Once you start it, you won't be able to switch it off!
Advantages:
A fast paced adventure for young readers .
Disadvantages:
a little on the long side for some children .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I haven't reviewed a book for a while, so I thought that I would remedy the situation and write about a children's novel I found recently while working down in the Children's Library. This book is an adventure and fastasy tale aimed at 10 to 12 year olds. This story is Ragboy, Rats and the Surging Sea by Alan Temperley.
~~~THE PLOT.
The book is about a boy called Silas Fisher. He survives by scavenging and beachcombing in a world of hunger, danger and cruelty. The adventure really starts when Silas finds a Mermaid (called Oooli) who has been hurt during a big storm at sea. Silas looks after the Mermaid and offers to protect her from harm, while tending her wounds and nursing her back to health.
The problem begins when some very evil villains (Albert and Jasper Dredge) find out about Ooli and want to capture her to make money from her. What follows is a big adventure that sees Silas in fear of his life and fighting to save Ooli.
~~~WHAT I THOUGHT.
I enjoyed the story and quickly got into the adventure! It is a good bit of escapism, full of magic, mayhem and danger. The story combines legends with adventure and it tears along at quite a frantic pace. There is a lot to challenge and interest the reader ~ the characters are well thought out and the plot, though very far fetched, is pretty compelling.
The plot does get quite involved and a little complicated in places but the language used is easy for a young audience to understand. I would think anyone under 10 would struggle a little, but a fairly confident reader should wizz through it in no time. The characters have wonderful names too ~ I particularly like the Dredges who are as nasty as their name suggests.
Some questions may arise about some of the historical details, but, once explained there should be no problems with vocabulary (for example the Policemen are referred to as Peelers as they would have been in the 19th Century).
I liked the character of Silas best. He is brave and seems very caring despite not having much of a life himself. He has always struggled to survive, lived on his wits and never had any luxury in his life. Whe he finds the Mermaid he doesn't hestitate for a moment before helping her. When she is kidnapped he doesn't think of his own safety and rushes to save her from danger.
The villains on the other hand are the complete opposite of the caring Silas. They are thoroughly nasty, only out for themselves and cowardly (as bullies often are). They have bullied Silas for years but he comes across as a much better person than they have with much more integrity and strength.
There is something really nice about this story that really got my imagination. The book sees Silas having to gain the confidence of the Mermaid ~ she is hurt and afraid. Her experience of humans hasn't generally been a good one and it is the first time anyone has tried to help her.
As Silas (and his grandfather) hide her and nurse her back to health she grows in confidence and begins to relate stories of her life. It is a fascinating adventure and the interaction between boy and Mermaid is handled really well. Even though Silas and his grandfather have little to offer in the way of wealth and possessions they are able to offer bucketloads of compassion and love!
The novel is set in Victorian times ~ the streets are cobbled and the gas lights add to the atmosphere. There is darkness and bleakness in the dimly lit sewers and alleys that really makes the adveture into something of a melodrama! Temperley manages to combine folklore and realism. The backdrop of the busy harbour and the rather dodgy Black Parrot pub are really good and described really well.
Temperley is excellent at weaving a picture of the world Silas inhabits ~ his attention to detail makes it all come to life. When Silas has to go through the sewers you feel you are with him and I could feel the danger lurking in the darkness throughout.
I think children can learn a great deal about the differences between right and wrong and good and bad form this book. They will also enjoy going through the adventure with Silas ~ he has to travel on surging seas, crawl through stinking sewers and generally rush about throughout this fast paced frolic! I think chilren will love the action and learn something about morality without even realising it!
I thoroughly recommend Ragboy, Rats and the Surging Sea. It will excite and keep you interested from start to finish.
