Legend has it there’s a treasure in the Islands. Everyone’s after it, including Jem Fitzgerald and his explorer uncle, Finn, the Islanders, and pirates. Even the infamous crew known as the Lost Souls—rumoured to be ghosts—has set their spyglasses on it. But only Uncle Finn holds the map to the treasure—until he’s kidnapped by pirates and made to walk the plank, after quickly handing off the precious map to Jem. Before the pirates can send Jem overboard, he’s rescued by the Lost Souls. It’s the fright of his life—until he discovers that the so-called ghosts are actually children!
Sailing the Island waters, the Lost Souls, led by the daring young captain Scarlet McCray, offer haven and adventure to children in need. But can Scarlet convince Jem to give up the map? Can she quiet the mutinous rumblings of her crew? Or will the reign of the Lost Souls end with her?
The debut novel from talented young writer Rachelle Delaney,The Ship of Lost Souls turns pirate clichés upside down in an adventure that is bright, fresh and fast paced. Heaped with humour, this is a rollicking story that boys and girls will love for its themes of loyalty, friendship and confidence—and because it’s just plain fun.
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Quill & Quire
A pirate ship, a treasure map, and a crew of orphans: how could even the most reluctant young reader resist such a premise? In her first novel, author Rachelle Delaney, a graduate of the MFA program at the University of British Columbia, tells the tale of the young crew of the ghost ship Margaret Hop as it races against the nasty pirates of the Dark Ranger to find a mysterious treasure that lies, legend has it, on a nearby island. Delaney jumbles the heroes and villains together to great effect – young Captain Scarlet McCray must deal with crew members who would disrupt the smooth running of her ship, and her bloodthirsty adult rivals aboard the Dark Ranger reveal their soft sides at unexpected moments. These twists keep the story from slipping into predictability, and provide some of the most comical moments in the novel. This comic tone reigns, from the colourful language the pirates – both young and old – toss off in conversation, to scenes of pure physical slapstick. Sometimes the comedy goes over the top, particularly where the cartoon-like and inept pirate marauders are concerned. Bloodthirsty and threatening one minute, they unexpectedly, and a bit disconcertingly, turn into babbling idiots when the “lost souls” take over their ship. Still, Delaney ensures there is room for drama among the laughs. The characters range from recognizable pirate stereotypes to children whose sense of loss and longing is overwhelming. Delaney’s young heroes are compelling, especially Scarlet and Jem, the boy Scarlet rescues from the Dark Ranger after he is kidnapped. Jem’s cautious, principled approach to their quest seems at first to be in contrast to Scarlet’s apparently fearless determination to find the treasure before the pirates do. But as they journey together, it becomes clear they are much alike: brave, questioning, and unsure of themselves, but willing to take a chance on each other for the common good. Young readers will be cheering them on.
Review
"A perfect and exciting parable for modern times.... The New World islands depicted are at once familiar and otherworldly, her take on piracy as a foil for plundering colonial powers is brilliant, and her placing of children in charge of their own destiny amid a lawless society is highly appealing to pre-teens. [Ship of Lost Souls] combines classic themes and appealing adventure in the most seamless way possible."
(CM Magazine, Highly Recommended ****/4)Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Susan Olding
This book was a huge hit with an eleven year old friend and with my 9 year old daughter. Both found it so absorbing that once they'd started it, they couldn't put it down. It's definitely not your ordinary pirate story. Kids who understand and appreciate its humorous and clever departures from the genre will find it especially interesting. And kids who love nature will be inspired and moved by its central idea. I won't spoil the plot by listing all the details these girls held up for praise, but I will say that they both loved the characters, especially Scarlet, the ship's captain.
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