Here’s a great new teen hero to keep your own tweens reading this summer: thirteen year old Egg. Kids who’ve enjoyed the humor and style of the Lemony Snicket books will probably love this series as well.
Deadweather and Sunrise: The Chronicles of Egg, Book 1 (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $7.99) – from Amazon:
A stunning middle-grade debut–full of heart, humor, and nonstop action.
It’s tough to be thirteen, especially when somebody’s trying to kill you.
Not that Egg’s life was ever easy, growing up on sweaty, pirate-infested Deadweather Island with no company except an incompetent tutor and a pair of unusually violent siblings who hate his guts. But when Egg’s father hustles their family off on a mysterious errand to fabulously wealthy Sunrise Island, then disappears with the siblings in a freak accident, Egg finds himself a long-term guest at the mansion of the glamorous Pembroke family and their beautiful, sharp-tongued daughter Millicent. Finally, life seems perfect.
Until someone tries to throw him off a cliff. Suddenly, Egg’s running for his life in a bewildering world of cutthroat pirates, villainous businessmen, and strange Native legends. The only people who can help him sort out the mystery of why he’s been marked for death are Millicent and a one-handed, possibly deranged cabin boy.
Come along for the ride. You’ll be glad you did.
Amazon Best Middle Grade Book of the Month, June 2012: Deadweather and Sunrise is an action-packed debut novel of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery–oh, and did I mention there are pirates? Thirteen year old Egbert Masterson–Egg–is a book loving, intelligent 13-year-old with a big heart and a nose for hidden treasure. While Egg’s life has a lot of reason for despair, he takes his lumps in stride and discovers that “…not everyone who lives on a pretty street is a good person, and that in even the rottenest places you might find someone you can trust with your life.” With suitably gruesome pirate bits, endearing characters, surprising twists, and a delightful quirkiness, Deadweather and Sunrise has all the makings of a breakout new middle grade series.
–Seira Wilson
Other Reviews:
“In this rip-roaring debut . . . Lemony Snicket meets Pirates of the Caribbean, with a sprinkling of Tom Sawyer for good measure.” —Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series
“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 . . . 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.” —BCCB, starred review
“…Rodkey combines humor and adventure in a story full of cruise ships, wild pigs, treasure maps, and constant peril.” —Publishers Weekly
“This introduction to the Chronicles of Egg series is pure fun.” —Booklist
“This promising new series starts out strong with a story filled to brim with pirates, treasure, intrigue and swashbuckling suspense . . . Egg’s first-person account is compelling, and the dialogue and vivid setting, as well as the full cast of quirky characters, make it easy to get lost in this adventure.” —Kirkus Reviews
New Lands: The Chronicles of Egg, Book 2 (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $10.99) – This second volume was just released last month. From Amazon:
This highly anticipated sequel to Rodkey’s much-praised debut is funny, heartfelt, and action-packed. Don’t miss it!
After a narrow escape from Deadweather Island, Egg and his slightly deranged partner Guts head for the remote New Lands. They’re in search of the lost Okalu tribe, who hold the key to the mysterious treasure map that Egg can’t decipher. But the ruthless Roger Pembroke is hard on Egg’s trail, and the New Lands are full of new enemies—against which our heroes’ only weapons are their brains, their courage…and the two dozen swear words Guts just memorized in the local tongue.
They’re going to need help. But who can they trust? Is Kira, the beautiful and heavily armed Okalu refugee, their ally…or their enemy? Is Pembroke’s daughter Millicent on Egg’s side…or her father’s? Why on earth is the notorious pirate Burn Healy being so nice to them? And the biggest question of all: what shocking secret is Egg about to discover in the shadow of an ancient Okalu temple?