Magic Marks the Spot
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4.2 • 25 Ratings
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
Pirates! Magic! Treasure! A gargoyle?!
Caroline Carlson's funny tween novel The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1: Magic Marks the Spot is perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events and Trenton Lee Stewart's Mysterious Benedict Society.
Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. She can tread water for thirty-seven minutes. She can tie a knot faster than a fleet of sailors, and she already owns a rather pointy sword.
There's only one problem: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let any girl join their ranks of scourges and scallywags.
But Hilary is not the kind of girl to take no for answer. To escape a life of petticoats and politeness at her stuffy finishing school, Hilary sets out in search of her own seaworthy adventure, where she gets swept up in a madcap quest involving a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesn't exist, a talking gargoyle, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous—and unexpected—villain on the High Seas.
Written with uproarious wit and an inviting storyteller tone, the first book in Caroline Carlson's quirky seafaring series is a piratical tale like no other.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
There's merriment and intrigue on the high seas in this debut novel, which sets the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series off to a promising start. Carlson's characters are as memorable as they are entertaining, beginning with headstrong Hilary Westfield, the daughter of a pompous admiral. Hilary longs to be a pirate but is sent to finishing school, where embroidery, etiquette, and fainting are mainstays of the curriculum; accompanying her is a wisecracking gargoyle carved centuries before by an enchantress. Hilary runs away from school to join the crew of a "freelance" pirate, Jasper Fletcher, which also includes her former governess, an arrogant boy named Oliver, and the gargoyle, who serves as the ship's figurehead (when Hilary tells him he needn't serve that function, he replies, "And let some no-good mermaid get the job? I think not!"). A race to uncover long-lost magical treasure pits Hilary against her father, and several unforeseen plot zigzags (along with humorous letters, newspaper clippings, and guidebook excerpts) keep the novel on a delightfully screwy course. Ages 8 12.
Customer Reviews
absolutely love this book
i remembered reading this book when i was in middle school. i had been obsessed with this whole series. i’m 23 now and had been remembering books from my childhood. i’m so glad i decided to reread this one. it’s funny, cute, and has that class “pirate treasure island” feel i’ve always loved. the plot is engaging and fun, with twists i still didn’t see coming, even after 6 years. but something that resonated with me the most as a kid (and even now, as an adult) is just how relatable the characters are. hilary is just a girl who wants to break free from expectations placed on her by her difficult parents (still relatable), and the adults have complex motivations that seemed less important when i was 12, but really make me feel for them and relate now that i’m a bit older myself.
all in all, this is a fantastic book, and a fantastic series, and i can’t wait to reread it again and again!
BEST BOOK IVE EVER READ
I absolutely adore this book!! It is one of the most fascinating books i've ever read. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants a fun read. I think it is definitely one of the best books I've read.
Good book
This is a very good book and I would like to tell Caroline Carlson to keep writing very entertaining books.