Sea of Gold — Gregory Mone

In the tradition of Treasure Island, an unlikely young pirate races a band of devious rogues to a hidden fortune in Sea of Gold, the first book in a middle-grade series by New York Times bestselling author Gregory Mone.

Twelve-year-old Fish -- nicknamed for his skill as a swimmer -- never intended to become a pirate. For starters, he's just a kid from a poor farming family, and second, he absolutely hates to fight. But after his parents send him to work as a courier, one of his deliveries is stolen, and as Fish hurries to get it back, he's captured by a ship of scalawags. And the mysterious package? It's the key to locating the Chain of Chuacar, a legendary treasure.
 
Swabbing the deck of the Scurvy Mistress, Fish will have to earn the trust of the fortune-obsessed captain and learn the ropes from the rest of the crew, including a boy encyclopedia on all things piracy, a tough-as-nails young thief, and a fearless girl with knives up her sleeves. Yet with mutiny on the horizon and a ruthless first mate testing him at every turn, Fish isn't sure he'll survive, let alone find the Chain. Armed only with wit, courage, and determination, Fish leads his new friends in the fight of their young lives and a hunt for hidden gold.
 
Includes Black-and-White Illustrations