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Treasure Island
While going through the possessions of a deceased guest who owed them money, the mistress of the inn and her son find a treasure map that leads to a pirate fortune as well as great danger.
232 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
October 25, 2008
Rules for writing a great book:
Someone near and dear needs to die.
There can be no going back – it is crash through or crash time.
Some of the good guys have to have near fatal flaws – some of the bad guys need to be damn charming. Oh Long John Silver, what a great character.
Mortal danger – lots and lots of mortal danger.
And the most frightening character in the book needs to be someone who would normally be the least frightening. No wonder Tom Waits talks about the tap, tap, tap of a blind man’s cane – I just didn’t realise he was quoting Stevenson.
What a romp, what a read, what a book. What a pity I waited until I was 45 to read it.
In high school, when I was a bit obsessed with Lord of the Flies I was told that book was based on this book. What seems virtually certain is that they are both set on the same island. I should go back and double check at some stage.
Someone near and dear needs to die.
There can be no going back – it is crash through or crash time.
Some of the good guys have to have near fatal flaws – some of the bad guys need to be damn charming. Oh Long John Silver, what a great character.
Mortal danger – lots and lots of mortal danger.
And the most frightening character in the book needs to be someone who would normally be the least frightening. No wonder Tom Waits talks about the tap, tap, tap of a blind man’s cane – I just didn’t realise he was quoting Stevenson.
What a romp, what a read, what a book. What a pity I waited until I was 45 to read it.
In high school, when I was a bit obsessed with Lord of the Flies I was told that book was based on this book. What seems virtually certain is that they are both set on the same island. I should go back and double check at some stage.
January 27, 2011
Just finished reading this classic adventure story to my twin 7 year olds.
When I was a boy, the original unabridged version of this story caught my eye and I read it along with Kidnapped, Ivanhoe and various classic adventure novels. Iremembered it fondly but the individual details had faded with time.
It was a perfect choice to read to the kids. They liked the pirates and Jim Hawkins role in the adventure from his thrilling fight with Israel Hands to has role in freeing the ship and obtaining the treasure This version, with its illustrations is very good for kids because they can follow along with the story.
And its a great story with a pirate map, treasure, mutiny, pirates, gun battles and the like.
My kids have been exposed to the internet in some small ways, and movies and television, but this classic adventure novel still left them thrilled and we polished it off in a few short days.
There are plenty of books out there for kids to read but sometimes the old classics have not lost their touch.
When I was a boy, the original unabridged version of this story caught my eye and I read it along with Kidnapped, Ivanhoe and various classic adventure novels. Iremembered it fondly but the individual details had faded with time.
It was a perfect choice to read to the kids. They liked the pirates and Jim Hawkins role in the adventure from his thrilling fight with Israel Hands to has role in freeing the ship and obtaining the treasure This version, with its illustrations is very good for kids because they can follow along with the story.
And its a great story with a pirate map, treasure, mutiny, pirates, gun battles and the like.
My kids have been exposed to the internet in some small ways, and movies and television, but this classic adventure novel still left them thrilled and we polished it off in a few short days.
There are plenty of books out there for kids to read but sometimes the old classics have not lost their touch.
December 23, 2022
One of these days, I'll get around to reading the original classics instead of adaptations such as these books and the Wishbone novels...
July 15, 2021
Read this with my 7 year old. He seemed to like the story, but the language is written too highly for a child too enjoy, and too simply for an adult to enjoy. I think the author tried to hard to incorporate some of the original verbiage, when in reality they should’ve just rewritten it entirely as a children’s novel. It’s a good way to be exposed to a classic, but there are honestly much better children’s adventure novels out there.
January 8, 2022
I just love reading abridged classics!
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October 14, 2015sitename] http://www.karmaforlifechick.com http://www.karmaforlifechick.com/book...
My Review
Audrey is a fourteen year old with an anxiety disorder that governs her life. With the help of her therapist Dr. Sarah, progress is slow and her family's support is everything. When Audrey meets her brother's best online gaming friend, Linus, an unlikely connection and Audrey finds new courage through Linus. Sophie Kinsella was wonderful with this book. With anxiety in kids on the rise this book is a great read for someone who wants to understand what anxiety looks like. Sophie Kinsella tells Audrey's story with compassion, humor and empathy, never losing sight of the story of Audrey's struggle.
