The Pirates of Penn Cove

Weirdbey Island #1

by Eldritch Black

A lost Pirate’s Treasure. A Mysterious Secret Society. A Summer Adventure like no other.

Dylan Wylde’s no stranger to fear. His brother’s a bully, his only friends are halfway across the country, and now’s he’s been forced to move to Whidbey Island, or Weirdbey Island as it’s called by those in the know.

Soon Dylan finds himself having to confront his deepest fears as he uncovers a hidden society with a nightmarish secret. Throw in a monstrous sea beast, a pair of desperate treasure hunters, and a wild chase to find long buried chests before a fearsome centuries old undead pirate can destroy the whole island.
And he hasn’t even unpacked yet.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Pirates, Amazon, Mystery, Audiobook

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2019

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pirates of Penn Cove
Weirdbey Island, Book 1
By: Eldritch Black
Narrated by: J. Scott Bennett
What a terrific book for middle school kids! What a great book for older women (me!). I thought this book was a real hoot! Fun writing and dialogue, great characters, wonderful world building, with an amazing and fun plot! Combined and it made an adorable, humorous, mysterious, and had just the right suspense to be exciting book!
There are ghostly ships, a cursed pirate, a treasure that everyone is looking for, elderly evil pair of greedy treasure hunters, a ginormous octopus, and a small group of friends trying to do the right thing and stay alive, (and find treasure wouldn't hurt!)
Truly a fun book for any age! Stranger Things fans? Try this!
A delightful change of pace! Received this book from freeaudiblecodes.

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 4 out of 5]

A kid moves to an island with his family. He’d rather not have come, he misses his friends back home. If all that wasn’t hard enough, there are lot of mysterious things happening all over the island. A pirate ship haunts the shores. There’s a giant octopus lying in wait below the waves. A strange duo is digging for something on the beach. And he gets handed a curious book with a special request. On his quest for the truth he meets new friends. And he who finds a friend, finds a treasure.

The mysteries left my fingers itching to flip the pages, thirsting to find out more. The setting is pretty cool, just the right amount of eerie to keep you on your toes. Don’t know a thing about the actual island but it sounds like an interesting place. And the characters are relatable.

A well-written fun adventure for kids of all ages.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the 'Wierdbey Island' series by Eldritch Black. It's a kids series with paranormal elements. This one involves cursed pirates, a giant octopus and a 12-year-old boy trying to fit into a new community. This is an adventure series about kids overcoming the odds to try to save the town unbeknownst to the ignorant adults.

I've been to the series setting, Whidbey Island, WA, many times. I liked that the author was accurate with the descriptions of the island flora, fauna and geography. I was previewing this for my 7 year-old nephew. I think the series is a little advanced for him yet, but I'll hold onto it for him and share it when he's a couple of years older.

J. Scott Bennett narrated the book with skill. I liked the voices that he was able to conjure up for the main characters. His pirate voice, "Arggghhhhh there Matey!" just made me chuckle.

Thanks to the author and narrator for a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable adventure ride

Dylan suddenly has to move in to a new island which has been called as Weirdbey Island, by those who know all about it.
In the new place Dylan is trying to fit in and his elder brother Jamie is no help as Jamie is constantly bullying Dylan. That is when Dylan starts seeing things – like a giant octopus and a ghostly pirate ship!
Dylan teams up with three other kids who have also been seeing the weird things and the four are determined to get to the bottom of it.
Though the story is meant was younger audience, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Dylan’s vision and how he is forced to face his fears and handle every situation, even the undead pirate captain in the island was amazingly well told.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am well beyond the age of the target audience for this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Dylan and his family have just moved cross country to Whidbey Island, AKA Weirdbey Island. Dylan is sad at leaving his friends behind and his (barely) older brother, Jamie, doesn't help matters since he is constantly bullying Dylan.

As Dylan approaches the Island, he begins to see things: a gigantic octopus, a strange white mist and a ghostly pirate ship! Once settled on the Island, Dylan meets a trio of kids who also seem interested in the strange things going on. The foursome team up to find out the secrets and the adventure begins!

This was a well-written book with great characters, great plot, and loads of eerie fun. There is nothing violent in the book to upset younger readers, but there is enough mysterious happenings to keep the older folks entertained as well.

The narrator, J. Scott Bennett, is perfect for the book. The story is told from the POV of Dylan, but Mr. Bennett's voice is just right for Dylan's.

If you are looking for a book to read with your kids or grandkids, if you love reading books involving kids and their adventures, or you are just looking for pure fun, you won't be disappointed by this book. Who doesn't love stories involving pirates, ghosts, buried treasures and a load of eccentric characters out for blood?

