The Deadly Trap

Gr 4–7—Sam Silver is the descendant of a pirate-and he has a magical doubloon to prove it. Whenever Sam rubs the coin, he's transported to the Sea Wolf, a Caribbean pirate ship that sailed 300 years ago. Rubbing the coin again returns him home, with his mother none the wiser. In his latest adventure, Sam finds himself aboard the familiar ship with a new arrival-Dick Gudegon. Sam quickly discovers Dick is not who he claims to be, but none of the other crew members believe him. Will Sam be able to change their minds before Dick puts the Captain and the Sea Wolf in peril? This quick-paced tale will have readers on the edge of their seats. Told in the third person, the story has a mix of short chapters and illustrations. Nautical and pirate terminology is peppered throughout the book. While the ending may be unsurprising, there are enough twists and turns to keep readers interested. Recommended for librarians looking to strengthen the sea legs of their adventure section.—Nicole Signoretta Sutton, Kingston Elementary School, Cherry Hill, NJ