THE NOT-SO-JOLLY ROGER
by Jon Scieszka & illustrated by Lane Smith
A second ``Time Warp Trio'' story (cf. Knights of the Kitchen Table, above), only slightly less clever than the first. The boys now find themselves on a desert island. Blackbeard comes to bury treasure—and his two helpers; he catches the boys and takes them to the pirate ship (Israel Hands is among those aboard). There's some suspense, more slapstick, and the singing of some fine chanteys before the boys are again saved by The Book. Smith's funny/wicked pirates make an excellent contribution. ``Historical afterword'' on Blackbeard; another (tongue firmly in cheek) on the boys. (Fiction. 8-12)