Author Michele Torrey

They slipped in and out like ghosts, shadows dancing from wall to wall. They talked in low whispers with my father. . . .

Daniel Markham loved his father’s mysterious friends, visiting in the dead of night but always gone by morning. He never imagined they could be pirates. But when the Markhams’ merchant vessel is plundered by the pirate ship Tempest Galley and his father shot dead, Daniel can’t deny the truth. And now, orphaned and alone, Daniel is trapped and faced with a choice: join the crew or die.
As the Tempest Galley sets sail for the Red Sea, where finding treasure ships is as easy as dropping a bucket of pitch, Daniel vows to avenge his father. But nothing is that simple. Unprepared for the temptations of pirate life and for the captain’s inexplicable kindness toward him, Daniel knows only one thing for certain: one false step on a pirate ship could be deadly, and he’ll do anything to stay alive.

" . . . an absorbing tale whose narrator ultimately wins past both physical and mental torture to a bruised, hard-won peace." -- Kirkus Reviews

". . . A wealth of nautical details, rich descriptions, and . . . nearly nonstop action combine in a sea yarn that can stand solidly beside other classic pirate stories." -- Booklist

"The high-quality writing style, the strong cast of characters, and the twisting conclusion are sure to captivate readers." -- School Library Journal

Winner of 2001 Zola Award
2007 Sakura Medal Nominee
2008 Sequoyah Award Nominee
2007 WA State Book Award Finalist