The pirate Mousebeard is determined to lift the curse that prevents him from setting foot on land. Joining his quest aboard the Silver Shark are his mostly loyal companions: Captain Drewshank, the inventor Algernon, mousekeepers Emiline and Scratcher and the mysterious Indigo. While they follow clues leading to a distant land, their enemies, Lady Pettifogger, Lord Battersby and his evil mousekeeper, Miserley, are hatching avaricious plans of their own. Accompanying them all—central to plot and authorial vision—are mice in their myriad varieties. They are pets and companions, prizes coveted by collectors and partners in human maritime, military and commercial enterprises. Again, entries from mouse-collector field guides help readers sort out the dizzying varieties: the stripy sand mouse, the jouster mouse (not to be confused with the miniature unicorn mouse) and many more. The author’s unique vision—imagine a composite of Jules Verne, Jorge Luis Borges and Hergé—matched by stronger writing chops make this second title in the energetic series a recommended pick for young readers in search of new worlds to explore. (Fantasy. 8-12)