Connect with Sophie Kinsella
Website : http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/index...
Official Facebook Fan Page
Twitter @KinsellaSophie
Instagram
Official iPhone apThis review was originally posted on Karma for Life!
Audrey is a fourteen year old with an anxiety disorder that governs her life. With the help of her therapist Dr. Sarah, progress is slow and her family's support is everything. When Audrey meets her brother's best online gaming friend, Linus, an unlikely connection and Audrey finds new courage through Linus. Sophie Kinsella was wonderful with this book. With anxiety in kids on the rise this book is a great read for someone who wants to understand what anxiety looks like. Sophie Kinsella tells Audrey's story with compassion, humor and empathy, never losing sight of the story of Audrey's struggle.
Connect with Sophie Kinsella
Website : http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/index...
Official Facebook Fan Page
Twitter @KinsellaSophie
Official iPhone apThis review was originally posted on Karma for Life!
May 18, 2020
So I bought this book thinking it was the original and realized right away it wasn’t. Adaptations can be hard to rate, because the original is such a classic that it’s hard to take an adaptation as seriously. This will be great for my daughter to read when she’s old enough as it’s a good enough story. My biggest pet peeve was the spelling error on page 120.
May 8, 2025
My second enthusiastically picked this to read aloud to me and raved about it so much that his older brother snagged it to read in his spare time. I love that my kids willingly pick up entry-level classics to read in their spare time (and are not growing up thinking every classic is "dull" or moralistic...though some are!). This version was pretty accessible for his reading level. He loved it so much that he requested to read another Robert Louis Stevenson book when we finished this one.
May 21, 2025
Loved this classic adventure story and so did both my 6 and 4 year old daughters. Written well to capture the attention and imagination of the young and left us continuously wanting to read "just one more chapter".
June 18, 2022
"The abridged version of this book left a lot of the suspense out, and there wasn't enough treasure in the end to have made sense."
September 2, 2022
These are great beginner chapter books for young readers and perfect introductions to some classic literature.
February 16, 2024
Grade school adaptation of Treasure Island. Full page illustrations on every other page made it a very fast and easy read.
October 6, 2025
I now want to watch Treasure Planet.
May 18, 2021
I liked that it was interesting and there were some dramatic parts. But it was weird that they forgave Long John and he got away with some money, but at least they all had a good life.
August 14, 2017
Fun read with the kids. Jackson really liked it, June wished it was more of a girls book. :)
dnf
January 18, 2016
From Goodreads: Kumme to Amish country, where the simple ways of life lead to hope and healing. Katie Miler is traumatized after her boyfriend is killed in a van in which she was also a passenger. How will she find her way out of the valley of her depression? Freeman Bontrager will make any excuse to be near to Katie, hoping to win her love. But how far will he go to gain her trust. . .and her heart? What will bring this girl out of the shadows of fear, and open her heart to life—and love?
My Review: This is the second book in the Indiana Cousins series. The book can be read as a stand alone. Like the previous book before it, it focuses on one character in each book so you can see how each character grows and changes over time.
Katie is still not over the tragic death of her boyfriend Timothy who was killed in a car accident. Ever since Katie has these attacks where she has a feeling of unreality and a sense of panic and like she is going to die. Her good friend Freeman is the one who tells her it is panic attacks and helps her get over them.
Over time her and Freeman draw closer and a romance starts to brew. There is one hitch, there is a woman who wants Freeman for herself. I felt that the love story in this books was authentic and relatable. You could see where each character was coming from and it was easily to become emotionally invested in the outcome. You find yourself rooting for Katie all the way.
Like the previous book this book provided insight into the Amish lifestyle which I enjoyed. It even has some Amish vocabulary words and refers to the things that the Amish would. It also does not gloss over difficulties such as a woman spreading gossip about Katie which we can all relate to.
