The most recommended treasure books

Varian Johnson’s story alternates between modern and historical timelines to create a mystery that is explored from different eras and perspectives.

In the current day, Candice and her friend Brandon play detective, trying to solve the puzzle of a fortune alluded to in a note they find in Candice’s grandma’s attic. We also get flashes from the 1950s of the small Southern town where the story is set.

This a great family read that allows readers to test their detective-solving savvy while exploring meatier issues such as racism and prejudice.

This oversized coffee-table book is an archival treasure trove: a collection of primary source materials—contemporary articles, letters, broadsheets, and other rare material—arranged chronologically and packed with line drawings and spectacular full-color plates. The author lets the painstakingly harvested entries speak for themselves, with little comment or imposed context beyond the archival images, and the result is a rich tribute to the art of ballooning and its practitioners. Beautifully curated and visually dazzling, this is a browser’s delight.

The Wingfeather Saga is a great in-between series for fans of Narnia and Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings (I did read The Hobbit to my kids but they didn’t always get why things were funny or scary, and I think with the later Harry Potter books especially, it would be more in my interest to start those when my children are over 10 so they can grow up along with Harry in the series). 

The Wingfeather Saga starts off a little darker, with a family dealing with the past and the secrets. Two boys, Janner, Tink, and their sister, Leeli, are all gifted objects, and they set out to find answers; in the process, they are captured and their mother and grandfather step up to help them. Part fantasy, with a historical feel to it, the book centers on unraveling a mystery while facing down fearful creatures… show more.

Grief, unfortunately, is a part of life. Western culture has a habit of ignoring and minimizing grief in detrimental ways. When we gently turn toward the difficult stuff in life, we can “feel and deal” in ways that benefit mental health. There are many books about grieving the death of a loved one (a list for another day, perhaps), but few acknowledge the other intense and life-altering kinds of loss and change that children are grieving. Dr. Coombes’ book is much more inclusive–plus, it delivers a treasure trove of activities to help children (and adults) navigate this challenging part of being human. The delightful doodles will appeal to upper elementary and quite a few tweens and teens.

From the very first time my mother read this story to my siblings and me as youngsters, I was hooked. The excellent 1990 adaptation featuring Christian Bale and Charlton Heston also served to fuel our youthful imaginations and we spent countless hours play-acting the story together on our farm. 

This tale, full of twists and intrigue, features a fascinating group of characters pitted against perhaps the greatest villain in all of literature, Long John Silver; a wily, cunning man who you both root for and against throughout the novel. The adventure keeps going at a breakneck pace as we follow Jim Hawkins journey from boy to man as he tries to outwit the most dangerous pirate in the world.

This is the kind of high adventure and escapism that readers crave, and Stevenson delivers to a satisfying conclusion.

Pirates and dinosaurs are two of our favorites!

The simple wording is perfect for young children, and the sounds: Arrh, arrh, arrh; twinkle, twinkle, twinkle; yo-ho-ho, yo-ho-ho, yo-ho-ho make it fun to repeat. The illustrations are colorful and engaging, too.

It’s a favorite for sure that I have to read every day at nap time, and I don’t mind!

From a wild sheep chase to a grand old treasure hunt that gripped a nation, the Quest for the Golden Hare tells the real-life story of one of the most famous book-related escapades in recent memory. 

In 1979, British artist Kit Williams published Masquerade – a cryptic storybook containing clues to the whereabouts of an 18-carat gold hare trinket that Williams buried somewhere in the English countryside. Author Bamber Gascoigne was the only other person present at the burial, and was tasked with documenting the frankly bonkers lengths the crazed fans would go to uncover it.

I’m loath to mention the pandemic again, but in these times, when most of us are going stir crazy and are itching for an adventure, this book might just be the next best thing. (Bonus points if you can source a copy of Masquerade while you’re at it, which I believe has been… show more.

This book can be described in one word: Fun. From a ship crewed by female pirates to a quest for treasure, it has all the witty dialogue and adventure to match the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but instead features a fierce, female captain named Alosa who has mad skills and a way of looking at the world that will make you laugh out loud and cheer her on. 

This is the first in a duology, so it’s also not too much of a commitment to read, unlike some longer series. Both books are equally fast-paced and enjoyable. If you’re like me, you’ll be ready to grab your pirate hat and strap on your sword by the end of this book.

Anton Chigurh is, without a doubt, one of the most disturbing and driven killers in any book I have ever read. The story has a slow burn that drags you along a path that can only have one destination, and still, you want to walk it.

Unlike in the movie, we are given a backstory about the sheriff, which makes his decisions much more understandable, making him much less just a narrator.

McCarthy was not a fan of speech marks or excessive punctuation. Still, I found that this just focused my attention, breathlessly, upon the action, and after the first chapter, I had forgotten that I even needed them! A dark, modern Western novel that is hugely enjoyable.  

This book made me fall in love with ancient Egypt. It might not take place in the past but the findings of the main characters take you straight back in time. The descriptions of the places and the way of living in ancient Egypt-Ethiopia-The blue Nile, easily trigger your imagination and you find yourself creating pictures in your head. Also, the adventure is breathtaking.