A spirited tale of high-seas adventure that will leave readers both young and old anxiously waiting for more.
Young midshipman Jonathan Moore is back and ready for more swashbuckling in the second installment of Greene’s (Skull Eye Island, 2012) nautically themed YA series.
In 1801, after capturing the French 74-gun ship Danielle, Jonathan and his crew return to London as triumphant victors. Waiting for him at the docks is his long-lost father, who’s been gone for years. Their reunion is joyous yet short-lived. Jonathan is soon itching to return to sea, and when the new crew of the Danielle is called to leave for the Bahamian coast, his father, a captain, reluctantly allows him to sail. What should be an easy four-month cruise turns into something more complicated when Capt. William Walker, Jonathan’s commander, realizes he has the opportunity to turn the tides of war. Chock-full of adventurous fun, the novel follows the crew as they navigate their way through various tricky situations. Greene seamlessly weaves together several dynamic storylines—pirates, a stowaway, attempted murder and the dreaded French Navy—creating a rich, complex world for readers to enjoy. Each thread is well-developed and works to further the story to a thrilling, fiery climax. Though peppered with interesting facts on British Navy life in the early 1800s, the narrative never feels weighed down with extraneous trivia or overly technical jargon. It’s driven by an eclectic, well-drawn cast of characters, from the salty ship’s cook to the hot-tempered captain to resourceful Jonathan. Also joining the crew is the irrepressible stowaway Miss Delain Dowdeswell, whose spunk and wit will appeal to young female readers. Delain, Jonathan and his quirky best friend, Sean Flagon, form a wonderful trio whose escapades—including a thrilling assault on a fleet of French ships—will leave readers hooked.
A spirited tale of high-seas adventure that will leave readers both young and old anxiously waiting for more.Pub Date: Oct. 26, 2012
ISBN: 978-1480203457
Page Count: 374
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Aug. 21, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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