Black Duck

by Janet Taylor Lisle

When Ruben and Jed find the dead body on the Rhode Island shore, they are certain it has something to do with smuggling liquor. It is the 1920’s, Prohibition is in full swing, and almost everyone in the shore community is involved. Suddenly, the boys find themselves involved as well: Didn’t the dead man have something on him, and didn’t they take it? It isn’t long before Ruben is actually on the legendary Black Duck itself, caught in a war between two of the most ferocious prohibition gangs.

Filled with resounding mystery and suspense by Newbery Honor winner Janet Taylor Lisle, Black Duck is original, gripping historical fiction.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Adventure, School

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2006

About the author

Janet Taylor Lisle was born in Englewood, New Jersey, and grew up in Farmington, Connecticut, spending summers on the Rhode Island coast.The eldest child and only daughter of an advertising executive and an architect, she attended local schools and at fifteen entered The Ethel Walker School, a girl’s boarding school in Simsbury, Connecticut.

After graduation from Smith College, she joined VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). She lived and worked for the next several years in Atlanta, Georgia, organizing food-buying cooperatives in the city’s public housing projects, and teaching in an early-childcare center. She later enrolled in journalism courses at Georgia State University. This was the beginning of a reporting career that extended over the next ten years.

With the birth of her daughter, Lisle turned from journalism to writing projects she could accomplish at home. In 1984, The Dancing Cats of Appesap, her first novel for children, was published by Bradbury Press (Macmillan.) Subsequently, she has published sixteen other novels. Her fourth novel, Afternoon of the Elves (Orchard Books) won a 1990 Newbery Honor award and was adapted as a play by the Seattle Children’s Theater in 1993. It continues to be performed throughout the U.S. Theater productions of the story have also been mounted in Australia and The Netherlands.

Lisle’s novels for children have received Italy’s Premio Andersen Award, Holland’s Zilveren Griffel, and Notable and Best Book distinction from the American Library Association, among other honors. She lives with her husband, Richard Lisle, on the Rhode Island coast, the scene for Black Duck(2006), The Crying Rocks (2003) and The Art of Keeping Cool, which won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2001.

Reviews

[Nasim · Rating 4 out of 5]

قشنگ بود...کتابای نشر افق خیلی آندرریتدن واقعا میگم.از بهترین نشراییه ک بوده و هست و قیمتهای خوبی داره.خیلی از کتاباش از نشرای دیگه بهترن با قیمتهای خیلی بهتر من اینو تو قفسه کتابفروشی دیدم ۱۶هزارتومنو خریدمش برا وقتایی ک می‌خوام کتاب کم حجم بخونم🦦
داستان روند جالب و روایت گونه ای داشت. شخصیت ها خاکسترین و دلو نمیزنن.شخصیتا ن خیلی عمیقن ن خیلی ضعیف قابل حس و قابل درک بودن در حد داستان.بااینکه اول داستان متوجه پایان میشیم ولی وقتی باز پایانو می‌خونیم بازم مقداری شوکه میشیم :)))
اواسط داستان فهمیدم که کی کشتی رو لو داده و از بین رفتن رشته های دوستی روبن و جدی دردناک بود،💔
بهش چهار ستاره میدم در حد خودش خوب بود و نظرم راجع بهش مثبته

[Amber Hiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy a book that teaches me something new, especially if it is based on real events!

[Masoome · Rating 2 out of 5]

موضوع کتاب درباره یک گروه قاچاقچیه که آدم‌های خوبین!
و هیچ ربطی به نوجوان‌ها نداره...

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Childish view of rum running during Prohibition. It moves along as the young people's thoughts and escapades make for a personality filled story (although told by an oldster an entire lifetime later). And the writing itself has a solid locale feel and doesn't suffer from the jumpiness in transitions that these "through young eyes" plots normally have. But it wasn't compelling and lacked layers of depth that these cabals usually suggest which would make it a higher star form of historical fiction.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story, about "rumrunners" off the coast of Rhode Island, moved along fairly well. I thought it lagged in a few spots, but still it is a good, fast read. The target age group surprised me a bit. I'm not really comfortable with the "good guys" being the law breakers and the "bad guy" being someone who wanted to follow the law with the 6th grade-ish group. However, the characters are well done and the book does provide some thought provoking ideas about the age of prohibition.

