Red Sails to Capri

First published in 1952, Newbery Honor book Red Sails to Capri is a delightful, humorous, adventurous, and wholesome historical fiction book that takes place on the Italian island of Capri. The story begins as three men come sailing in to the remote island on a beautiful ship with red sails. The main character, a boy named Michele, comes to know these men when they stay at his father’s inn. Each of the three men are there searching for something different, and they are all very interested in exploring a cave on the island that all the islanders greatly fear. The writing is skilled, the characters are lively, the story is engaging, and the dialogue is clever and funny while remaining wholesome. I laughed out loud often and smiled through most of this book. I also learned more about life in Italy in times past.