Five on a Treasure Island facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Enid Blyton |
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| Illustrator | Eileen A. Soper |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Famous Five series |
| Genre | Mystery, Adventure novel |
| Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton |
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Publication date
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11 September 1942 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| Followed by | Five Go Adventuring Again (1943) |
Five on a Treasure Island is a super popular children's book written by Enid Blyton. It came out in 1942. This book is the very first one in the exciting The Famous Five series. The first version of the book had cool pictures drawn by Eileen Soper.
What is Five on a Treasure Island About?
This book tells the story of three siblings, Julian, Dick, and Anne. They usually go on holiday to Polseath. But this summer, they get to stay with their Aunt Fanny and Uncle Quentin. Their home is called Kirrin Cottage, in a village by the sea.
Meeting George and Timmy
At Kirrin Cottage, they meet their cousin, Georgina. She's a bit grumpy and prefers to be called George. George loves to act like a boy. Even though they start off a bit awkwardly, the cousins quickly become great friends. George introduces them to her amazing dog, Timothy, or Timmy. Timmy lives secretly with a fisher boy named Alf because George's parents don't want a dog in the house.
Discovering a Shipwreck
One day, George takes her cousins to Kirrin Island. On the way, she shows them an old shipwreck. She explains it belonged to her great-great-great grandfather. He was carrying gold when his ship crashed in a storm. Even though divers looked for it, the gold was never found.
Stuck on the Island
After seeing the wreck, the five friends go to the island. They explore the old ruined castle. Suddenly, a huge storm starts! It becomes too dangerous to go back to the mainland. So, they have to stay on the island for the night.
Finding the Treasure Map
While they are sheltering, the storm pushes the old shipwreck onto the rocks around the island. The kids are super excited! They decide to check out the wreck early the next morning before anyone else finds it. The next day, they explore the captain's cabin. They find some old things belonging to George's ancestor. This includes an old box.
They take the box back to Kirrin Cottage. It's really hard to open! So, they throw it from the highest window. The box breaks open, but the noise bothers Uncle Quentin. He takes the box away. Julian secretly gets the box back from Uncle Quentin's study. Inside, they find an old map of Kirrin Castle. They also find the word "INGOTS." They soon figure out this word means where the lost gold is buried. They realize it's a treasure map! They trace the map and put the box back. They decide to find the gold themselves.
The Race for the Gold
To their surprise, the box with the map is sold to an antique collector. This same man also tries to buy Kirrin Island. The children realize he knows about the secret map and wants the gold! So, it becomes a race for the Famous Five to get to the gold first. Uncle Quentin and Aunt Fanny let the children go camping on the island for a week. They think the kids just want to spend time there before it's sold.
Exploring the Dungeons
On the island, the five friends start looking for the old dungeons in the castle ruins. That's where the gold is hidden. Timmy chases a rabbit and falls down an old well. The children find the dungeon entrance through the well! They explore underground and find the gold in a locked vault.
Trouble on the Island
Soon, some bad men arrive on the island. They want to steal the gold. They capture George and Julian. They lock them in the dungeons. The men ask them to write a note to Anne and Dick, who are outside, telling them to come down. George writes the letter. But Dick notices something strange: George signed her name as "Georgina." This makes Dick suspicious, so they don't go down.
The bad men can't find Anne and Dick. So, they leave the island. They take the oars from the children's boat so they can't escape. Anne and Dick use a good shaft to rescue Julian and George from the dungeon. The children then make a plan to trap the men when they come back to the island with a boat to steal the gold.
The Gold is Found!
Their plan doesn't go exactly right, but they manage to leave the men stuck on Kirrin Island. The children return to the mainland. They tell Uncle Quentin, Aunt Fanny, and the police what happened. The gold is found and recovered! Everyone agrees it belongs to George's family. This makes them rich! They can now afford everything they ever wanted. George's only wish is to keep Timmy, and her parents agree. George also agrees to go to boarding school with Anne. This is because she and her cousins have become very good friends. Plus, the school allows pets!
Film Versions of the Book
Five on a Treasure Island (1957 film)
In 1957, an 8-part film series was made based on the book. It was directed by Gerald Landau.
Planned Film Adaptation (2012)
Around 2010, there were talks about a new Five on a Treasure Island movie. It was hoped to be released in 2012. Film director Sam Mendes confirmed these rumors in an interview. He said a script was being written. However, progress on the film stopped when MGM faced financial problems later that year.
