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The Sea Captain

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson · Episode 1 of 14

Treasure Island was written by Robert Louis Stevenson and first published as a serial in 1881–1882. It is one of the most influential adventure novels in the English language, establishing many of the pirate tropes we recognize today. Stevenson began writing it to entertain his stepson, and the story's vividness, moral complexity, and narrative drive have made it a cornerstone of adolescent literature. This episode introduces Jim Hawkins, the boy narrator, and Billy Bones, the mysterious sea captain whose secrets will set the entire adventure in motion. The text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernized.

Band

Blue · Independent readers, confidentTypical starting range: ages 12–14

Length

long · about 1088 words in 5 sections · 2 pictures

Source

Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

Readers are engineered from the original public-domain text with AI under HummingRead’s published canon and Content Philosophy, checked by automated audit and sampled by a person. Pictures are made with AI to HummingRead’s brief for each story. How a reader is made.

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