Book Riot Read Harder Challenge #2: Read a YA book by a trans author.

The second I saw the words “A Treasure Island Remix”, I was sold on this book. As a child who grew up, mostly, in the 2000s, I was obsessed with Treasure Planet, another retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic. That movie sparked my love of Treasure Island and probably greatly contributed to my love of pirates. Having a love of pirates and a love of history even as a child led me to reading as much as I could about Zheng Yi Sao, the best and most successful pirate ever.

This story is set in 1826 in the South China Sea. At this point, Zheng Yi Sao has left the world of piracy and is presumed to be retired/ dead/ in hiding. Like anyone with an unknown fate, the speculation in the story is endless.

Our two main characters, Xiang and Anh, have instant chemistry. You cannot help but root for these young women as they try to carve out their place in the world.

Not only that but we have a scene where a character says she prefers a corset because of the back support it gives her. This warms my little historian heart. It is clear that this author knows what she’s talking about and put a lot of effort into being true to the period.

There is not a single thing I did not love about this book. It kept the spirit of the original story but adapted it in a way that feels wholly original. This is one that I am definitely going to reread.