The pirates of the Caribbean have a name for kids who can walk on water -- they call them polliwogs. As far as 14-year-old Jolly knows, she's the last polliwog still alive. She is valuable to the pirate captain who raised her, for she can sneak up on an enemy ship by walking over the waves. When someone sets a trap for Jolly's ship, Jolly alone escapes. She is washed up on a tiny island inhabited by a farming family -- and the ghosts who labor for them. The farmers have a son, Munk, who has been raised almost in hiding. Munk longs to go to sea, but his parents say that they are afraid of pirates, and they have forbidden Munk to reveal his true identity -- he, too, is a polliwog. But pirates are not the only threat in the Caribbean. Evil forces are stirring, and a demon from the sea attacks and murders Munk's parents. Was the demon really after Munk? And Jolly, too? Why are the polliwogs so valuable, and who wants them enough to kill for them? Jolly and Munk must sail with a strange crew of outcasts, led by the mysterious Ghost Trader, to avenge their loved ones and try to stop an ancient, malevolent force known as the Maelstrom. What it will cost both teens, no one can tell -- in this thrilling, swashbuckling fantasy from the extraordinary Kai Meyer.

Lauren Grayson has investigated Bigfoot, the Mayan apocalypse, even UFOs. But she never expected to find herself at the mercy of pirates… When the Oceanic Channel's newest research vessel, the Explorer of the Deep, goes missing on its maiden voyage to the Bermuda Triangle, television investigator Dr. Lauren Grayson and the Veritas Codex Crew are asked to investigate. Paired with oceanographer Trevor Thorpe and his crew from sister-show Expedition: Nautilus, they set off to find the network’s missing million-dollar ship. Soon after they embark, a mysterious storm descends and the Nautilus is fired upon by what appears to be a seventeenth-century pirate ship. Lauren is taken prisoner by the infamous Captain James "Jackdaw" Childers—who looks disturbingly like her husband. But there couldn't be any connection between this wicked monster and her husband. Right? Lauren learns that the ship and its crew have been damned by powerful forces that blame Childers for the abduction of a beloved mermaid—and want revenge. Can Lauren survive the pirate's curse? Or will she be lost in the Bermuda Triangle forever? “In the sixth book of the Veritas Codex series, The Pirates Curse, author Betsey Kulakowski takes her readers and her characters to times and places they have never been before. The perils of time travel have never been so vivid or fraught with consequences. Even the nicest gods have a limited amount of patience with humans infringing in their domain, and the other kind can be downright nasty. Find a safe place to cuddle up and read this fascinating and frightening adventure. I might even suggest a cup of hot tea to complete the experience— with or without brandy.” Rick Ludwig, author of Eyes of the Beholder “The Pirate’s Curse is a thoroughly enjoyable addition to the Veritas Code series. I have enjoyed reading each book in the series, and the author does a wonderful job of building on previous stories without the repetitive retelling of the series’ story arcs. Lauren and Rowan Pierce’s family continues to grow, and with it, each member plays a part in their next adventure. And if you like pirate stories, this is a nice one with plenty of twists and turns, plus the protagonists must take significant risks to come back together as a family—great story, a great author, and highly recommended. I’m looking forward to the next.” Mark Edward Jones, author of Peculiar Activities and Shadowed Souls

With the death of his Great-Uncle Mungo, Jack learns to his dismay that, as the tenth-generation descendant of the Caribbean pirate Blackstrap Morgan, he is next in line to inherit the Pirate Curse and is fated to spend his life running from a vengeful band of pirates--unless he finds a way to outsmart them.

The Pirate's Curse: A Swashbuckling Adventure is an epic tale of adventure, treasure, and danger on the high seas. Captain Blackbeard and his crew are the most feared pirates on the Caribbean, sailing the seas in search of treasure and adventure. But when they come across an ancient treasure map that is said to be cursed, they realize that they are in for their greatest challenge yet. As they set sail to find the treasure, they must navigate treacherous waters, face deadly sea monsters, and confront their own inner demons. Along the way, they encounter rival pirate crews, mysterious islands, and haunted caverns, each presenting a new challenge to their quest. But their biggest challenge comes in the form of a powerful pirate queen who seeks revenge against Captain Blackbeard and his crew. With her cunning and ruthless tactics, she threatens to destroy everything they hold dear. As the final showdown approaches, Captain Blackbeard and his crew must use all of their courage, determination, and skill to emerge victorious. They will face their greatest challenge yet, confronting their own fears and the forces of nature itself, in order to claim the treasure that they seek. Full of swashbuckling adventure, daring escapades, and thrilling twists and turns, The Pirate's Curse is a must-read for anyone who loves epic tales of adventure on the high seas. With vivid descriptions, memorable characters, and a gripping plot, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Treasure Island meets Battlestar Galactica in Book 2 of the swashbuckling sci-fi adventure series SLJ called "space opera in the classic style" in a starred review, from New York Times bestselling author Jason Fry. It's been a tough year for Tycho Hashoone and his family. Hostilities between the Jovian Union and Earth have reached a boiling point. The privateering business hasn't exactly been booming. And the ongoing contest for the captain's seat of the Shadow Comet has the three Hashoone siblings perpetually on edge. Then the Hashoones intercept a ship—one with a long-dead crew, its final mission a warning to all who seek their fortunes in space. The Hashoones don't have time for ill omens; they need a payday. Following clues from the mysterious ship, they embark on a hunt for the long-lost treasure of the Iris—a treasure that Tycho's own great-grandfather Johannes had a hand in hiding. But in his quest for the Iris cache, Tycho is going to dig up much more than he bargained for. Because like old pirate treasure, family secrets never stay buried for long. Filled with action, intrigue, and one unforgettable family, The Jupiter Pirates: Curse of the Iris takes readers across the depths of space and brings the Jupiter Pirates saga to new heights.

"The Splendid Baron Submarine is delightfully absurd, imaginative, and fun—a wonderful book for middleschool children to read on their own, and an even better book for families to read aloud together." - Foreword Reviews, Starred Review Pirate treasure? A top secret mission? A terribly rude monkey with personal boundary and hygiene issues? Two out of three of those things sound like a dream come true to the young, clumsy, and terribly unscientific Waldo “W.B.” Baron, when his clever inventor parents are hired to go on a secret treasure hunt. The Baron family dives into adventure with their steam-powered submarine, but they aren’t prepared for the complications that occur during their trip, which include shark attacks, deep sea diving mishaps, and even a pirate’s curse, all of which W.B. is lucky enough to discover, one stumble, trip, and fall at a time.

A thrice cursed island, a legendary pirate treasure, and one not-so-brave boy. What could possibly go wrong? For centuries, the whereabouts of Captain William Kidd’s lost pirate treasure has remained a mystery. When Billy’s best friend, Andy, proposes they look for it on nearby Pirate Island, Billy thinks it’s just another one of their crazy adventures. It’s usually Billy who ends up in trouble as a result, but he goes along for the ride…like always. The more he delves into the life and death of Kidd, the more he thinks the treasure is real and that it might be buried on the small island in Long Island Sound. Billy—nope, call him William—becomes obsessed with the captain of the same first name. He even believes he’s possessed by Kidd’s restless soul. Now he and the spirit of a long-dead pirate are leading the crazy adventure on Pirate Island. And what they find is far bigger than the treasure they imagined.