Original historical fiction by Newbery Honor winner Janet Taylor Lisle is filled with resounding mystery and suspense. When Ruben and Jed find a dead body on the Rhode Island shore, they are certain it has something to do with smuggling liquor. It is the 1920's, Prohibition is in full swing, and almost everyone in the shore community is involved. Suddenly, the boys find themselves involved as well: Didn't the dead man have something on him, and didn't they take it? It isn't long before Ruben is actually on the legendary Black Duck itself, caught in a war between two of the most ferocious prohibition gangs.
"Mystery and nonstop adventure."- School Library Journal, starred review
Reviews
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In 1929, a rum-running boat called the Black Duck lost most of its crew to an altercation with the Coast Guard. Janet Taylor Lisle uses this incident as the inspiration for this story of life in a small Rhode Island town in the midst of Prohibition and the friendship of two 14-year old boys, Ruben and Jeddy. Years later, 14-year-old David interviews Ruben in hopes of writing a story for the newspaper. David Ackroyd does a superb job of narration. His wonderful gravelly voice is perfect for the spirited elderly Ruben reeling off tales. Ackroyd affects an eager and appealing quality for all the teenagers in the story, including the female characters. BLACK DUCK is marvelous fun for all ages. A.B. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine
