In 1715, teenage Fermin, a misfit intellectual in a family of adventurers, sails with his father's treasure fleet to Madrid for an artist apprenticeship. But amidst political turmoil, his father, Don Antonio, tries to send him back home to Panama. So Fermin stows away aboard the messenger ship unaware that vicious Dutch pirates captured by his brothers are aboard. After a hurricane wrecks the entire fleet off Florida's shores, Fermin must help his injured brother survive both the elements and the vengeful pirates. Don Antonio eventually turns up alive and sends Fermin to safety at a fortress up the coast. But after his dying brother sets Fermin straight about a traumatic child-hood incident he'd mistakenly blamed on their father, Fermin returns to the wrecks to make amends. On his way, Fermin learns from a native tribe that the greedy pirates have taken Don Antonio and others hostage. Now Fermin must overcome insurmountable odds to rescue his father, knowing it could all be in vain once the angry king in Madrid learns of the disaster.

Full-color illustrations

A true story adapted from the multi-award-winning screenplay.