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Are you ready for a swashbuckling adventure?
Perhaps some more mayhem, mystery, murder…and pirates?
If so… you have GOT to check out this week’s middle grade read. I was super excited to get the chance to read this story because it has been on my radar since last year. I love me a good pirate story! I’ll admit it too… I was always a fan of Captain Hook. He just made a great bad guy! Anyway, Deadweather and Sunrise (doesn’t it just sound fun?!) was a fantastic read and the paperback comes out tomorrow.
I was graciously provided a copy via the publisher, Putnam Juvenile. I was not compensated in any way for my review (cross my heart) nor did I promise a good rating. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.
Author:Geoff Rodkey| Website 
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Genre: Adventure
Pages: 296
Release Date: May 28th, 2012 (Paperback, March 5th, 2013
Egg (usually known as Egbert to his family) has sort of been thrown into an adventure.
Here he is, thirteen years old, already dealing with the perils of his age when suddenly, someone comes along wanting to kill him.
After his family disappears in a freak accident, Egg finds himself as the long term guest of the rich Mr. Pembroke….and his magnificent daughter, Millicent. Finally away from his violent siblings, Egg thinks life is perfect… until the episode where he’s almost pushed off a cliff. Add in some bad guys… pirates, of course,…and buried treasure, and this is one grand adventure!
5 reasons why this book is marvelous!
- I really, really, really love Egg as a character. Firstly, HE is another boy main character and though I think middle grade boys will absolutely love this story because they will be able to connect to Egg well, it’s one that girls will definitely pick up too! Millicent is a fantastic addition to the main characters, and she balances out the boys nicely. A few reviews I have seen have suggested this novel is a little like Pirates of the Caribbean with Lemony Snicket as the narrator. I sort of love the smashing together of the two references, and Egg’s voice is not only unique, but hiliarious.
- Which brings me to my absolute most favorite reason I love this story. At times, readers might think it is overly exaggerated or hard to believe–but I think that is what makes the story! Egg just has a way about his narration—he tells it like it is, but in a way that makes readers wonder if he is really telling the truth (I mean, were his siblings really that mean?) And yet at the same time, I totally believe him! I really feel Rodkey nailed Egg’s voice, and the narration makes for a read that not only puts me in Egg’s shoes, but has me living his adventure alongside him.
- PIRATES! And a swashbuckling adventure!
- The entire premise of the plotline had me buckled over with laughter. I don’t want to give anything away, but when you find out what happens to Egg’s family, and how he handles it… you’ll sort of do a double take in the read. Plus, I just love it when I get to read about thirteen year olds going on adventures. It takes me back to my imaginative years making me what to time travel and seek out more adventures.
- Despite some violence, I think Deadweather and Sunrise (The Chronicles of Egg book 1) is a fabulous read. I say violence because there are pirates involved after all. There are a few scenes where I feel Rodkey is graphic without being too, too graphic, and I would probably recommend this book with a slight warning to parents that there is murder and some death involved, and it isn’t glossed over. However, with that said, I don’t think I could read the book without those scenes. They are part of the story and Rodkey writes them tastefully–in that thirteen-year-old-junior-high-boy sense! This is definitely a fabulous read, one I will collect on my classroom shelves, and recommend to my students over and over again.
- Bonus!!: For some more Egg fun… check out the book’s website!
Book Talk: Have you heard about Deadweather and Sunrise yet? Perhaps you have read it? If so, what were your thoughts? Are you a fan of pirate stories?
*Check back in May for my review of the second book in the series…and your chance to win both books!
Hopeful reading!
thehopefulheroine 