This is a book that I would recommend to anyone wanting to get a glimpse into the Amish way of life and for those looking for a sweet inspirational and or romance.This review was originally posted on Adventures in Never Never Land
August 13, 2012
While reading the novel Treasure Island, the author displayed different themes through each events. These themes were heroic, adventure, wealth, and growing up. For example, when Jim Hawkins(the main character) goes on a voyage to a daring Treasure Island, he begins his adventure of discovering treasure and the difference of his own shipmates. Deidre Laiken is trying to tell readers to enjoy and have an adventure while reading this book because you can relate to the certain things that Jim goes through and become interested in setting your own experience of life. This demonstrates that the author wants readers to keep wondering what's going to come next because in every adventure you always have to expect the unexpected. The various events that occur in the novel shows how the author relates it to the real world. For instance, this whole novel takes place in the eighteenth century, when pirates were known. This reveals the books time setting is an actual part of history that can be true and how it happened centuries ago. While reading this book there were no outrages events or scenes that made me feel very uncomfortable but there were certain scenes that were involved with some killings that were meant to be. All of the certain events that happened made me think that in life, certain things happen for a reason and you or anyone else cant stop it from happening. Overall, this book has events that lead up one after the other, making you want to keep reading to find out what happens next .This novel also allows readers to set of onto an adventure with Jim and his shipmates to discover the secrets and treasures of Treasure Island. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone because it has an adventure to it and makes readers interested , that they would not stop reading it. This book is also good for the readers who like adventure settings and can relate to certain characters in the story. This novel also has reveling secrets and surprises that just shock every reader. After reading Treasure Island, it has taught me to always expect the unexpected that life throws at you and to always have your unique adventures because it can lead to something great.
November 26, 2016
This novel was very compelling! It helped the reader understand the story by having pictures that goes along with the text. The only bad thing about this book is that it doesn't really make you feel like you're in the story but overall, the author states the setting and the surroundings of the characters pretty well. Another bad thing about this book is that some of the chapters are very short. For example, once you start a chapter, a new chapter will start like on the very next page. Even though some of the chapters are very short, it still has a great meaning to the story which is what most readers want to read about. If you are looking for a book that includes adventure, action, and fiction, then this book would be perfect for you. This was a very suitable book for me which was what I wanted. I simply couldn't stop reading this!
October 30, 2013
Treasure island is about a boy named Jim Hawkins and his family that live in a inn. One day a man comes to the inn for a bit but he stays for a wile he said to call him Bill. Then a couple of days later a anther man comes his name Black Dog. Black Dog said he was looking for bill and he was a friend. When Bill saw Black Dog he was in shocked to see him and Black kills him. Then one stormy night a man comes to the inn and he warned them about a one legged pirate and gave Jim a map. Now Jim and his friends most embarked on a journey to find the treasure. Will Jim and his friends find the treasure you will have to read to find out.
I like this book because it has action and it is fun to read. well I hope you like the book like I did enjoy.
I like this book because it has action and it is fun to read. well I hope you like the book like I did enjoy.
March 10, 2014
Treasure Island
Writted by Robert Louis Stevenson
Adapted by Deidre S. Laiken
Well to be really honest here, I chose this book because I didn't have anything else to read in my drawer and I kind of like Around The World In 80 Days. In the beginning, old captain Billy Bones walks into Jim Hawkins' family inn and asks for a place to stay. It turns out that old Billy Bones had a treasure map that puts Jim into a bunch of trouble. My favorite quote was " 'Blackbeard was a child compared to Flint!' " on p. 64 because it is showing how murderous and brutally savage this "Captain Flint" was. I liked how the author had a character narrate in first person. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone because it is an awesome classic.
Writted by Robert Louis Stevenson
Adapted by Deidre S. Laiken
Well to be really honest here, I chose this book because I didn't have anything else to read in my drawer and I kind of like Around The World In 80 Days. In the beginning, old captain Billy Bones walks into Jim Hawkins' family inn and asks for a place to stay. It turns out that old Billy Bones had a treasure map that puts Jim into a bunch of trouble. My favorite quote was " 'Blackbeard was a child compared to Flint!' " on p. 64 because it is showing how murderous and brutally savage this "Captain Flint" was. I liked how the author had a character narrate in first person. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone because it is an awesome classic.
