The Drift House: The First Voyage - Softcover

Peck, Dale

Softcover

ISBN 10: 159990005X ISBN 13: 9781599900056

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2006

Synopsis

A Book Sense Children's Pick

"[A] thrilling debut novel for young people . . . Readers will flip madly through the many pages . . . to see how the siblings navigate the hazards on the Sea of Time." -Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Best for fantasy fans with a philosophical bent." -Booklist

"A thrilling and perilous adventure . . . appealing characters, generous doses of humor, and the palpable presence of the narrator . . . invite [readers] to take part in the story as it unfolds." -School Library Journal

About this title

About the Author

Dale Peck is an acclaimed author of many books for adults as well as a reviewer and critic. This is his first book for young readers. He lives in New York City.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–Drift House chronicles the extraordinary experiences of three children placed in the guardianship of their eccentric uncle in the aftermath of September 11th. Uncle Farley lives in the nautically designed Drift House, which is situated on the Bay of Eternity in Canada. Shortly after their arrival, 12-year-old Susan and her two younger brothers discover that the mysterious house is actually a ship, and that they have unwittingly embarked on a voyage across the Sea of Time. What ensues is a thrilling and perilous adventure in which the children meet an almost superfluous cast of fantastical creatures, including a crew of Time Pirates and a band of malevolent mermaids who serve as minions of the wicked undersea Queen Octavia. When Susan is commandeered into playing a pivotal role in a diabolical plot to stop time, she must resist an otherworldly power in order to triumph over evil. This otherwise fast-moving and compelling fantasy/adventure becomes somewhat mired in convoluted discourse on metaphysics and complex explanations of temporality, which includes an overtly didactic message regarding the ramifications of humankind's proclivity for racing headlong toward the future. However, readers will find themselves drawn in by the appealing characters, generous doses of humor, and the palpable presence of the narrator, who addresses readers directly, sharing intimate details and inviting them to take part in the story as it unfolds.–Debbie Lewis O'Donnell, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
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About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 159990005X
• ISBN 13: 9781599900056
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 464