It always seemed to be summer in Davy Bowman’s Illinois town; his street was his world. In epic games of hide-and-seek, Davy would ride toward home base on brother Bill’s shoulders or in the crook of his father’s good arm. And every Halloween, Earl Bowman, in Grandma Dowdel–like fashion, exacted revenge on neighborhood bullies. Early episodes give way to rich stories—poignant and humorous—about the weight of war as it wrapped around the shoulders of the Bowmans. It was “the duration,” not really real life, just waiting for Bill to return from his B-17 missions over Germany. In the meantime, Davy and his friend Scooter gather scrap metal, newspapers and milkweed for the war effort, the Chicago mob attacks Mr. Bowman and ancient Eulalia Titus teaches Davy’s class with a firm hand (and strategically placed rattraps). Peck’s skill at characterization is unsurpassed; Earl Bowman is as memorable as any previous character. Scenes are so well crafted they beg to be read aloud. An ode to a father, a big brother and an era captured by a writer at his peak. (Fiction. 10+)
Pub Date: March 1, 2007
ISBN: 0-8037-3081-0
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2007
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An outstanding new edition of this popular modern classic (Newbery Award, 1961), with an introduction by Zena Sutherland and...
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1990
ISBN: 0-395-53680-4
Page Count: -
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Delightful.
A school trip to a legendary island uncovers more than hidden treasure for Tom Morgan, who’s in his second year at Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts.
After the release of the deadly Crimson Flu virus at his boarding school, Tom and his housemates are whisked away by their housemaster, the Corsair, on a tall ship bound for Isle Tête de Mort, or the Island of Skulls, where they’ll continue their quarantine. The island fortress of an old Shadow League leader, Antoine Bonaparte, the Duke of Nîmes, the hideout has been deserted for years, ever since the duke was assassinated and his château blown up by Shadow Assassins hoping to protect the world from the duke’s deadly ambition. But there are rumors about what remains hidden there: a treasure trove of jewels, secret documents, and details of the duke’s ultimate weapon for conquering the world. As Tom (whose mother was Egyptian and father is unknown) begins to search for the treasure with his housemates, it’s initially just another training exercise presented by the Corsair. But when the Chevaliers, followers of the duke, arrive on the island looking for the plans for the secret weapon, it will take all of Tom’s skills as a thief to get there before they do. Fast-paced and fun with plenty of hijinks, this skillful sequel expands on the worldbuilding. The pirate theme, with its codes and ciphers, adds an appealing layer of intrigue.
Delightful. (Adventure. 10-14)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9781665982344
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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