Winner of the 2006 Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature 
"A palimpsest upon Treasure Island, William Gilkerson's beguiling creation, Pirate's Passage,  has everything: irresistible characters, richly textured history,  humor, suspense, and adventure. Steeped in wit, philosophy, and mystical  ambiguity, it takes a maverick approach to history. A challenging  children's novel with a dangerous edge, Pirate's Passage is a  work of genius. . . . This novel will be read by readers of all  generations."—Canada Council for the Arts
 Winner of the New York Library Association "Book of the Season" Award Spring 2006 in the Young Adult Book Category 
 "Captivated, my imagination bound hand-and foot, I was shanghaied by Pirate's Passage."—Philip Kopper, The Washington Times 
"Beautifully  paced, well-written, thoughtful, and clever. Gilkerson's familiarity  with seamanship (he is the author of ten books on nautical matters)  makes it especially enjoyable."—The London Times 
“Full of intrigue and fascinating history.”—VOYA 
"A  small seaside town . . . a mysterious visitor . . . a voyage of  self-discovery. Around all of this swirls a centuries-spanning world of  pirates, mentors, and foes—and unlikely friends. It's a mystical and  illuminating tale."—Matthew P. Murphy, Editor, WoodenBoat 
"This  marvelous tale crashed over me like a great wave, submerging me in a  gleeful yarn of adventure, intrigue, and memorable characters. Pirate's Passage creates  its own kind of ship—and I advise any readers who enjoy a rollicking  good story to climb aboard!"—T. A. Barron, author of The Great Tree of Avalon  
 
"A  wonderful adventure, with everything you could ask for: pirates, stolen  cannon, secret passages, sea voyages, and scurvy knaves. I heartily  recommend this book to the piratically-inclined reader of any  age."—Garth Nix 
"Wonderfully authentic . . . vividly brings to  life the dark and violent world of the pirates of the Caribbean."—David  Cordingly, author of Under the Black Flag 
"Pirate enthusiasts, prepare to settle in for a deliciously unsettling adventure."—The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books