[Dawn VanLerberghe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think there are many middle school books out there about prohibition. I find it to be a very interesting topic, hence the reason for choosing this book. I think the author does a nice job of portraying the danger, times and overall involvement of certain areas. There is enough of a mystery and adventure for middle schoolers, but as an adult I feel I needed a little more. I think it would make a nice read aloud if you wanted to discuss prohibition and maybe compare it to the drug smuggling issue.

[Fateme H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب جالبی بود.
شیوه‌ای که برای تعریف کردن داستان انتخاب کرده بود رو دوست داشتم. یه جورایی انگار داشتم دو تا داستان رو به طور موازی می‌خوندم.
نویسنده به خوبی تونسته بود قطره‌ای و آروم اطلاعات رو بهت بوده، جوری که تا آخر کتاب رو با لذت بخونی و خسته هم نشی.
موضوعش هم جدید و جالب بود، تا حالا کتابی در زمینه قاچاق و این جور چیزا نخونده بودم.

[Aditya Ingole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, Crime, Historical, Real Events

[Didar · Rating 5 out of 5]

برای همین هم ساکت نشستیم و به صدای دمیدن صبح و بیدار شدن طبیعت، که از پنجره می‌آمد، گوش سپردیم
حداقل ۷۰ درصدش برای من خیلی شیرینه آخرش بخاطر وقفه ای که انداختم یکم بی رنگ شد ولی عیبی نداره خوب بود

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruben and Jeddy find a dead body down by the shore one day. When they tell Jeddy’s dad (the chief of police), he goes down to investigate, but finds nothing – the body is missing. Later, Ruben learns that the man they found was a liquor smuggler who had been liquidated by a more powerful syndicate from the big city. It’s 1929 and it’s illegal to make, sell, or drink alcohol (Prohibition), but a great deal of money can be made from doing all of these things on the sly. It seems like all of the people in town are somehow involved in bootlegging – if they’re not actively moving alcohol, then they’re being paid off to keep their mouths shut. During this time, Ruben and Jeddy start drifting apart – Ruben’s getting more involved working at his dad’s store, and Jeddy’s dad has him working at a chicken farm (mostly to keep him away from Ruben). So, when Ruben is kidnapped by some bootleggers, who are convinced that he has something that they want, Jeddy doesn’t even know about it. And when Ruben has to disappear for a few weeks to avoid the syndicates, Jeddy believes he’s visiting relatives.

Both boys miss their friendship, but feel that they have to be loyal to their fathers and what they stand for. Jeddy’s under the impression that his dad is on the right side of the law, that as the police chief, he’s responsible for catching the bad guys (the smugglers), but the whole time he’s taking money to turn a blind eye to what’s transpiring in his jurisdiction. Ruben’s father works for the local grocery store, whose owner is a major player in the bootlegging business. He’s struggling to stay honest and to keep the bootleggers out of his life, but it becomes more and more difficult for him – especially when the owner is arrested and he has to take on more responsibility.

Things come to a head one night – Ruben decides to go out on the Black Duck (the famous bootlegger vessel) and help the crew, just this one time – and the Coast Guard gets tipped off by someone who describes himself as “the chief of police.” They shoot everyone on board the Black Duck – Ruben only escapes because he manages to hide in one of the lifeboats. There’s a huge scandal over the shootings, with people speculating that the Coast Guard never gave the smugglers a warning, and never gave them the opportunity to surrender, before gunning them down. Prohibition comes to an end shortly thereafter, but Jeddy’s and Ruben’s lives are changed forever by the incidents of that night.

This was a great inside look at what went on during Prohibition – bootlegging was a big problem and people were making money hand over fist breaking it. Prohibition was repealed partly because of protests and the realization that enforcing it was doing more damage to people than drinking and drunkenness. The story is told in Ruben’s words, but as a sort of flashback, as he describes the events that took place to a high school freshman “reporter” that becomes interested in the bootlegging history of his town. I’m not sure that the packaging is necessary, although there are a couple revelations at the very end (Ruben marries the girl of his dreams, and we find out that Jeddy made the tip-off call – neither of these is absolutely necessary) that wrap things up nicely. This is just a minor complaint/quibble and I only mention it because every time Ruben took a break from talking to the reporter, it also wrenched me out of the story. Maybe an epilogue would have worked just as well? Other than that, this was quite suspenseful and engaging (plus I learned all sorts of things I never knew about Prohibition).

[Janae Byler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually a huge fan of young adult fiction but this book was moving and highlighted some very fascinating moral and relational dilemmas. The plot moved a little too slowly in the beginning and then rushed it all together at the end but other than that, I highly enjoyed this book.

