Treasure Island is the classic tale of pirates, mutiny, and buried treasure and the adventures and bravery of a young boy. It was first published in 1883 and has been in print continuously since then.
It tells the tale of young Jim Hawkins who, through perilous circumstances, comes across a map that leads to the treacherous Captain Flint’s buried treasure. A doctor and the local squire agree to secretly outfit an expedition in search of the promised hoard and take Jim along as a cabin boy. Of course secrets like these are hard to keep and it doesn’t take long for the enigmatic cook Long John Silver to ease himself into the squire’s good graces and begin influencing the selection of the crew. It was this crew filled with some honorable men and some with more suspect intentions that set sail for Treasure Island and the adventures that awaited them.
Treasure Island was written for children at a time when children weren’t coddled in the way they are now. This book is not Disneyfied or condescending in any way. There is murder, mutiny, backstabbing and danger at every turn as well as bravery, honor, and adventure.
It is a terribly fun read for adults, teens, and preteens. Some believe that good readers as young as 10 should be able to handle it, but the old fashioned style of the language may be too challenging for readers that young. You should be able to read this book aloud to children as young as 9.
Treasure Island is available at Amazon. Since the book is now in the public domain, you can get the kindle edition for free.
