In the Golden Age of Piracy, none was more dreaded than Blackbeard.

Sam, Derek, and Caitlin head for a week's vacation at Virginia Beach, where three hundred years ago, pirates sailed the waters off the Atlantic Coast. As the kids explore the beach, they find suspicious activity from the neighboring military base that points to the discovery of a historic shipwreck-maybe even lost pirate treasure!

When they meet a mysterious stranger named One-Eyed Jack, they're captivated by the tale of Edward Teach, better known as the notorious pirate Blackbeard. Legend says he may have left valuable plunder buried in the nearby dunes before his final battle and violent death. Could the treasure still be out there, waiting to be discovered?

When the clues lead them on a perilous trip across the Chesapeake Bay, danger lurks at every turn. Will they find a hidden bounty, or will competing treasure seekers, or even Blackbeard's ghost, send them to a watery grave at the bottom of the sea?

Pirates on the Bay is the tenth book in The Virginia Mysteries series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. The story is the perfect complement to social studies units, field trips, and family vacations related to Virginia Beach, First Landing State Park, Cape Henry Lighthouse, Colonial America, and piracy of the early 1700s.

If you enjoy mystery and adventure like the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Magic Tree House, or National Treasure, you'll love author Steven K. Smith's exciting middle-grade series. The stories are modern-day fictional mysteries with twists of real locations and events from history. These fast-paced books are popular with both boys and girls ages 7-12, appealing to even reluctant readers!

The Virginia Mysteries Series

Book 1 - Summer of the Woods

Book 2 - Mystery on Church Hill

Book 3 - Ghosts of Belle Isle

Book 4 - Secret of the Staircase

Book 5 - Midnight at the Mansion

Book 6 - Shadows at Jamestown

Book 7 - Spies at Mount Vernon

Book 8 - Escape from Monticello

Book 9 - Pictures at the Protest

Book 10 - Pirates on the Bay

Brother Wars

Cabin Eleven

The Big Apple

The Missing

The Recruit

The Bridge