Flint and Silver

By John Drake

($25.00, Simon & Schuster)



The antiqued cover of "Flint and Silver" lists it as a prequel to "Treasure Island," and the book does an exciting job providing details about how it all may have occurred. Whether you've read that classic book or not, you'll be extraordinarily entertained by this one.

Life on the sea in the mid-1700s had to be exhilarating, no matter what ship you were on. The ships in this exciting novel, however, are those of pirates.

The tallest man aboard the ship we witness is called "Long John" Silver; his ship is the Walrus. Soon to come aboard is a man named Joe Flint. Flint knows what the men want to hear, and he uses his wiles to get them to help him. He could write a business book explaining how to tell people what they want to hear to get them to do what you want. After gaining their trust, he dispatches the men in whatever ugly method pleases him, including having them hide a treasure on what will be called Treasure Island.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote "Treasure Island" for his 13-year-old stepson. John Drake wrote "Flint and Silver" for the grownup who wanted to know more. This would be a remarkably unexpected and appreciated Father's Day gift.

Mary Burns is the owner of The BookWORKS, located at 1510 Third Street, downtown Marysville, 360.659.4997, or online at www.marysvillebookworks.com. Comments or requests are welcome at [email protected].