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The Virginia Mysteries #10
Pirates on the Bay
In the Golden Age of Piracy, none was more dreaded than Blackbeard.
Sam, Derek, and Caitlin head for a week’s vacation at Virginia Beach, where three hundred years ago, pirates sailed the waters off the Atlantic Coast. As the kids explore the beach, they find suspicious activity from the neighboring military base that points to the discovery of a historic shipwreck—maybe even lost pirate treasure!
When they meet a mysterious stranger named One-Eyed Jack, they’re captivated by the tale of Edward Teach, better known as the notorious pirate Blackbeard. Legend says he may have left valuable plunder buried in the nearby dunes before his final battle and violent death. Could the treasure still be out there, waiting to be discovered?
But when the clues lead them on a perilous trip across the Chesapeake Bay, danger lurks at every turn. Will they find a hidden bounty, or will competing treasure seekers, or even Blackbeard’s ghost, send them to a watery grave at the bottom of the sea?
Pirates on the Bay is the tenth book in The Virginia Mysteries series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. The story is the perfect complement to social studies units, field trips, and family vacations related to Virginia Beach, First Landing State Park, Cape Henry Lighthouse, Colonial America, and piracy of the early 1700s.
If you enjoy mystery and adventure like the Hardy Boys , Nancy Drew , Magic Tree House , or National Treasure , you’ll love author Steven K. Smith’s exciting middle-grade series. The stories are modern-day fictional mysteries with twists of real locations and events from history. These fast-paced books are popular with both boys and girls ages 7-12, appealing to even reluctant readers!
Also by Steven K.
The Virginia Mysteries Series
Book 1 – Summer of the Woods
Book 2 – Mystery on Church Hill
Book 3 – Ghosts of Belle Isle
Book 4 – Secret of the Staircase
Book 5 – Midnight at the Mansion
Book 6 – Shadows at Jamestown
Book 7 – Spies at Mount Vernon
Book 8 – Escape from Monticello
Book 9 - Pictures at the Protest
Book 10 - Pirates on the Bay
Brother Wars Series
Brother Wars
Cabin Eleven
The Big Apple
Final Kingdom Trilogy (Ages 10+)
The Missing
The Recruit
The Bridge
Sam, Derek, and Caitlin head for a week’s vacation at Virginia Beach, where three hundred years ago, pirates sailed the waters off the Atlantic Coast. As the kids explore the beach, they find suspicious activity from the neighboring military base that points to the discovery of a historic shipwreck—maybe even lost pirate treasure!
When they meet a mysterious stranger named One-Eyed Jack, they’re captivated by the tale of Edward Teach, better known as the notorious pirate Blackbeard. Legend says he may have left valuable plunder buried in the nearby dunes before his final battle and violent death. Could the treasure still be out there, waiting to be discovered?
But when the clues lead them on a perilous trip across the Chesapeake Bay, danger lurks at every turn. Will they find a hidden bounty, or will competing treasure seekers, or even Blackbeard’s ghost, send them to a watery grave at the bottom of the sea?
Pirates on the Bay is the tenth book in The Virginia Mysteries series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. The story is the perfect complement to social studies units, field trips, and family vacations related to Virginia Beach, First Landing State Park, Cape Henry Lighthouse, Colonial America, and piracy of the early 1700s.
If you enjoy mystery and adventure like the Hardy Boys , Nancy Drew , Magic Tree House , or National Treasure , you’ll love author Steven K. Smith’s exciting middle-grade series. The stories are modern-day fictional mysteries with twists of real locations and events from history. These fast-paced books are popular with both boys and girls ages 7-12, appealing to even reluctant readers!
Also by Steven K.
The Virginia Mysteries Series
Book 1 – Summer of the Woods
Book 2 – Mystery on Church Hill
Book 3 – Ghosts of Belle Isle
Book 4 – Secret of the Staircase
Book 5 – Midnight at the Mansion
Book 6 – Shadows at Jamestown
Book 7 – Spies at Mount Vernon
Book 8 – Escape from Monticello
Book 9 - Pictures at the Protest
Book 10 - Pirates on the Bay
Brother Wars Series
Brother Wars
Cabin Eleven
The Big Apple
Final Kingdom Trilogy (Ages 10+)
The Missing
The Recruit
The Bridge
230 pages, Paperback
Published August 16, 2021
55 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Steven K. Smith
27 books128 followersSteven K. Smith writes the middle grade series The Virginia Mysteries, Brother Wars, and Final Kingdom.
