Black Duck
by Janet Taylor Lisle
BLACK DUCK by Janet Taylor Lisle
Category: Historical
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 5/18/06
Publisher: Philomel
Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel
Rating: 5 Stars
David's dream is to become a reporter. His father wants him to help run the family landscaping business.
David’s dream leads him to a man, Ruban, with possible connections to the Black Duck, the famous rum-running boat
during the prohibition in Rhode Island.
David tells Ruban that he’s a senior in high school and might get published in the local newspaper. In reality, David is just
starting his freshman year. Ruban reluctantly tells David some facts about the town during the time period, starting with the
day that he and his best friend, Jeddy, found a dead body on the beach. When they went to alert the authorities, the body
disappeared and the boys were warned not to talk about it.
Over the course of several visits, Ruban tells more of the story to David. Ruban's initial curiosity led him down a different
path than Jeddy, as he wanted to know more about the body, more about the rum-runners, and even wanted to lend a
hand. Soon he and Jeddy were at odds over the rum business. What started as an innocent curiosity led Ruban into
danger that neither boy could have imagined.
BLACK DUCK blends worlds with the interruptions between David’s questions and Ruban’s story. While Jeddy and
Ruban had an amazing story, Ruban feels that the whole story isn’t his to tell and that Jeddy owns a piece of it. However,
with Jeddy dying, Ruban clears his mind of guilt and finishes the tale.
BLACK DUCK is a unique historical fiction novel that will engage readers.
