The Pirates of Crocodile Swamp - Hardcover

Arnosky, Jim

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399250689 ISBN 13: 9780399250682

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2009

Synopsis

A long way from home, Sandy and Jack Casperin escape their abusive father and disappear into Crocodile Swamp, a remote wilderness in the Florida Keys. With nothing but their wits and limited supplies, the boys must learn to fend for themselves as they survive surrounded by snakes, massive crocodiles and a territorial hammerhead shark.

But it is only with the help of newfound friends?a local girl their age, and an old sailor (who might be a real pirate!)? that they can truly escape from their tragic past and make a new life for themselves.

About this title

About the Author

Jim Arnosky is well known for his "keen observations of nature and his fine artistic talent" (School Library Journal). He has written and illustrated many children’s books. Otters Under Water was called "first-rate natural history for the youngest" by Kirkus Reviews (pointer review), and School Library Journal wrote that in it "each of his creatures exhibits a distinct individualism." Every Autumn Comes the Bear was called "vibrant, translucent and strikingly composed" by Publishers Weekly, and Booklist wrote "Arnosky's radiant pictures have a dazzling sense of pattern and composition . . . and a sense of mystery. A beautiful, imaginative, and informative approach." School Library Journal said of Rabbits & Raindrops, “Perfect for story-time or lap-time reading, this book will give children a feeling of security and contentment.”

Jim Arnosky and his family live on a twenty-acre farm in Vermont.

copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.

Reviews

Grade 4–6—Sandy, 11, and Jack, 9, are growing up under rough circumstances in 1982. Their father is abusive and frequently drunk; their mother is distant and depressed. When their dad accidentally causes the death of their four-year-old brother, things get even worse. One day he picks them up from school and speeds away from their Pennsylvania home, not stopping until they reach the Florida Keys. The boys assume that he beat their mother to death. Jack, who loves TV nature programs, hates his father and wants to escape. He convinces the more practical Sandy that they should gather supplies, find a boat, and flee to Crocodile Swamp, a nature preserve, where their father will never come after them. They steal some of his money, are soon living on a crocodile-infested island, and meet an old Cuban fisherman who just might have once been a pirate. Pirates is an exciting story, with plenty of Arnosky's trademark insight into the delights and dangers of the natural (and human) world. The prose is direct and gripping, the characterization strong, and the story includes just enough of the author's illustrations to enrich the fast-moving tale.—Walter Minkel, Austin Public Library, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

After school one day, Sandy and Jack Casperin are picked up by their alcoholic and abusive father, who takes them on a long drive to the Florida Keys. The boys quickly learn that their dad is fleeing because he believes that he has killed their mother. Sandy and Jack escape and hide in a restricted area called Crocodile Swamp. The swamp is well named, as it is teaming with crocodiles and other animals with big teeth. Fortunately, Jack loves nature shows, so he knows how to avoid the beasts. The boys aren’t in the swamp long, though, before their father finds them, but they are aided by an old man, who lives a little outside the law, and an attractive young girl; and the story’s close is a hopeful resolution. Arnosky presents a well-paced and exciting adventure tale that is given an extra boost by the inclusion of many details about the natural world of the Keys. Grades 5-8. --Todd Morning

Edition details

• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0399250689
• ISBN 13: 9780399250682
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240