CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE VIDEO MESSAGE THAT THE SWASHBUCKLERS PLAYED IN CHAPEL ON JANUARY 28TH AS THEY PILFERED THE MYSTERIOUS TREASURE CHEST!

It looks like we are off to Treasure Island and swashbuckling adventure! So, what do we do?

1. Let's read! Beginning January 28th, your family is invited invited to spend time together reading each evening: from January 28th through February 5th (taking off Sunday, February 1st).
2. You will be invited to read through one of two different versions of "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson. Or, you might choose to read through another adventure of your own choosing! (More details on alternatives below!)
3. Point your ship's bow towards a treasure hunt! In the spirit of "Treasure Island", once your family has read together, following the schedule below, and then reported your reading to the special email below, you just might receive a treasure map. If you are able to solve the puzzle that the treasure map holds and follow the directions, you will be invited to travel to a destination where treasure awaits!

More details below!

1. How do we get access to Treasure Island? Because Treasure Island entered the "public domain" in 1929, the door is open for us to have some fun with it. First, you could go to any bookstore to purchase it or order it on Amazon or through Kindle. Second, you could stream or download it as an audiobook for free through Librivox.org. (At Librivox, you can also find it as an audio drama.) Or, if you prefer, at ReadAcrossNCS.com, you can find the divided into its nightly readings. You will also find it in two forms. The first is the "full version". The second is an abridged version that has been edited for length, reading level, and appropriate content by Mr. Brown and members of the Middle School's "Off the Page" book club.
2. I am not certain that "Treasure Island" will be appropriate for my student. Do we have to read it? No. You may read any book or series of books that you wish to read during the week of Read Across NCS, January 28th through February 6th. Even if you read an altogether different book than "Treasure Island" the time that you spend reading will count towards reporting your daily family reading and will earn you access to the varied treasure maps. If you choose to read an altogether different book with your student, you might consider streaming a benign version of the story as a movie so that your student is able to engage with other in their class about the characters or plot. There is a free version of the Jack Palance version of the movie on YouTube. Or, if you prefer there's the 1996 version of Muppets' Treasure Island that holds fairly true to the storyline without being too scary. That version is included with a Disney+ subscription or can be 'rented' via most other streaming platforms for $3.99. If you choose not to read Treasure Island or opt not to read the unabridged version of the book, please do not worry about your child having a diminished experience. There will be a wide spectrum of approaches to the book but there will be abundant fun for all!
3. Does the school library have alternative reading titles available? Yes! Mrs. Roman has ordered and stocked the shelves with books of varied reading levels that center around the themes of sailing, the ocean, adventure, and pirates.
4. Does Read Across NCS count towards my student's grade? No. Read Across NCS is a purely optional and will have no impact in the classroom. These ambitious reading campaigns are designed to help your student understand that reading is an amazing adventure and introduce your students to what is popularly considered to be 'classic literature'. (However, from time to time, we may stretch the definition of 'classic' a bit. For example, wait for next year...)
5. In the past, there have been different versions of the book to read. Is that the case here? Yes! In this case, if you choose to use Treasure Island as the basis for your reading adventure, you will have two versions available: the original and an edited, abridged version that was developed in tandem between Mr. Brown and the Middle School Book Club. The Middle School Book Club's version takes out some of the potentially objectionable content, makes adjustments to the reading level (aiming for 3rd grade), and reduces the length while maintaining all of the key plot points.
6. What if we want to read through the story at our own pace? That would be great! The abridged and unabridged sections represented above each tackle two to three chapters per evening. You may wish to slow down and read one chapter per evening. Or, you might have an altogether different strategy in mind. All that is asked is that, if you report your reading time and work to receive one of the treasure maps, you can honestly state two things: First, you read together as a family. Second, you tackled some portion of the book each night.
7. If we choose to tackle the original version of Treasure Island, how do I handle some of the edgy topics that Treasure Island will introduce? If you launch into the unabridged, unedited version of Treasure Island, your family will encounter alcohol abuse, violence, and piracy/thievery. As odd as this may seem, Mr. Brown is encouraging you to read this version if you, as the parent and sole decision-maker in the determination, decide that is an appropriate choice for your child. Reading the book is thrilling in terms of adventure and storyline but it will also provide opportunities for your family to discuss these issues in the light of Biblical worldview. In his outstanding book, the Summit Ministries published "Beyond Biblical Integration", Dr. Roger Erdvig borrows from "A Thomas Jefferson Education" and presents four types of literature: whole, bent, broken, and healing. Erdvig outlines how three of these (whole, broken, and healing) can be used to grow Biblical worldview in the estimation of students while one (bent) should be avoided. In the case of "Treasure Island", you will encounter characters with all three of Erdvig's appropriate archetypes. This can, and should, lead to healthy conversations in your home. For a more detailed treatment of this topic, you are invited to listen to this particular episode of the school's podcast, Kingdom Culture Conversations.
8. What do we need to know about the treasure maps, the impact of a treasure hunt on our evenings, and the adventure that will envelope my family beginning January 28th? Much, much more than we are willing to reveal! Plan to have fun, read together as a family, and be flexible!