Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey
Lewis Dearborn is a painfully shy eleven-year-old boy in sixth grade. On his great grandfather’s birthday, Lewis is the only one to hear him whisper two mysterious words, “Libertalia. You!”
When his grandpa dies he moves with his overbearing parents into Shornoway, a ramshackle mansion by the sea. Lewis is quick to notice LIBERTALIA carved into his bedroom door in the Tower room and soon discovers the room has a surprising secret. It is haunted by Captain James Crawley and his crew who died tragically almost two centuries ago.
The dead pirates want Lewis to help them get to the local maritime museum on the other side of town where their restored ship is. Lewis starts reading Peter Pan to the ghostly pirates who really only want to hear the “Hook” parts. He eventually comes up with a clever plan to reunite the pirates with their beloved ship, Maria Louisa.
Towards the end of this delightful and humorous ghost story Lewis is given a letter that reveals a very surprising long kept family secret. Arrgggh! I loves me a good story, I does!
-Reviewed by Sylvia Nurse