If you were forced to sail with pirates . . .

captured and tried for piracy . . .

and sentenced to hang . . .

would you trade your body to the crew of the "Flying Dutchman" in order to save your soul? Ricky did. Some dead men DO tell tales. And there is stolen treasure in this pirate story.

2018 Directors' Choice Awards Finalist

Last winter Ricky Bradshaw was another gangly freshman hoping to fit in -- or at least not get picked on -- and maybe catch the attention of Becky Nance, a girl in his biology class. Except sometimes Ricky "zones out" in class because he has absence seizures. If you've never heard of absence seizures, that's okay. A lot of people haven't. Ricky's teachers are a lot of those people.

And that's what happened to Ricky last Christmas Eve: he had an episode and ended up in pirate land. When Dead Calm, Bone Dry begins, Ricky is on his way to be tried for piracy. In the ship's brig he is about to learn that some things are worse than being unpopular in high school. MUCH worse. Like sailing to . . . Well, we best let Ricky tell the account. It is his story, after all.

Features:

* Historically accurate fiction (as close as possible)

* Short, fun, fast read

* Spiced with humor

* No profanity or sexual overtones

* No glorification of evil and wickedness

Benefits:

* Reinforces the Golden Rule

* Honors family

* Encourages readers to wonder "what if?"

* A good boy book for boys who like to read

Parents can trust the Caribbean Chronicles Series: There is no sexual dialogue or situations, violence, or strong language, only positive moral values.