Curse of the Jolly Stone

ALA notable author Iain Lawrence pens a moving tale with a Dickensian atmosphere about a young man's life aboard a cruel 19th-century prison ship. 14-year-old Tom Tin is forced to scavenge on the grimy streets of London after his father is sent to debtor's prison. Tom's survival is threatened by the sinister lowlifes that inhabit his hopeless world. But when he is unjustly arrested for murder, he finds a place that is even worse than the dark city streets.

Tom Tin, an innocent convict, is aboard a ship bound for Australia where he will serve a lengthy sentence in prison. To avoid this horrible fate, Tom jumps ship to nearby islands, but finds that the refuge he hoped for may just be another struggle for his freedom - and his life. Acclaimed author Iain Lawrence delivers another exotic adventure tale for young readers.

Adrift on the open sea, Tom and four criminal companions are desperate for food and water. Spotting a ship on the horizon flying black sails, they realize more danger and misfortune await them. Upon climbing aboard, however, Tom and his mates find it empty, and decide to commandeer the derelict vessel. Attempting to sail north, their trip is waylaid when they discover two men who appear to be refugees from the abandoned ship stranded on an iceberg. But these two are not what they seem.