Mistress of the Storm by ML Welsh -OPTIONAL

Welsh, M.L Mistress of the Storm, 320 pgs. David Fickling Books, 2011. $13.25. (Rating: G in all categories)
This story is about a 12yo girl named Verity whose life is changed by appearance of an evil grandmother. She now must learn more about her family’s dark history, in seafaring and smuggling, in order to save her family. Luckily she has a few allies –the mysterious librarian, her elderly friend Alice, and two misfit from school –Henry and Martha.
I am finding it hard to pinpoint exactly why this book was such a dreaded chore to read. It could be the dated time period without the charm to back it up, the boring characters, the stereotypical evil grandmother plotline, the overload of mysterious anticipation which fails to deliver, or simply the flow of the story. But the bottom line is that despite the magic and pirating, I found this book to be readable yet somehow tedious. I think students will find this a disappointing read.
EL – OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie MLS graduate.

Steel by Carrie Vaughn - ADVISABLE

Vaughn, Carrie Steel, 304 p. HarperCollins, 2011.  Content: PG (blood, swords and fighting, one very sad scene).  Jill is a little worn out by her fencing competitions.  On a family trip to the Caribbean, she finds a piece of a rusty sword and when she falls overboard during a boat trip, she resurfaces to find herself pulled back through time and onto a pirate ship – with a female captain.  Jill will have to work hard and fight for her life if she ever wants to find her way home.  Vaughn is a little kinder to pirates and life-choices than most pirate books; there is plenty of danger, but not so much scurvy or peglegs or parrots. I could have done without the time travel element, but I still was drawn into the story.  There are some great sword fights and the book is reminiscent of Charlotte Doyle.  MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Pirates of the Sea! by Brandon Dorman - ADVISABLE

Dorman, Brandon.  Pirates of the Sea! Greenwillow Books, 2011. $16.99  PICTURE BOOK. Cap’n Bones and his crew man the sails looking for treasure.  Along their journey they come across mermaids and a big storm, but they make it through it all to find their buried treasure.  With all the money one of the pirates suggest that they start a new life, but once back on the ship they decide to stay pirates.  Great illustrations.  EL, ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson