Sea of Gold

Seafaring shenanigans await in this rollicking historical adventure by Mone (the Atlantis duology). When his struggling Irish farm family falls into dire financial straits, 11-year-old Fish, nicknamed so for his love of swimming, is sent to work for his merchant uncle. A botched delivery unexpectedly plunges Fish into a life of piracy aboard the Scurvy Mistress, where he must contend with an abusive bully named Scab and adjust to a eating gruel and hardtack, and enduring serious smells. Fish soon bands together with other kids on the ship, including Nora, the cook who longs for better ingredients than the ship can offer; Nate, who dreams of becoming a notorious pirate captain; and Daniel, a booklover whose land sickness prevents him from leaving the vessel. Together, the four tweens are swept away on a hunt for long-lost treasure, with mutiny and surprise enemies following closely behind. Rhythmic prose ("As the boarders brandished their blades and pistols, dozens of... men burst out from closed doors and hatches, firing guns and swinging steel"), humorous banter, and brutal depictions of pirate life abound in this traditional high seas romp. Painstakingly detailed b&w illustrations by Pekmezci feature throughout and include a map of the Scurvy Mistress. Ages 8-12. Agent: Alex Gehringer, Bright Agency. (Aug.)