When sixteen-year-old Billy Wentworth is forced to spend the summer with his aunt on the tiny island of Appledore off the New England coast, he is determined to hate the place. But a salty old sea captain and cheerful young girl quickly befriend him, and soon the three are caught in the middle of a dangerous plot. With a cunning and ruthless enemy lurking close by, Billy must gather all his courage to save his friends and defend his country from a war that's drawing ever nearer.

From The Good and the Beautiful edition