46 pages • 1 hour read
Kidnapped
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Book Brief
288
Novel • Fiction
Scotland • 1750s
1886
Middle grade
12-18 years
Super Short Summary
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, follows the young David Balfour, who, after his father's death, discovers an uncle, Ebenezer, living at a near-ruined estate. Ebenezer kidnaps David, attempting to send him to slavery in America. Shipwrecked in Scotland, David befriends Alan Breck Stewart, a Jacobite, and together they navigate survival, evading false accusations of murder and reclaiming David's rightful inheritance. The novel contains themes of abduction and murder.
Adventurous
Suspenseful
Mysterious
Challenging
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
69,724 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped is praised for its vivid adventure and dynamic characters, especially the protagonist, David Balfour. The historical context adds depth, but some critics find the dialects challenging and the pacing uneven. Overall, it remains a beloved classic for its storytelling and rich depiction of 18th-century Scotland.
Who Should Read Kidnapped?
Readers who enjoy adventure and historical fiction will find Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson captivating. This novel appeals to fans of tales like Treasure Island and The Three Musketeers with its themes of survival, loyalty, and adventure set against the backdrop of 18th-century Scotland.
69,724 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
288
Novel • Fiction
Scotland • 1750s
1886
Middle grade
12-18 years
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