Moonfleet, by J Meade Faulkner

Moonfleet is a lovely quick read for an adult, and I imagine it to be a spell binding adventure for younger readers. With the chapters being relatively short, it makes an ideal bedtime chapter book for tweens.

This story has a similar vibe to Treasure Island, with its young protagonist John Trenchard, like Jim Hawkins, beginning the story parentless and living in a costal Inn. Stories of pirates and smugglers fill John’s head, and before long he is caught up in his own adventure.

My favourite part of this story was the code-breaking and treasure hunt element, which really made me feel I was on that journey with John, which helped me become invested in the narrative… as if pirates weren’t enough!

There’s plenty of action to capture the attention of young readers, with twists and turns to keep it fresh, and injustices to make your blood boil. It’s the sort of book that – if you were to read it young - would stick with you and make you want to revisit it. As an adult, it makes you want to go and explore the places mentioned in the story and imagine your own pirate filled adventures.

- Anara

Paperback, £3.99. Find it in our children's section!