October 17, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
November 10, 2014
My #1 favorite story. :)
April 27, 2018
“Treasure Island” an amazing book written by Robert Louis Stevenson, is a crazy action packed book about a crew of guys trying to find some treasure on a deserted island. The main character, is a young boy named jim who encounters a crazy pirate in his family's inn and then he dies and Jim takes a key around his neck. The key opens a hidden chest of the pirate and he finds a treasure map. A bad group of pirates is trying to get the map though, and other people are too, so it's a big fight to try and get the map and find the buried treasure. They find a man on the island later and he helps them but there is still way more trouble that is yet to come. This wasn’t one of my favorites, but I didn’t really hate it at all either. It was pretty good though. There was a lot of pirate fights and dramatic events all throughout the book. I did like some ways a lot though, because it reminded me of the book The Swiss family Robinson which is my absolute favorite from the series of the great illustrated classics. I really liked the plot, and its such a awesome book for how short that they are. I think that the theme of the book is that sometimes the right decision isn’t always the best one. I think this because some parts in the book the bad pirates, and the good guys have to bargain together. The Pirates threaten to keep killing everyone and hurting them if they don’t give them the map and so its really hard for them to decide do we want more of our men to die but find the treasure, and do we want to give them the map but we all live.
July 30, 2015
First Date: Okay, this could be a really hot date! I enjoyed the introduction to this new world of Chloe Neill's, filled with fae and plenty of other paranormal critters, and set in the sultry city of New Orleans. While it wasn't the fastest-paced beginning (hey, not a bad thing when it goes slow at the beginning. Anticipation is all part of the tease.), I really got into Claire's life in a post-apocalyptic New Orleans. It wasn't as hard-hitting a beginning as the Chicagoland Vamp series (hard to top an attack and being turned into a vamp right off the bat) but Neill's writing talent shines and whispers sweet promises in my ears.
Second Date: I'm a sucker for a Southern story, especially one filled with magic (or, in this case, hidden magic, as anything magic-related is illegal in this post-fae-invasion world). And Claire, I really liked her, too. She's just a girl, doing her thing the best she can with what she's got. Except she's got more than she reveals. There are layers to her, man. Magical layers. Magical layers she doesn't want anyone to know about or she'll wind up incarcerated on Devil's Isle with the rest of the paranormals and people with even a hint of magic. It's not a pretty place. Hard to whisper sweet promises when you don't have enough to eat.
Third Date: Yeah, I had a couple of quibbles but, you know what? I had a good enough time with this book that I'm not even going to fuss about it. This book bought me drinks and showed me a good time. I'm not bitchin'. Not even Claire's exponentially fast learning of her powers. (Hey, she's a protégée. It happens.) Or all the super-hot guys (I mean, who in their right mind complains when surrounded by such brawn and abs? Not I.). I am hoping that there's a smidge more romance in the next story but yay for a new urban fantasy series! (I've heard rumblings that publishers think there's too much UF out there or not enough demand but I say, "No! Bring it on!")
You can enter THE VEIL Grand Prize Giveaway,
which runs July 27 through August 7 on
Chloe’s web site!
What is the Grand Prize Giveaway prize?
Fleur de Lis Amulet Pendant Necklace from New Orleans jewelry designer Mignon Faget
$50 Amazon Gift Card
THE VEIL 5″x5″ cloth screenwipe
THE VEIL tote bag
THE VEIL bookmark, sticker, and pen
Chicagoland Vampires bookmark, sticker, pen, keychain, and lanyard
Purchase or pre-order THE VEIL: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Powells | Books-A-Million | Kobo | Indiebound | Audible
On the tour:
Week One
Monday, July 27 – SassyCat’s Book Review | Paranormally Yours
Tuesday, July 28 – Fantasy Is More Fun | Reaffirming My Bookworm Status
Wednesday, July 29 – YA Book Nerd | Happiness is a Book
Thursday, July 30 – Star Crossed Book Blog | Dandelionn Wine Book Blog | The Book Swarm
Friday, July 31 – Parajunkee | All Books Considered | Wild Wordy Women |Professional Fan Girls
Week Two
Monday, August 3 – Dark Faerie Tales (Deadly Destinations Event) | Creative House Blog | True Bookies Review | Andrea Heltsley
Tuesday, August 4 – Reed’s Reads & Review | The Saucy Wenches | My Lifes, Loves and Passion
Wednesday, August 5 – Bad Bird Reads
Thursday, August 6 – Booklovers for Life | Spines & Covers
Friday, August 7 – The Book Nympho (Stomp v. Romp)To read the full review, visit The Book Swarm
August 24, 2019
"You're not a woman, you're the bleedin' Grim Reaper with red hair!"
