage, mutiny, battles, sneaking, spying, the dreaded Black Spot, a marooned man, treasure… To name a few. I should mention that a some parts get a little intense. It’s great to read Treasure Island out loud, so the whole family can enjoy it.