The Smuggler S Treasure

Sent to live with relatives in New Orleans during the War of 1812, eleven-year-old Elisabet determines to find a smuggler's treasure to ransom her imprisoned father.

Sent to live with relatives in New Orleans during the War of 1812, 11-year-old Elisabet determines to find a smuggler's treasure to ransom her imprisoned father. Color illustrations throughout.

The Book Smugglers is the nearly unbelievable story of ghetto residents who rescued thousands of rare books and manuscripts-first from the Nazis and then from the Soviets-by hiding them on their bodies, burying them in bunkers, and smuggling them across borders. It is a tale of heroism and resistance, of friendship and romance, and of unwavering devotion-including the readiness to risk one's life-to literature and art. And it is entirely true. Based on Jewish, German, and Soviet documents, including diaries, letters, memoirs, and the author's interviews with several of the story's participants, The Book Smugglers chronicles the daring activities of a group of poets turned partisans and scholars turned smugglers in Vilna, "The Jerusalem of Lithuania." The rescuers were pitted against Johannes Pohl, a Nazi "expert" on the Jews, who had been dispatched to Vilna by the Nazi looting agency, Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, to organize the seizure of the city's great collections of Jewish books. Pohl and his Einsatzstab staff planned to ship the most valuable materials to Germany and incinerate the rest. The Germans used forty ghetto inmates as slave-laborers to sort, select, pack, and transport the materials, either to Germany or to nearby paper mills. This group, nicknamed "the Paper Brigade," and informally led by poet Shmerke Kaczerginski, a garrulous, street-smart adventurer and master of deception, smuggled thousands of books and manuscripts past German guards. If caught, the men would have faced death by firing squad at Ponar, the mass-murder site outside of Vilna. To store the rescued manuscripts, poet Abraham Sutzkever helped build an underground book-bunker sixty feet beneath the Vilna ghetto. Kaczerginski smuggled weapons as well, using the group's worksite, the former building of the Yiddish Scientific Institute, to purchase arms for the ghetto's secret partisan organization. All the while, both men wrote poetry that was recited and sung by the fast-dwindling population of ghetto inhabitants. With the Soviet "liberation" of Vilna (now known as Vilnius), the Paper Brigade thought themselves and their precious cultural treasures saved-only to learn that their new masters were no more welcoming toward Jewish culture than the old, and the books must now be smuggled out of the USSR. Thoroughly researched by the foremost scholar of the Vilna Ghetto-a writer of exceptional daring, style, and reach-The Book Smugglers is an epic story of human heroism, a little-known tale from the blackest days of the war.

"Steer clear of that ship," warns the mysterious gentleman who shares a coach with John and his father. "Death she'll bring you," says the man. "It's the way of a ship that was christened with blood." This is an ominous introduction to the schooner John is about to be entrusted with for a voyage to London. But he's too charmed by the pretty Dragon to heed the advice. The ship looks clever and quick, and John can hardly wait to sail her. She was a smugglers' vessel once, but now she's his Dragon, and she'll proudly carry wool for honest trade. But soon John will be forced to consider the gentleman's warning. And to wonder what he really knows about his bonny crew.

For hundreds of years, colorful characters and criminals used the myriad coves and inlets along the Treasure Coast for illicit commerce. From the early days of privateer Henry Jennings to the notorious Prohibition exploits of the Ashley Gang, these sandy shores have been a refuge for those looking to trade on the dark side of the law. Legendary tales of Don Pedro Gibert, Spanish Marie and Al Capone all contribute to the lore of a region that is home to buried treasure and family crime empires. Join historians Patrick and Patricia Mesmer on a journey through the Sunshine State's shadowy past.

A chilling story of hidden evil, The Third Twin is a heart-stopping, spine-tingling novel from master storyteller and author of Never, Ken Follett. An Impossible Result Jeannie Ferrami, a scientific researcher investigating the behaviour of identical twins who have been raised separately, uncovers a perplexing mystery: identical twins who were born on different days, to different mothers, in different places. A Blossoming Love One of the twins, Steve, is a law student. The other, Dennis, is a convicted murderer. Jeannie works with Steve on her research project and finds herself falling in love with him – but their world is shattered when he is accused of a monstrous crime. A Terrible Secret Jeannie cannot believe that Steve is guilty, but to prove it she will be forced to question everything she believes. And, as she digs deeper, she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy – one which the plotters will kill to keep hidden.

"The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island" by Ross Kay is an exciting adventure novel that follows the Go Ahead Boys, a group of young friends consisting of Jack, Fred, Andy, and Charley, as they embark on another thrilling journey. In this installment, the boys find themselves caught up in a mystery involving smugglers, hidden treasure, and dangerous criminals. The story begins when the boys decide to spend their summer vacation camping on a picturesque island off the coast. Little do they know that their peaceful camping trip will soon turn into a high-stakes adventure. While exploring the island's caves and cliffs, they stumble upon evidence of a smuggling operation. Intrigued by the mystery, they decide to investigate further. As the boys delve deeper into the mystery, they encounter a cast of intriguing characters, including the island's enigmatic lighthouse keeper, Captain Sprowl, and his daughter, Ruth. These characters add depth and complexity to the story as the boys attempt to unravel the secrets of the island. The plot thickens when the Go Ahead Boys discover an old map that hints at the existence of hidden treasure on the island. This discovery fuels their determination to uncover the truth and recover the lost fortune. However, they soon find themselves pursued by a group of ruthless smugglers who will stop at nothing to protect their illicit operations. Throughout the novel, readers are treated to a series of thrilling escapades, including secret cave explorations, daring rescues, and clever ruses to outsmart the smugglers. The boys' resourcefulness and bravery are put to the test as they navigate the challenges that arise during their quest for justice and the hidden treasure. Ross Kay weaves a tale of suspense, mystery, and adventure that captivates readers' imaginations. "The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island" celebrates the values of friendship, courage, and determination as the young protagonists work together to solve a complex puzzle and stand up against wrongdoing. This novel is not only an engaging adventure story but also a reflection of the enduring appeal of young characters taking on challenges, solving mysteries, and demonstrating the qualities of heroism. It encourages readers to embrace curiosity, face adversity with resilience, and stand up for what is right, making it an enjoyable and inspirational read for young audiences.