Black Duck

By: Janet Taylor Lisle

Narrated by: David Ackroyd

When Ruben and Jeddy find a dead body in an evening suit washed up on the shore, they are certain it has to do with smuggling liquor. It is spring 1929, Prohibition is in full swing, and many in their community are involved.

Soon the boys, along with Jeddy’s strong-willed sister, Marina, are drawn in, suspected by rival bootlegging gangs of taking something crucial off the dead man. Then Ruben meets the daring captain of the Black Duck, the most elusive smuggling craft of them all, and it isn’t long before he’s keeping dangerous company.

Inspired by very real accounts of the Black Duck, a legendary rum-running boat that worked the New England shores during the era, Newbery Honor winner Janet Taylor Lisle has produced a colorful, original work of historical fiction.

Critic reviews

Lots of adventure and mystery. (VOYA)

Riveting mystery and nonstop adventure. (School Library Journal)

The setting's cinematic detail brings the exhilarating action close, and readers will easily see themselves in young Ruben. (Booklist)

Excellant literature

If you could sum up Black Duck in three words, what would they be?

This is a prime example of the fact that I will read just about anything. This book targets young readers, but this avid reader could not put it down. Although this book is historical fiction is deftly captures the distinct essence of a time period and place. The essence of the story is inspired by Prohibition, when liquor was illegal and there were many

It is like being told first hand an amazing family story

The author introduces us to David, a 14 year old boy who wants to be taken seriously by the local paper. In his town, and the area around, is a mystery about some unarmed men being gunned down on a "rum runners" boat during prohibition. David knows there is one source, an old man, who knows what happened. If he can get the old man to talk. It's a coming of age story of David and a boy from the past December 1929. It's an adventure, romance and true crime and a story of choices and the cost of friendship. Masterful. Wonderful!

One of my favs!

I loved this book!

One of my favs overall amazing!


The voice didn’t fit very well though.