Steven lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife and three sons. Born and raised in rural northwestern New Jersey, he moved to Virginia in 2011 and quickly fell in love with its history and charm. Visit his website at www.stevenksmith.net.
When he's not writing, Steven enjoys coaching his boys in sports, hiking, kayaking, naps, and taking away his kids' screen time. Some of his favorite children's books include Where the Red Fern Grows, Rascal, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Bridge to Terabithia, and the Chronicles of Narnia series.
The Virginia Mysteries - Adventures with a twist of history
(Ages 7-12)
Book 1 - Summer of the Woods
Book 2 - Mystery on Church Hill
Book 3 - Ghosts of Belle Isle
Book 4 - Secret of the Staircase
Book 5 - Midnight at the Mansion
Book 6 - Shadows at Jamestown
Book 7 - Spies at Mount Vernon
Book 8 - Escape from Monticello
Brother Wars (Ages 7-12)
Brother Wars
Brother Wars: Cabin Eleven
Brother Wars: The Big Apple
Final Kingdom Trilogy (Ages 10+)
Book 1 - The Missing
Book 2- The Recruit
Book 3 - The Bridge
Steven lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife and three sons. Born and raised in rural northwestern New Jersey, he moved to Virginia in 2011 and quickly fell in love with its history and charm. Visit his website at www.stevenksmith.net.
When he's not writing, Steven enjoys coaching his boys in sports, hiking, kayaking, naps, and taking away his kids' screen time. Some of his favorite children's books include Where the Red Fern Grows, Rascal, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Bridge to Terabithia, and the Chronicles of Narnia series.
The Virginia Mysteries - Adventures with a twist of history
(Ages 7-12)
Book 1 - Summer of the Woods
Book 2 - Mystery on Church Hill
Book 3 - Ghosts of Belle Isle
Book 4 - Secret of the Staircase
Book 5 - Midnight at the Mansion
Book 6 - Shadows at Jamestown
Book 7 - Spies at Mount Vernon
Book 8 - Escape from Monticello
Brother Wars (Ages 7-12)
Brother Wars
Brother Wars: Cabin Eleven
Brother Wars: The Big Apple
Final Kingdom Trilogy (Ages 10+)
Book 1 - The Missing
Book 2- The Recruit
Book 3 - The Bridge
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 23, 2021
Blackbeard’s Treasure
Brothers Derek and Sam are off on another adventure with their friend Caitlin. This time the boy’s parents take them to Virginia Beach where they learn that this area was one of Blackbeard the Pirate’s haunts. What could be more fun than treasure hunting for Blackbeard may have buried some of his treasure nearby?
As the kids wander the beach, they learn of a man who hangs out on the boardwalk selling trinkets. He is dressed like a pirate, has a patch on one eye and is named, One-eyed Jack. He also knows a lot about Blackbeard. They go looking for him, and when they find him, he is being harassed by some boys. Once they persuade the boys to leave, they talk with One-eyed, asking him about Blackbeard. Over lunch, One-eyed tells them the story:
Blackbeard was a real pirate, one of the most frightening around. He knew how to frighten those whose ships he was about to plunder. The idea was to get them to surrender before he ever boarded their ship. He was a large man, and that could be frightening enough, depending on your size. Then he had a long black beard that he braided into smaller braids and tied with colorful ribbons. Not scary. What scared people most was that it looked as though smoke was coming out of his head, making him look like some sort of demon. Just before boarding a ship that he wished to plunder, he lit some fuses, the kind used to light cannons, and placed them under and around his hat. It was also said that Blackbeard, when burying his treasure, would kill one of his men and dump him in the hole along with the treasure. Seeing this would frighten any treasure seeker away. Maybe. But if this man that was killed was the only one who knew where the treasure was buried. Well, now only Blackbeard knew. Then there were stories of Blackbeard’s ghost haunting any area where his treasures were buried. One-eyed continued with his stories, and the kids ate them up. After leaving One-eyed, they began treasure hunting, which I found to be so exciting that I could not put the book down. I liked One-eyed and wished that he had come along with them.
