[1] Set during the reign of the Good Queen Anne, Blackthorn Winter tells the story of the young Thomas Ingle's adventures at sea.

[2] After many attempts to convince his widowed mother to allow him to go to sea, the young Thomas Ingle finally prevails and joins the crew of the "Prudent Hannah."

Thomas and his own Captain Monroe are captured, suffer many hardships at the hands of the Pirates, and eventually escape to safety.

The second book's adventures are those of Captain Morgan's grandson John Monroe who inadvertently discovers a British officer spying for the French.

[4] While Treasure Island is typically read in junior high schools, Blackthorn Winter is more commonly assigned to younger readers.