The Treasure of Peril Island

Book excerpt: The winds of change are about to fill the sails of young Jack Drayton… A penniless man living on a barge on the Thames in 1903 London, Jack Drayton is unsure of where his life is heading. He’s trying to decide what to do next with himself, when he meets a peculiar stranger. Needing a ride to shore one evening, Jack hitches a ride from this stranger, who speaks, dresses, and behaves as though he’s stepped out of another era. After Jack helps the man escape a fracas in town, he tells Jack that he is in fact Black Juan Gaskara; an infamous pirate, and claims that he’s on the run for his life. Now, that would be all fine and good, except for the fact that the real Black Juan Gaskara would have to be over 112 years old; or more logically, dead. However, despite his disbelief, Jack is intrigued by the man. Especially when he learns of the treasure that he has apparently hidden on Peril Island, a place that only Black Juan knows the location of. Before Juan is murdered by decedents of the crew he double-crossed over the loot, he leaves Jack with a cryptogram that will reveal where the treasure is hidden. Suddenly it's up to Jack to recover the treasure before Black Juan’s enemies – who wish to use it to set up a global crime empire – get their hands on it first. With his best friend Hector at his side, Jack must venture on the journey of a lifetime to find the treasure before Gaskara’s foes put an end to his search…and his life! Author C.W. James creates a fast-paced and fascinating historical novel that will capture the imagination of young adult audiences and hold them fast until the very last page. Perfect for bibliophiles and reluctant readers alike, The Treasure of Peril Island is the kind of book that will ignite one’s love of reading, or continue to kindle the existing flame. A classic story of adventure, mystery, and hidden treasure, this is the optimal book to add to any teen library!