Note: I had found a book exposing pirates in olden days as not being how we view them today. They were not fun to be around, nothing like the movies. This, I decided was not a book for pirate lovers, so I won’t give its name for it would be like taking away Santa Claus, well, maybe not Santa, but you get my drift. Why spoil things? I mean, who doesn’t think that Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney World and Disneyland are not the moSt fun rides? It was my favorite. And who didn’t like the Johnny Depp movies about Jack Sparrow? And What woman doesn’t like Johnny Depp as himself? But if you wish to read this book, you will have to consider it a treasure hunt and find it yourself.
Note 2: This was Steven K. Smith’s best Virginia mystery book to date. I would give it ten stars in this genre if I could.
Brothers Derek and Sam are off on another adventure with their friend Caitlin. This time the boy’s parents take them to Virginia Beach where they learn that this area was one of Blackbeard the Pirate’s haunts. What could be more fun than treasure hunting for Blackbeard may have buried some of his treasure nearby?
As the kids wander the beach, they learn of a man who hangs out on the boardwalk selling trinkets. He is dressed like a pirate, has a patch on one eye and is named, One-eyed Jack. He also knows a lot about Blackbeard. They go looking for him, and when they find him, he is being harassed by some boys. Once they persuade the boys to leave, they talk with One-eyed, asking him about Blackbeard. Over lunch, One-eyed tells them the story:
Blackbeard was a real pirate, one of the most frightening around. He knew how to frighten those whose ships he was about to plunder. The idea was to get them to surrender before he ever boarded their ship. He was a large man, and that could be frightening enough, depending on your size. Then he had a long black beard that he braided into smaller braids and tied with colorful ribbons. Not scary. What scared people most was that it looked as though smoke was coming out of his head, making him look like some sort of demon. Just before boarding a ship that he wished to plunder, he lit some fuses, the kind used to light cannons, and placed them under and around his hat. It was also said that Blackbeard, when burying his treasure, would kill one of his men and dump him in the hole along with the treasure. Seeing this would frighten any treasure seeker away. Maybe. But if this man that was killed was the only one who knew where the treasure was buried. Well, now only Blackbeard knew. Then there were stories of Blackbeard’s ghost haunting any area where his treasures were buried. One-eyed continued with his stories, and the kids ate them up. After leaving One-eyed, they began treasure hunting, which I found to be so exciting that I could not put the book down. I liked One-eyed and wished that he had come along with them.
Note: I had found a book exposing pirates in olden days as not being how we view them today. They were not fun to be around, nothing like the movies. This, I decided was not a book for pirate lovers, so I won’t give its name for it would be like taking away Santa Claus, well, maybe not Santa, but you get my drift. Why spoil things? I mean, who doesn’t think that Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney World and Disneyland are not the moSt fun rides? It was my favorite. And who didn’t like the Johnny Depp movies about Jack Sparrow? And What woman doesn’t like Johnny Depp as himself? But if you wish to read this book, you will have to consider it a treasure hunt and find it yourself.
Note 2: This was Steven K. Smith’s best Virginia mystery book to date. I would give it ten stars in this genre if I could.
August 18, 2021
I love this series! Pirates on the Bay is the 10th book in the Virginia Mysteries series and follows Sam, Derek, and Caitlin to Virginia Beach where they learn about the swashbuckling history of pirates in the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. As with the other Virginia Mysteries books, this book combines fun (and sometimes heart-stopping!) adventure with a history lesson that all kids will find intriguing. It's the perfect summer read for kids!
September 11, 2021
Steven K. Smith has brought history to life once again in his Virginia Mysteries Book 10, Pirates on the Bay. Kids and those who love them will be sucked into this thrilling book full of adventures, pirate lore, and Derek, Sam, Caitlin, plus newcomer Gabby's daring deeds. This is a summer vacation the detectives will never forget as they search for Blackbeard's treasure near Virginia First Landing. They are seemingly helped by One-Eyed Jack, a mysterious man on the boardwalk who looks like a real pirate. Readers will be cheering the kids on as they battle time, ocean currents, adults, sharks, and . . . yes, competition. Do they succeed? Dead men tell no tales, so neither will I.
