Holm is a freelance writer as well as a genre novel and short story author. In this essay, Holm discusses tools of the writing craft that Stevenson uses to make this story engaging and suspenseful.

Stevenson's Treasure Island has the characteristics of a successful suspense novel and an entertaining story. There is a lot in this book that serves as a good example of the craft of fine storytelling. Stevenson's adept use of the tools of good storytelling make this story a good read for adults as well as younger audiences.

Immediately apparent in Treasure Island is Stevenson's economical use of language. The economy, however, does not sacrifice description, observation, or suspense. Sentences are generally short and peppered with sensory description and keen observations about the human psyche and the characters' motivations. Close to the beginning of the book, Stevenson's protagonist describes the mysterious, somewhat frightening pirate...