Blackbeard and the Gift of Silence

“There are some secrets so dangerous that they can’t be told, even after death,” Blackbeard worries.

Daniel, Billy, Stefanie, and Mark have found the ancient pirate loot and are delivering it to its rightful owners in London. But the teens have only begun to scratch the surface of the deeper mysteries they have unwittingly uncovered, mysteries of the Stone of Scone, the Knights Templar, and a burglary at Westminster Abbey. These are secrets that have been kept by Blackbeard and others before him through the centuries by those in the highest realms of power. This title’s rich blend of story elements includes intriguing historical mysteries; a slapstick comic adventure; and a cast of both familiar and new, strikingly original characters.

Middle Grade | Ages 8 & up
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-933718-32-3 | 350 pages | $8.95
Lexile Level: 730 | Guided Reading Level: W | Grade Level: 5-6 | Reading Recovery Level: NA

Meet Author Audrey Penn

Audrey Penn started her career as a ballerina dancing with the National Ballet, New York City Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, and the Danny Diamond Dance Theatre. In 1980, she became too ill with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) to continue dancing but, because she had participated in children’s theatre, children’s dance, and always enjoyed children’s literature, she turned to writing children’s books for her creative outlet.

Her passion for advocacy for children continually molds her writing style and subject matter. She has created her writing program – The Writing Penn – into schools, libraries, and children’s hospitals, where she shapes and refines her story ideas in partnership with kids.

Today, Audrey has written over 13 books and is a New York Times bestselling author.


Artist Josh Miller lives in McLean, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC.

Artist Philip Howard resides on Ocracoke Island, NC, and is a direct descendant of William Howard, quartermaster for the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard.

All Books in the Blackbeard Series