My son usually drags his feet with school reading, but he actually picked up this retelling of "Treasure Island" without much prompting. It's about a kid and his mom who run an inn. They stumble upon a treasure map when going through a deceased guest's stuff, and that discovery kicks off a wild adventure involving pirates and hidden riches. If your child likes a good mystery mixed with some swashbuckling, this version could really hit the spot.
He took this one on our road trip and spent a good chunk of the drive with his nose in it, which is rare for him lately. He said the language was pretty straightforward, not like the older versions he’s tried to read before. There aren't any pictures to break things up, but he didn't seem to mind because the action kept moving. He did ask me about a few of the pirate terms, but overall, he was able to follow the story without getting too lost. It felt like a good length, just enough to get into the story without becoming a huge commitment.
For those tracking AR points, this book is at an AR Level 5.5 and earns 2.0 points. My fifth grader tackled it easily, so I'd say it's a solid choice for middle schoolers, maybe even a strong fourth grader ready for something a bit meatier. It comes in at just over 15,000 words, which is a nice manageable length for a school assignment or for kids who want to feel accomplished finishing a chapter book quickly. It's not a huge tome, making it less intimidating.
I think this is a perfect book for a kid who enjoys adventure stories but might be intimidated by classic literature. If your child likes tales of discovery, good guys against bad guys, and a bit of historical feel without the really dense language, then this would be a great fit. It's probably not for kids who prefer contemporary settings or stories focused purely on character relationships over plot. Give it a try if you want to introduce them to a classic theme in a fresh, accessible way.