William Gilkerson

Award-winning author William Gilkerson is a sailor, painter, journalist, historian, and adventurer. He is the author of the novel Ultimate Voyage, as well as ten nonfiction books on nautical topics, and his paintings are internationally acknowledged to be among the finest contemporary maritime art. He lives with his family on the shores of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, where he sails his ancient cutter, Elly.

"A thrillingly exhilarating adventure and glorious coming-of-age story, rich in imagination and history, in perception and truth. I couldn't put the book down." —Donald Sutherland

"A wonderful adventure, with everything you could ask for: pirates, stolen cannon, secret passages, sea voyages, and scurvy knaves. I heartily recommend this book to the piratically inclined reader of any age." —Garth Nix, author of The Seventh Tower and the Keys to the Kingdom series

"This marvelous tale crashed over me like a great wave, submerging me in a gleeful yarn of adventure, intrigue, and memorable characters. Pirate's Passage creates its own kind of ship—and I advise any readers who enjoy a rollicking good story to climb aboard." —T. A. Barron, author of The Great Tree of Avalon

"A palimpsest upon Treasure Island, William Gilkerson's beguiling creation, Pirate's Passage, has everything: irresistible characters, richly textured history, humor, suspense, and adventure. Steeped in wit, philosophy, and mystical ambiguity, it takes a maverick approach to history. A challenging children's novel with a dangerous edge, Pirate's Passage is a work of genius. . . . This novel will be read by readers of all generations." —Canada Council for the Arts

"Captivated, my imagination bound hand and foot, I was shanghaied by Pirate's Passage." —Washington Times

"A work of delightful originality. . . . Pirate's Passage deserves to be added to the shelf of classic salty adventure tales." —Woodenboat Review

"Wonderfully authentic. . . . Vividly brings to life the dark and violent world of the pirates of the Caribbean." —David Cordingly, author of Under the Black Flag

"Gilkerson weaves the history of Western piracy into a suspenseful story of precarious friendship and trust. . . . Pirate enthusiasts, prepare to settle in for a deliciously unsettling adventure." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Full of intrigue and fascinating history—once you start reading Pirate’s Passage, it’s hard to stop." —VOYA