I was given the opportunity to listen to this book by the narrator and chose to review it.

[Jonathan Bruns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

Cute story for young adults, but the dialogue could not be more cheesy or cliché if it was written by Walt Disney.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟
I got this book while visiting a small book store in Coupeville on Whidbey Island. I saw it was by a local author, and it sounded fun. My copy was even signed by him.
The story was even better than I thought it would be. I live in the Seattle area, so I was familiar with all the locations, which was really fun. Definitely read if you're a fan of Percy Jackson or other witty middle grade stories 😄

[Jeremy Beitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know this book is for younger kids, but I still felt it was missing something. I can't tell you exactly what, but it felt like it didn't have enough substance to me.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book with creepy pirate ghosts and a band of friends who sort them out. My 7-year-old great niece loves this stuff. Now about that Captain Grimditch Halloween costume...

[Dennis Crotts · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all are kid at heart and we like pirates, pirate ship and booty and the adventures of being a kid. This is that type of book for kids of all ages from small to adults. The narrator does a great job telling the story and characters alive and in some cases you seem to smell and hear the ocean .
The story starts with a kid (Dillion)and family moving to an island well Dillon is bluntly scarey kid with a brothers who does everything to make him uncomfortable. You watch as Dillon tries to start a new life with none of his friends from were yet used to live but as He starts to exploring he starts meeting other kids and the four start many adventures.
So I hope you check this audiobook out

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cursed undead pirate who wants to destroy a mysterious island in the PNW. Yep, that is all I needed to know when I started this book.
This book is for children and the young at heart. I knew many of the location in this book which made it that much more enjoyable. However, even with little knowledge of Weirdey Island you’ll enjoy the adventure of this book.

[Richard Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I was looking for free pirate fantasy books, and came across this one. It's not a pirate series from the looks of it. It looks more like a series of the same group of friends going on weird adventures together. Does that make me hate this due to wanting to read about pirates specifically? Nope.

I really enjoyed this one. Dylan moves to Whidbey Island with his family and makes some new friends, and there's some bizarre stuff going on, like a couple strangers we later learn are called the Strimples, and the treasure of a deceased pirate. Now, I do have an obsession with pirates more recently, but ghost pirates are even more intriguing to me for a work of fiction, and I definitely would say I like it.

Now, when it comes to a story involving ghosts, I do expect to get creeped out more, and there were moments of that, but this one didn't get to horror levels. I'd more call this a fantasy in a real world setting. Which is fine. I do like fantasy books probably more than horror these days.

My favorite scene in this was definitely the climax. I won't spoil the whole thing, but I enjoyed reading how Captain Grimdire was defeated. And the scene where they were up against all the pirates definitely had me worried for them a bit (though not by much, since this is already an 8 book series, so I knew they'd survive haha!)

I will say, this book isn't perfect, but for being a book aimed at a younger audience, it's as good as it needs to be. And if you're an adult who likes to read that sort of stuff like I am, you might enjoy this as well. Do I recommend this? Heck yeah! Great story!

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dylan Wylde is traveling across the sea to his new home, he is leaving all his friends behind to live on the island of Whidbey. Dylan is a studious boy who loved reading, and who was constantly bullied by his elder obnoxious brother Jamie. He thought he was in for a boring life on the island, little knowing the scary adventure he would soon be embarking upon. People in the know referred to the island as Weirdbey, and they did this for a reason, one which Dylan would soon discover. The tale involves a giant octopus, the ghostly galleon of captain Grimdire and his crew of pirates, the Midnight bazaar, a treasure map, a library book with missing pages, and a secret society who knew all about the secret of the island. Dylan made new friends, ones who did not think him crazy or a coward but who joined him on the adventure of a lifetime unless it proved to lead them to their deaths. Can our group of youngsters face up to the ghostly pirates, as well as the couple of sibling criminals hounding their footsteps, in order to save their island home? In this book Dylan is forced to face his demons, to find the courage he thought he never had as his brother had stolen all his self confidence. This book is the start of a series of adventures and is a coming of age tale which can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. I personally look forward to embarking on the next adventure with our group of young intrepid adventurers, Jacob, Emily, Zach and of course Dylan.

[Almira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, checking this book in at the circulation desk at my library, I was drawn to the book by the title, as I live on Camano Island, Whidbey Island's "sister" island to the east. I wanted to see how accurate the account of Whidbey was, I was not disappointed.
Eldritch did a very good job of describing Langley, Coupeville's Penn Cove and the Big Red building on the pier in Coupeville. THANKS

Dylan Wilde and his family are moving to Whidbey Island, on the ferry ride over, standing at the railing, he notices an ENORMOUS octopus alongside the ferry, however, it seems that no one else notices the monster.
Arriving at their new home in Langley, the chores of unpacking and settling in are interrupted by strange occurrences, starting with the trip to Oak Harbor with his mom, to purchase a new phone charger for his phone (unsuccessfully). ON their way home (much later in the evening), his mom spots a "Midnight Garage Sale", she decides to stop and browse, after all who has ever heard of a Midnight Garage Sale. Dylan is handed a special book by the owner of the house, and given sinister instructions about what will happen IF Dylan doesn't follow them.

Let the FUN? begin.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a middle school teacher, it's difficult to find good books with just the right content for that age group. It's refreshing to read a good story that's perfect for middle schoolers. And I'm going to borrow another reviewer's words who described the story perfectly: it's like a combo of The Fog and The Goonies, middle school style. :)

I openly admit I have a penchant for pirates, old folklore, and scary stories,...and this story fit the bill. I also love that the main character, Dylan, learns to fight his fears and makes new friends along the way.

I should also say that I bought my copy at an independent bookshop on Whidbey Island, when I was visiting, and I was delighted at how I was able to revisit the island through the story. Black does an excellent job describing the island through Dylan's eyes. Not to mention, one of the things that I love about Whidbey Island is it is absolutely gorgeous...and a bit creepy, which is exactly how I like it. Perfect setting for this kind of book.

I also recommend the audio book. I had to put a classroom together and decided to listen to some chapters while I worked. The narrator does an excellent job!

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun read. It was a little slow in the beginning but quickly became more exciting. I enjoyed the story told by the author of the folklore and legends book that was mentioned in the story. And I'm glad that Dylan became stronger in dealing with his brother who was truly a bully. And that he found some friends to hang out with while being the newcomer to the island.

The book was set in one of the "islands" that are around Washington state. Some of the details of the book reminded me of the movie The Goonies and Pirates of the Caribbean. It's definitely a book for middle grade aged and maybe even the high grade elementary aged students.

Rating: PG - there was some mild violence and some profanity
Language: some profanity, no use of deity that I can recall
Recommend: yes

[Anna Hargett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A children's book definitely written for children. This isn't a bad thing. It was a cute and simple read and not much to it other than a silly adventure.

Dylan was a young boy who really didn't have that many friends. He had moved to a new place and felt somewhat of an outcast. He then began to see things way out yonder especially in the grey mists beyond. What he saw was a ghost pirate ship with the spooky looking Captain Grimdire (with a zombie parrot on his shoulder) manning the ship.

Dylan and his friends formed a secret society to find clues and ways to get rid of the cursed captain off the island. They ran into some trouble along the way (not to mention two very strange strangers all too eager to thwart their plans).

This was a silly book and cute read. Not too much that I had to think about after I would read before laying myself down to sleep.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like spooky reads, but not too scary, I can recommend this book. What appealed to me was the fact there are pirates, but the story is much, much more. This is a great read when on holiday or on camp, or anywhere actually. Make sure you have fresh batteries in your flashlight, as it kept me up. Even though I am not of the intended age group, I had a moment, or two, where I double-checked the curtains. It is not straight horror but will guarantee goosebumps.

The main character is fantastic and draws you into the adventure. There is a whole island to discover, mystery, ghostly pirates, new friends and strange encounters... I loved it. Weirdbey Island is a great place to discover.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzanne Kelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pirates of Penn Cove is exactly the kind of story that reminds you what it felt like to be a kid, when a new town could be hiding secrets, the beach might be full of buried treasure, and every bike ride with friends could turn into an adventure.

The book follows Dillon, who moves with his family to an island and is not thrilled about starting over, especially with a brother who seems to enjoy making things harder. But as Dillon begins to explore, he falls in with a small group of local kids, and together they stumble into a wonderfully creepy mystery involving pirates, curses, and hidden treasure. The pacing is spot on for middle-grade and early teen readers: spooky enough to give you chills, but never so dark that it tips into nightmare territory. There is plenty of humor, lots of heart, and the kids feel like real kids, awkward, brave, funny, and sometimes scared, but always loyal to each other.

The pirate lore and the long-buried curse are all part of the fun. It feels like watching a group of kids on bikes banding together to face something bigger than themselves. The audiobook narrator does a fantastic job bringing Dillon, his friends, and the salty, sea-soaked setting to life, and you can almost smell the ocean while you listen.

