As the son of famous Black Jack Valera, the best whaler on the eastern seaboard, thirteen-year-old Lucky Valera led a charmed life at sea, until his father dies and his estranged older half-brother, Fortuna, kidnaps him.
Lucky's hopes of joining the crew of the whaling ship, Nightbird, are dashed as Fortuna forces him into servitude at the nearby mill. But when Lucky meets Emmeline, a spirited girl with abolitionist sympathies, and Daniel, a fugitive slave from the South, his dream to return to his old life seems to be within reach. That is, if he and his new friends can outwit and outrun Fortuna and an enraged slave trader, both of whom will stop at nothing to get back what they believe is their rightful property.
Krista Russell's action-packed historical adventure, following a brave young protagonist willing to risk everything for his freedom, offers a glimpse into a unique historical time and setting and will leave readers on the edge of their seats.