- the life of a boy becomes entangled with a band of pirates who are seeking lost treasure
- mystery, mutiny, and more!
- convo: deaths of various kinds, drunkenness (drinking throughout), a racist speculation about a man’s wife, pipe smoking
- language: x3 ass
Type: chapter book
Ages: 10-15
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
The classic adventure story! Countless books and movies reference Treasure Island in some form or fashion. With the quintessential “x marks the spot” map, trickery from pirates, and a fast-paced journey by ship, it will grab (and keep) your attention till the end.
The higher-level vocabulary and violence were the main reasons for my recommended minimum age of 10, but of course this is only a guideline.
Beyond the adventure, there are subtle truths woven through the tale. We don’t just read of “good guys and bad guys,” but realistic, complicated human beings. It’s authentic and relatable.
Arthur Conan Doyle, author-creator of Sherlock Holmes, once said:
“I can hardly think that healthy boys will ever let Stevenson’s books of adventure die.”
The author of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie, also commented:
“[Stevenson] was the spirit of boyhood tugging at the skirts of this old world of ours and compelling it to come back and play.”
Needless to say, if you are seeking good literature for your sons (aren’t we all?), this one is solidly on my list of recs. 🙂
Happy reading, matey!