I've been in the mood for pirate books lately, especially after reading another pirate book
recently and loving it. Find out what I thought about this one and enter to win a copy below...
recently and loving it. Find out what I thought about this one and enter to win a copy below...
How to Become a Pirate Hunter
by Marty Reeder
YA Time Travel
Paperback & ebook, 208 Pages
March 1st 2017 by Sweetwater Books
Summary
Not everyone is special. Or at least that's what Eric believes. But when the new girl Charlotte tells him he's a natural at hunting pirates, and offers to prove it, Eric can't resist the adventure. Thrown in the middle of the Spanish Main, Eric must quickly accept his skills, or else succumb to the horrors of the dreaded Willard Pirate Twins.
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My Review
HOW TO BECOME A PIRATE HUNTER was a fun adventure to read with endearing characters and plenty of danger. Recommended for middle grade and younger YA readers.
What I liked most about this story was the action and adventure, particularly the plotting involved. I've always enjoyed stories involving heists because of the plotting and intelligence of the characters. While this story isn't a heist, per se, it is a plot on how to beat some pirates multiple times that feels quite similar to planning and carrying out a heist. There are the quieter, planning phases, and then the more intense action phases while the plan is being carried out. During these parts it was particularly difficult to put the book down.
I also I liked the characters. They were both consistent, although I didn't always feel they acted their ages. Charlotte, especially, felt like she should have been a wise old lady instead of a teenager with the way she acted and talked through much of the story. Eric felt younger than his age in parts and older in others. The dialogue also felt off in places instead of feeling natural. The story almost felt like more middle grade until the action parts, which felt more young adult.
I do have to say that there is a level of withheld disbelief with this story. I had to swallow my doubt that something like this could happen and Eric could do what he did being who he is. There also was some time period setting issues, such as how the crew and others would react to two kids from a future time and the kids' reactions to characteristics of where they traveled back to versus what actually happened.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was an enjoyable story. There were areas lacking development, but I think most kids ages 10 through 14 would enjoy this one.
Content: Some violence, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
What I liked most about this story was the action and adventure, particularly the plotting involved. I've always enjoyed stories involving heists because of the plotting and intelligence of the characters. While this story isn't a heist, per se, it is a plot on how to beat some pirates multiple times that feels quite similar to planning and carrying out a heist. There are the quieter, planning phases, and then the more intense action phases while the plan is being carried out. During these parts it was particularly difficult to put the book down.
I also I liked the characters. They were both consistent, although I didn't always feel they acted their ages. Charlotte, especially, felt like she should have been a wise old lady instead of a teenager with the way she acted and talked through much of the story. Eric felt younger than his age in parts and older in others. The dialogue also felt off in places instead of feeling natural. The story almost felt like more middle grade until the action parts, which felt more young adult.
I do have to say that there is a level of withheld disbelief with this story. I had to swallow my doubt that something like this could happen and Eric could do what he did being who he is. There also was some time period setting issues, such as how the crew and others would react to two kids from a future time and the kids' reactions to characteristics of where they traveled back to versus what actually happened.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was an enjoyable story. There were areas lacking development, but I think most kids ages 10 through 14 would enjoy this one.
Content: Some violence, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
About the Author
Marty Reeder lives in Smithfield, Utah, with his wife and five children where he teaches Creative Writing and Spanish at the local high school. Though not a natural born pirate hunter, he taught sailing at Scout camps for many years and uses his history degree to fuel worlds of piracy and compensate for perhaps being born in the wrong time and place for his passions!
Giveaway
ebook of How to Become a Pirate Hunter
Open internationally
Provided by the publisher
Ends April 7th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What do you think? Will you be reading this one or do you know someone who would enjoy it?
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