[Abby Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Ruben and his best friend Jeddy find a dead body on the beach in 1929, their lives change forever. A weird reaction from the local law enforcement causes Ruben to give the body some thought and he eventually discovers that the dead man was an infamous rum runner. During this time of Prohibition, rum runners bought booze from Canada or the West Indies and smuggled it into the country. Because the ships had to anchor in international waters, rum runners would load up small boats with the liquor and sneak it onto shore in the dead of night. Police were paid off to look the other way. But things are changing. Gangs from big cities are starting to control all the business and trying to stamp out the smaller independent bootleggers... including the local team that mans a ship called The Black Duck. Although Ruben and Jeddy have always been best friends, Jeddy, son of the local policeman, feels conflicted about getting involved with the rum runners. Ruben begins to see how much the rum-runners are infiltrating his hometown even as he himself gets swept up in their operations.

Stormbreaker meets Al Capone Does my Shorts in this historical adventure story. I also liked that its subject is one I knew nothing about.

[Chase Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruben and Jeddy are best friends and in 1929 when they find a dead body on the shore they think it has to do with smuggling liquor. Soon they tell Jeddy's dad (the chief of police), he goes to investigate it. Later they find out that the dead man was smuggling liquor. When liquor is illegal during the time (prohibition). It seems like all people in town are somehow involved smuggling so if their not actively moving alcohol their paid off to keep their mouth shut. Ruben starts working more at his dad's store and Jeddy's dad has him working on a chicken farm. So when Ruben is kidnapped by some bootleggers, who are convinced that he has something they want, Jeddy doesn't even know about it. Later on, one night Ruben decides to go out on the black duck and help the crew, the coast guard gets tipped off by someone who describes himself as the chief of police. They shoot everyone on board of the Black duck. Ruben manages to escape by hiding in a lifeboat. Later there is a scandal over the shootings, with people speculating that the coast guard never gave the smugglers a warning and never gave them a opportunity to surrender before gunned down. Prohibition comes to an end shortly after. Jeddy and Ruben's life are changed because of the incidents of that night.

[Mr. Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a slow and boring start, "The Black Duck" transformed itself into a novel of worth. The book told the story of rum running in a small New England coastal town in 1929 during the Prohibition era. The Black Duck was an elusive rum running boat that would bring the illegal alcohol from freighters to the shore to be transported to other spots around the countryside and sold for a pretty penny. The main character, Ruben Hart, tells his adventure and involvement in the rum running business to a young journalism student looking for the next big story. The character development is strong and your heart strings will get plucked at the close of the novel when all loose ends are tied up in pretty little knots. While the prose, at times, reads like a boring newspaper article, the story was big enough to carry the book through. This historical fiction novel should be enjoyed by anyone looking for a story of intrigue and American rebellion. The setting is rich and diverse and I can still taste the sea salt on my tongue.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

David wants to become a journalist, not part of his family's landscaping business. All he needs is one great story to prove that he has what it takes to be a good writer, and maybe then he'll be hired as a news reporter.

He finds an old man who was alive during the days of the Prohibition. From this point, the novel becomes the old man's story, and David's story becomes a thinly applied series of intermissions.

This is a great novel. I really enjoyed it. A neat historical fiction book to pick up for a quick read.

Two notes: The boy being drawn to the old man reminded me of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Was he drawn in as if mesmermized?

At one point the constellations Orion the Hunter, the Scorpion and The Big Dipper are seen in the same night sky. I don't think that is possible! Maybe Orion and the Big Dipper, but not Scorpio!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

***kids book This historical fiction novel was a great read. It was presented as a story an old man was telling a young man in present day. It presented a mystery of sorts, while imparting the history of the U.S. during prohibition. It challenged the reader to think about how people were pulled in to participate in "rum running" even though they were against it and the mob that ran things--including the main characters dad, his best friend and the best friends dad--- the sheriff. It was during the depression when people were desperate just to eat and survive. It presented real characters. I give this book a thumbs up for historical fiction.

I've read her others, Afternoon of the Elves(2 stars) and The Art of Keeping Cool(2 stars) and this one is by far, the best!

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Duck story of slaughter of rumrunners by Reneagade Coast Guard Captian.
Life during Prohibition remainds me of what people are having to deal with today about certain issues.
Does one provide for one's family and everything is black and white or does one look for the gray in life during troubling events.

[BookGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book was great. The characters were memorable and the storyline builds up till the end that will keep you turning the pages for more. It’s the first prohibition era book I’ve read and will not be the last. Overall I recommend this to anyone interested in historical fiction and mystery tied into one. You will not be disappointed.

[Kevin Tejada · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great book that i whanted to read after the 50th page i got interested and actually finished it.and i recommended to people that like a good book.and it was mostly about two kids that go truw an experience of there life

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action-packed tale of the rum runners during Prohibition. Loved it. The author paced the story very well, letting it unfold in its own time. One of my favorites of 2006.

[B.A. Malisch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good mystery. It is a bit slow at times in the middle, but the ending is full of action and excitement. Press through the slow parts, and I believe you will enjoy this book overall.

[Shravan sreenivasan]

I love the way it keeps you suspense the whole way

[Brendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book. Extremely exciting. The time changes and how the story was written really helped to tell the story in one character perspective with a great understanding.

[Keeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining glimpse into Prohibition; I couldn’t put it down!

[Adam Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the 1920's. Prohibition is in full swing, and so is rum running. People would sail in, sneaking past the coast guard, just to sell a few bottles of whiskey, beer, rum, or what have you. The one reason as to why people did it: money. Stupid, ludicrous amounts of money. So when a massive shipment of rum is in play, you bet people will fight, even kill, just to get to it. Unfortunately, you're the person who managed to get a "ticket", a proof of purchase that would allow someone to acquire the goods.

Overall, Black Duck was a fun read. I don't normally read historic fiction, but this felt good to read. There were a few issues I had with it, though. Mainly, it took forever to get to the climax. At times, it felt like "Oooh, the main character is about to do it", and then a new wrench would get thrown into things. It ruined the suspense slightly and proved frustrating at times. The book, overall, was good though. Writing style was fun and new, and it puts us in the shoes of someone listening to a story.

[Kyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black Duck follows the story of two young boys during Prohibition-era Rhode Island. During this time, coastal towns were well known for smuggling in alcohol, from ships dubbed "rum-runners". The plot is set into action when the two boys find a dead body washed ashore, a suspected victim in a rum-run gone wrong. It follows their story as they try to figure out why the man died, all while discovering secrets of the elusive Black Duck, a legendary rum-running ship. I found the plot to be somewhat slow to develop, and the action to be mostly non-existent. It was an enjoyable read, but not something I'd come back to, or recommend to anyone.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a historical fiction for the YA audience.
It was a good way to introduce the prohibition era thru some teen boys having an adventure/mystery surrounding the liquor smugglers.

The mystery was interesting & it moves at a good pace.
Quick, short read or listen (I did it on audio).

FYI: there is some violence and I did find it a bit bittersweet as Jeddy & Ruben’s friendship was dissolving.

[Sam Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ruben and his best friend Jeddy find a dead body on the beach in 1929, their lives change forever. A weird reaction from the local law enforcement causes Ruben to give the body some thought and he eventually discovers that the dead man was an infamous rum runner. During this time of Prohibition, rum runners bought booze from Canada or the West Indies and smuggled it into the country. Because the ships had to anchor in international waters, rum runners would load up small boats with the liquor and sneak it onto shore in the dead of night. Police were paid off to look the other way. But things are changing. Gangs from big cities are starting to control all the business and trying to stamp out the smaller independent bootleggers... including the local team that man's a ship called the Black Duck. Although Ruben and Jeddy have always been best friends, Jeddy, son of the local policeman, feels conflicted about getting involved with the rum runners. Ruben begins to see how much the rum-runners are infiltrating his hometown even as he himself gets swept up in their operations.


Janet Taylor Lisle The author chose to call the book Black Duck because the number one smuggling boat was called the black duck. The theme is karma. The black duck related to the theme because a lot of the members suffered with death. Another them this book can read off is a theme about honesty can be the best policy. Because many of these guys smugglers rum, and smuggling is a really bad thing you can get caught for.


This book was a decent book, it had a really good storyline and the book had interesting and entertaining parts, i would recommend the book to those that like historical fiction. I liked the scenes and descriptions of scenery.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end of the roaring 20s; the age of bootlegging. Was it all fun and games, hijinks and deringing? When David decides to interview Reuben an older gentleman who was a teen during the bootlegging years for his school's newspaper, he learns there was nothing fun nor adventurous about it. Along with danger, it ruined friendships, tore families apart and caused distrust among neighbors.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super quick read about rum runners during the prohibition. I loved the author's portrayal of these characters!