When I borrowed Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost from the library a few weeks ago, I did not have any expectations whatsoever. I did not read any reviews for this book nor did someone recommend it to me. I probably saw this somewhere on my Facebook wall and decided to read it over my birthday week. What I got when I listened to the audiobook version was 100% awesomeness and badassery from our heroine Cat Crawfield, a half-breed. This was one of the audiobooks where I just could not STOP listening to! I was hooked!
Read the review on I Heart Romance & YA
When I borrowed Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost from the library a few weeks ago, I did not have any expectations whatsoever. I did not read any reviews for this book nor did someone recommend it to me. I probably saw this somewhere on my Facebook wall and decided to read it over my birthday week. What I got when I listened to the audiobook version was 100% awesomeness and badassery from our heroine Cat Crawfield, a half-breed. This was one of the audiobooks where I just could not STOP listening to! I was hooked!
Read the review on I Heart Romance & YA
December 29, 2023
My son and I read this together. Maybe a book about a boy seeking treasure while pursued by murderous, mutinous pirates was too steep for a six-year-old, but we both enjoyed the adventure. We read 1-3 chapters per night for bedtime stories, the chapters are short enough to allow flexibility. The vocabulary was a little tough for a beginning reader, but he was well-engaged and I was glad to read to him and have him read portions. The story seemed to have really engaged his imagination!
Young Jim Hawkins finds himself in possession of a treasure map and is pursued by mysterious, violent sailors. They go to seek the treasure when the some of the crew of the Hispaniola, led by the one-legged, parrot-on-his-shoulder Long John Silver, mutiny in the hopes of claiming it all for themselves.
Having only read this abridged version, it leaves me wondering what was left out.
Young Jim Hawkins finds himself in possession of a treasure map and is pursued by mysterious, violent sailors. They go to seek the treasure when the some of the crew of the Hispaniola, led by the one-legged, parrot-on-his-shoulder Long John Silver, mutiny in the hopes of claiming it all for themselves.
Having only read this abridged version, it leaves me wondering what was left out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2021
In which I procure the assistance of 5-year-old and 3-year-old, to whom m I read the book, in other review:
What did you like about this book?
5: I liked when they found the gold.
3: I liked when the pirates flew, well like, they shooter the ship.
Why do you think it gets five stars?
5: Cause it’s pretty pretty good story.
3: because I like when they were shooting the ship.
What was the scariest part?
5: When that guy that had that stick, that bad guy stick, also when the horse trampled him to death.
3: When the ochonauts got that big shark whale
What was the happiest part?
5: When they found the treasure. And the part I said I liked is when Treasure Island’s pirate found, I mean the bird said “pieces of eight! pieces of eight!”
3: When the mommy died?
What did you like about this book?
5: I liked when they found the gold.
3: I liked when the pirates flew, well like, they shooter the ship.
Why do you think it gets five stars?
5: Cause it’s pretty pretty good story.
3: because I like when they were shooting the ship.
What was the scariest part?
5: When that guy that had that stick, that bad guy stick, also when the horse trampled him to death.
3: When the ochonauts got that big shark whale
What was the happiest part?
5: When they found the treasure. And the part I said I liked is when Treasure Island’s pirate found, I mean the bird said “pieces of eight! pieces of eight!”
3: When the mommy died?
May 29, 2023
I think the combination of old english and old pirate and nautical terminology has made this book a harder read for people today and might effect how much someone enjoys or doesn't enjoy the story. I think this rewritten adaptation of the story does a good job of putting the plot into easier language accesible for kids or just someone who wants to breeze through the story without dealing with all the dense and lengthy prose. The illustrations also add a lot, even though it's an abridgedversion for kids I almost enjoyed it more than the original novel, although there is a lot in the original novel that was cut out.
November 15, 2018
Treasure Island was not one of my favorite books, but one thing that really got my attention was the adventure and mystery. Though I got lost in some parts of the book, my attention was also grabbed through most parts. Even though I did not give this book 5 stars, I feel like a lot of people would enjoy this book, so yes, I would recommend this book to my friends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews