A 2013 World Book Night selection.
One of Dan Snow's favourite books.
Marcus Sedgwick, July 2010 Guest Editor, says:
"I continually list this book in my top five, because it's my belief that most people haven't actually read it, and know it only from bowdlerised abridgements, which is a shame because the real thing is powerful, dark and above all, scary."
June 2010 Guest Editor Michael Morpurgo remembers:
A terrifically exciting tale of a dead man’s map, mutinous pirates, skulduggery and buried treasure that will be thoroughly enjoyed by a child if read aloud to them from the age of 5 upwards. It’s such a gripping adventure that children are sure to pick it up again to read alone when they’re a little older. It’s the story of Jim Hawkins who discovers a map in an old sea chest but little does he know of the danger and excitement which lie ahead when sets sail for Treasure Island in search of treasure.
What Michael Morpurgo says of his favourite children's book:
'This was the first proper book I read for myself. Jim Hawkins was the first character in a book I identified with totally. I was Jim Hawkins. I lived Treasure Island as I read it. And I loved it. Still do. I wish I'd written it.'
Treasure Island in a nutshell:
Black spot moment. Sea dog dies. Jim finds map. Ship sets sail. Pirates on board. Island is found. Madman in cave. Two rival camps. Battle for map. Dig up chest. Treasure is gone. Gunn has gold. Head back home. Silver runs off. Jim writes book.
| Primary Genre | Classic fiction: general and literary |
| Other Genres: |
Jim Hawkins is the son of the innkeepers of the Admiral Benbow near Devon and becomes fascinated by a mysterious lodger, the old seaman Billy Bones. It soon becomes apparent to Jim that Billy Bones is in hiding from a man with one wooden leg and he is also in possession of a much sought after pirate''s treasure chest. When Billy Bones suddenly drops dead, Jim flees, taking with him an oilskin packet from within the chest. It turns out that Jim has taken a map detailing the whereabouts of Captain Flint''s treasure. A swash-buckling adventure aboard the Hispaniola ensues as Jim attempts to track down the treasure with the help of a one-legged sea cook Long John Silver, Captain Alexander Smollett, Squire Trelawney and Dr. Livesey among others. But all is not as it seems. Is Long John Silver really trustworthy? After all Bones did warn him of a man with one leg...
Treasure Island features in the following genres: Classic fiction: general and literary, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Classic fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Pirates, General Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Adventurers and outlaws, Children’s / Teenage general interest: History and the past, Children’s / Teenage: General interest
Treasure Island is available in Hardback, Paperback, Ebook, CD-Audio
Treasure Island was written by Robert Louis Stevenson and published by Scholastic UK
£4.24