There is absolutely nothing about this book I didn't like -- a gang of very whimsical and somewhat feral children from a British colony in Jamaica find themselves aboard a Dutch pirate ship. What further description is necessary?

There is no Victorian era romanticism of childhood and in many ways A High Wind in Jamaica is a precursor for The Lord of the Flies, although it delves into its subject matter with much more humor. Children being kidnapped should not be fun, and yet it is, even as they endure incredible trauma. Although the children give as much as they take, so there are many moments of sympathy for the unfortunate pirates. As grisly as it is, it remains one of my absolute favorite novels of British colonialism, something of a favorite sub-genre, which will only become more obvious as I roll out for Bookhive List posts, week by week.

The Bookhive List is a weekly recommendation of my all-time favorite, must-read books.