TREASURE ISLAND: Runaway Gold

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Harper Kids

October, 2023

Middle-Grade Fiction

Ages 10 and up

"Whether or not readers are familiar with Robert Louis Stevenson’s original, they’ll be drawn into this accessible, action-packed adventure, full of mysteries, pirates, skateboard drama, and a whole new underground world. The artful, verse-like sentence structures intentionally and effectively evoke the resonance and rhythm of the African American oral tradition. Daringly honors old heroes, stunningly integrating past and present with pitch-perfect success."

-Kirkus (starred review)

Award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes reimagines Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel Treasure Island in this thrilling adventure set in modern-day Manhattan, where three children must navigate the city’s hidden history, dodge a threatening crew of skater kids, and decide who they can really trust in order to hunt down a long-buried treasure. 

Three kids. One dog. The island of Manhattan laid out in an old treasure map.

Zane is itching for an adventure that will take him away from his family’s boarding house in Rockaway, Queens. So when he is entrusted with a real treasure map, leading to a spot somewhere in Manhattan, Zane wastes no time riding the ferry to the city to start the search with his friends Kiko and Jack and his dog, Hip-Hop.

Through a strange coincidence, they meet a man who is eager to help them find the treasure: John, a sailor who knows all about the buried history of Black New Yorkers of centuries past—and the gold that is hidden somewhere in those stories.

As a vicious rival skateboard crew follows them around the city, Zane and his friends begin to wonder who they can really trust. And soon it becomes clear that treasure hunting is a dangerous business.

Dear Reader,

I am thrilled to share Treasure Island: Runaway Gold. It’s been a memorable and exciting journey inspired by my interests in African-American history, literature, and the exuberance of adventure tales.

When I thought about writing an updated version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island set in contemporary New York City, my mind and heart were immediately engaged. Flashes of thoughts, feelings, images, and voices exploded in my dreams.

I hope kids and adults everywhere can learn much about our nation’s history from Treasure Island: Runaway Gold. I hope readers will cheer —and maybe weep a little) as Zane and his friends overcome treachery with allegiance, dishonesty with honesty, and betrayal with morality.

This novel is my praise song to kids everywhere–each of you is a hero of your own life’s adventure. Set sail!

Warmly,

Jewell Parker Rhodes

As Zane and his friends navigate the island of Manhattan with their treasure map, they learn that before New York was the Big Apple, it was the Big Oyster. Oysters were the main crop of Native Americans and a favorite dish of early New Yorkers. Thomas Downing, the city’s “Oyster King," lived a double life funding the Underground Railroad and hiding runaways in his oyster cellars.

In the spirit of early New York, stop by a local fish market and pick up some fresh oysters. There are a variety of ways to enjoy oysters—grilled, fried, or broiled— but perhaps the most popular is raw oysters on the half shell with a simple lemon sauce. Enjoy! And if you should be so lucky, maybe you’ll find a treasured pearl in your dish.

If shellfish isn’t your cup of tea, enjoy a classic New York-style slice of pizza or hot dog!

-Jewell Parker Rhodes

FOR YOUR BOOK CLUB:

Reading Guide

Author Website