January 31, 2023
I felt like the kids made worse /more dangerous choices in this story than the others and would like to see them solving mysteries without lying to their parents, stealing, and doing extremely stupid things.
September 7, 2021
I love this series! Pirates on the Bay is the 10th book in the Virginia Mysteries series and follows Sam, Derek, and Caitlin to Virginia Beach where they learn about the swashbuckling history of pirates in the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. As with the other Virginia Mysteries books, this book combines fun (and sometimes heart-stopping!) adventure with a history lesson that all kids will find intriguing. It's the perfect summer read for kids!
August 16, 2021
One again, Smith is able to entertain readers with an adventurous tale about two brothers and their best friend, this time addressing a topic that all kids love: pirates! Not only does the reader get to learn the specifics behind Blackbeard’s connection to the Virginia coast, but you’re along for the ride when it comes to the trouble Sam, Derek, and Caitlin get into in the tenth installment of this series. Will the kids get out of the corner they’ve backed themselves into? Will they find what they’re looking for? Will the kids finally get into a lot of trouble for the stress they put on their parents? Find out when you read this thrilling adventure tale.
August 19, 2023
The Virginia Mystery books are such a great series! These books remind me of the Hardy Boy/Nancy Drew books I used to read growing up where it's the kids solving the mysteries. They are fun to read plus they are educational! I love how the author has made stories in around the Richmond area and in Virginia.
In Pirates on the Bay, Derek, Same and Caitlin are in Virginia Beach with their families for a week. We went there years ago, I had no idea about the history of pirates and Blackbeard. Darn!
300 years ago, pirates sailed the waters off the Atlantic Coast.....Chesapeake Bay....Virginia Beach and that famous pirate Blackbeard buried his treasure somewhere in the dunes before his final battle and violent death just a few months later.
The kids are given a map of where the treasure is by One-Eyed Jack, who has been searching for it for many years, but now he's too old and too tired. All they have to do is, try to understand it and locate the treasure. Will they be able too?
I wish Derek would ease up on his bullying with Sam. It seems he can't say anything that isn't mean to his little brother. And his ego is really driving me crazy too.
Steven K. Smith has really come into his own writing these novels.
In Pirates on the Bay, Derek, Same and Caitlin are in Virginia Beach with their families for a week. We went there years ago, I had no idea about the history of pirates and Blackbeard. Darn!
300 years ago, pirates sailed the waters off the Atlantic Coast.....Chesapeake Bay....Virginia Beach and that famous pirate Blackbeard buried his treasure somewhere in the dunes before his final battle and violent death just a few months later.
The kids are given a map of where the treasure is by One-Eyed Jack, who has been searching for it for many years, but now he's too old and too tired. All they have to do is, try to understand it and locate the treasure. Will they be able too?
I wish Derek would ease up on his bullying with Sam. It seems he can't say anything that isn't mean to his little brother. And his ego is really driving me crazy too.
Steven K. Smith has really come into his own writing these novels.
February 3, 2023
Excellent YA novel, amongst the very best in the series. I really loved this one, and so did my almost nine-year-old son.
Basically, this is a good old-fashioned treasure hunt. Sam, Derek, and Caitlin are doing their best to track down some pirate booty. Will they succeed where so many others have failed? Read the book to find out!
Basically, this is a good old-fashioned treasure hunt. Sam, Derek, and Caitlin are doing their best to track down some pirate booty. Will they succeed where so many others have failed? Read the book to find out!
December 24, 2023
A thousand times better than the #9 in this series, and one of the more enjoyable ones on the whole. Lots of adventure and kids doing really stupid stuff. I've been reading this series aloud to my kids, who are now 9 and 11, and this one was fun.
May 9, 2024
Read this to my class and they loved it!
Read
June 10, 2025Audiobook with kids
July 27, 2025
Just okay.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews