Recipient of the Mom's Choice Award for Excellence: Her grandmother worries there are too many out-of-control ghosts in Boston for ElsBeth's field trip off-Cape to the historic Freedom Trail. But the young Cape Cod witch is determined to go and Sylvanas, her cat, handles that.

The real danger turns out to be human when one of her classmates from a royal family is kidnapped. ElsBeth encounters and enlists the ghost of the famous Captain Thomas Jacques to lead the sea chase all the way to Nantucket Island.

But she needs all the science and magic her grandmother has taught her, and help from the birds and fishes ElsBeth also recruits to their cause. And along the way she and her friends find out about fighting for freedom, and caring for something bigger than themselves.

Readers also discover a treasure chest of historical nuggets and Cape and Islands lore, together with a brief sketch of the authentic Captain Thomas Jacques.