A great pick for tweens, teens, classrooms, or any adult who still loves a good, old-fashioned spooky pirate adventure.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pirates of Penn Cove as a fun premise and I do enjoy a good pirate story. While the book does have ghostly pirates and mild peril, it's not too scary and there is enough light dialogue to balance the few creepier parts. This book incorporates a mystery, ghost story, and witch's curse. All must be solved by the new kid who moves with his family to this small island community -- and the new friends he makes there. The action flowed, but there were some slow parts where the reader is told about the pirate's story and the curse. Overall, it's an adventure story that incorporates the spooky and the weird.

[Paula Dyches · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started listening to this one in the car with my kids ( 10, 12 & 14yrs old). The narration was incredible and so much fun to listen to! Bennett really brought the characters and the story to life. We all loved how quickly the story picks up and grabs your attention. It truly is a story the whole family can get into, although I would say about 3rd grade and up... it might be a bit too intense for the really little kidos. Great fantasy adventure that we highly recommend!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Shannon Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an adult, I read this book for a university creative writing course I’m enrolled in. The plot angle was a much needed change from vampires or witchcraft and I enjoyed the realistic characters. The main character models growth and change that’s very relatable. As a retired English teacher, I appreciated the excellent grammar, age-appropriate vocabulary, and well-crafted sentences. It was also wonderful to read a YA book without curse words, the mention of drugs or provocative behaviors. I’d buy this book for my classroom.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars (rating shown may vary depending on whether site allows half star ratings).

I am well over the age group that this book is written for, but I still enjoyed it. It kind of reminded me of "Pirates of the Carribean" though it takes place in the modern day and with kids as the heroes. I think the age group for which it was written would enjoy it also.

I wondered when this wrapped up how the author would continue the series, but I'd forgotten about the book--which apparently will give the friends ideas for future investigations and adventures.

[Tricia Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adventurous tale that will have you on the edge of your seat. You will have a hard time putting this book down. A little spookiness, lots of mystery, and adventure. Dylan has moved to Whidbey Island and upon his moving he is noticing some strange happenings. Did he really see an octopus by the ferry or was it his imagination? Did hear a pirate ship's bell in the mysterious fog? Along the way, Dylan meets a group of friends. Can they untangle the mystery happenings? My fourth grade students can't get enough of this book!

[Rabid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining story that reminded me of the Goonies. It has all the elements of a great middle grade mystery adventure story; with a secret legend, pirates, ghosts, hidden clues, treasure maps, bumbling bad guys and hero kids. The narrator of the audiobook really brought the story to life, showing the comradery between the kids and intensifying the action well. It is a well written, engaging story with great characters that kids are bound to enjoy.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this first book of the Weirdbey Island series, Dylan moves with his family to an island off the coast of Washington. Although Dylan’s older brother bullies him and considers him a loser, events bring Dylan to the realization that he can be extremely brave when needed. This children’s story has legends, secret societies, ghosts, buried treasure chests, pirates, and a group of good friends who work together to solve a scary mystery.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific read! Aimed at middle school kids, this is a fantastic adventure that is similar to that of the Goonies and Goosebumps. It’s well written, it’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s got some fantastic characters that we join on this journey to find the lost treasure! Filled with action, mystery, suspense, ghostly pirates and a giant octopus, I very much enjoyed this tale and the adventure!

[Kymy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eldritch does a fantastic job writing engaging and fun adventures for one of the hardest age groups of kids. Well kids (and adults) of all ages enjoy them, this is great for older elementary and you middle schoolers (4th-7th grade).

The author lives on Whidbey Island and has even done guest readings with some of our teachers/classes and the kids LOVE him.

We love listening to the autobooks in the car in the mornings everyday. I am excited to finally catch up on the newer books in the series.

The story itself has a nice balance of adventure and pirate treasure mystery with some age appropriate 'scary bits'. If you or your kiddos love pirates, curses and treasures this is a great book for you.

[Donald Scoby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook version of Pirates of Penn Cove. This fun book served both as an enjoyable story and nostalgia -- reminding me of the creepy books I read as a kid. Eldritch Black's POPC is a great introduction to horror for young readers. I can't wait to get to book 2!

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book to read with my daughter. We love Whidbey, so we knew we had to read this. Could have used some better editing, several descriptors were used over and over again and 'Rainier', a major mountain, is misspelled twice. 33 chapters in all, some only 2 pages, which seemed unnecessary. Not sure I'm interested in continuing on with the series.