Deadweather and Sunrise (review)

Island life has been anything but idyllic for thirteen-year-old Eggbert: besides being subject to Deadweather's terrible climate and its many drunken, and often abusive, pirates, the poor kid must also regularly dodge blows from his violent older brother, while garnering little to no sympathy from his emotionally distant father. So when a hot-air balloon accident seemingly kills his entire family and leaves Egg in the care of a wealthy merchant (and the merchant's beautiful and fearless daughter), he's not entirely distraught—until he realizes that his new guardian is most likely responsible for the death of his family and is looking to bump Egg off as well. What follows is a high-seas adventure in the grandest tradition, featuring epic maritime battles, elusive hidden treasures, tender romance, and of course, pirates—lots and lots of pirates. The fast-paced swashbuckling will surely satisfy fans of adventure, but it's really Egg's narration that makes this pirate story rise above its counterparts. Wittily observant and self-deprecating, Egg relays the series of absurd events that precede his escape from Deadweather with a fair amount of humor, while his decision to avenge the deaths of his family—despite their mistreatment of him—lends the tale a certain nobility, casting Egg as an accidental hero whose efforts to do the right thing are both admirable and somewhat haphazard. Colorful dialogue (including plenty of piratespeak) and a fully realized setting that will have readers wiping the sea spray from their brows round out this delightful nautical yarn that promises a sequel.