After the death of a brutish guest at his family's inn, young Jim Hawkins discovers a treasure map that leads him and some local adventurers to an island filled with danger and intrigue. Within hours of sighting the island, the crew, led by the villainous Long John Silver, reveals itself as a band of pirates desperate to steal the treasure for themselves. Torn between his desire for adventure and his sense of duty, Jim sets out to defeat the pirates and save his friends, discovering that there are rewards to be earned that are far more valuable than gold. This is one of the world's greatest adventure yarns and Edwards and Bianchi do a stellar job in packaging it for young readers without sacrificing the twists, turns or flavor of the original narrative.