A middle grade bedtime story book for the whole family. Written and illustrated in the tradition of classics like The Alchemist, Treasure Island, and Peter Pan.
While adventures teach boys and girls importance of family and friendship in their lives, adults will love the good lessons about not making the wrong decisions when life offers challenges.
A Treasure Island for the modern era, recommended for middle-grade readers and fans of pirate-adventure tales. Kirkus Review (Starred Review)
“This solid, carefully developed story kept me involved through its excellent writing and unfaltering character development. Benice is one of those rare books that really does appeal to the whole family, and while boys will get a kick out of the faintly gruesome pirates and dangerous adventures, Ayshin and her friends offer some strong female leads.” — Sarah Scheele for Readers' Favorite
“One … Great … Story. Told by one great storyteller. And great expectations are duly rewarded with ample buried treasure!” — Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite - Five Star Review
“Lots of fun imagination was put into the book, and I can see myself reading this one again and again.” — Bruce Arrington for Readers' Favorite - Five Star Review
“It made me nostalgic and reminded me of classics like Peter Pan and Treasure Island. Without a doubt, I'm certain that young adults will enjoy this book as much as I did (if not more).” — Justine Reyes for Readers' Favorite - Five Star Review
“The story holds an element of mystery as if something is hidden beneath the surface,– true friendship is hard to find and when you do find it, hold on to it no matter the cost.” — Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite
In Karayaka’s debut novel, a young boy finds a father figure in a mysterious old fisherman, starting him on a swashbuckling quest on the high seas.Levend and Orion, two old friends, return to Levend’s hometown ahead of a party scheduled for the following day. Both men recognize an old boat on the docks, and when a group of local boys ask how the men know the vessel, Levend begins to tell a tale about when he was 14 and confided in an older fisherman calling himself “Mr. Ben Ice.” Levend grew to trust Mr. Ice, who was missing an eye, a hand, and a leg, and followed him out to sea on a search for fish. However, young Levend quickly realized that Mr. Ice had a sinister history and that his own life was now at risk.
The boys listen to Levend’s story with bated breath, and after Orion reveals his connection to the tale, they enjoy a drama replete with pirates, secret elixirs, combat, and betrayal. At the center of all of it is the mystery of who Mr. Ice really was. And what of Benice, the wife whom he longed for?
Karayaka’s novel is an occasionally violent page-turner that sometimes rewinds the action to allow different narrators to fill in events from alternate perspectives. As a result, it features three different time periods and a plethora of plot twists. However, the aforementioned violence is understated, and the narration keeps all the details clear and concise, making it suitable for younger readers.
Eason’s (The Gobblings, 2017) illustrations at the start of each chapter are done in a classical style, reminiscent of boys’ adventure books from the 1950s and ’60s, and use a light color palate to evoke a sense of mysticism. It all comes to a touching conclusion, and readers are left with a lasting moral.
A Treasure Island for the modern era, recommended for middle-grade readers and fans of pirate-adventure tales
