Rating: 6.5 of 10 stars
This is a hard book to characterize for a couple of reasons. But, well, let me try.
The story has all the characteristics of a straight-forward adventure, set in the times of piracy and swordplay, about a girl (Alex) who attends a less-than inspiring private school, the Wigpowder-Steele Academy. The WSA is also the likely site of clues which will lead to a long-buried treasure. All the right ingredients.
Yet the author occasionally abandons her established context rather jarringly: the times of piracy also include cameras, refrigerators and radios; there is a section of pure fantasy on a train which begins and ends rather abruptly; and there is an Extremely Ginormous Octopus who fares very well as an ambulatory landlubber.
Kress ably gives the reader humor of all sorts: sometimes in wonderfully evil old ladies, sometimes in the names of characters and towns (Captain Magnanimous is a pirate, and Port Cullis is a town), and sometimes in how she indicates dialogue (see page 18 for an example).
I'm not sure quite what prevents me from loving this exuberantly written story. In a way it reminds me of the way some children make friends. They offer every aspect of themselves fully and without stint, almost without regard for the audience they are hoping to woo. I don't know. I'll bet the author will turn out to be a fine wine after a bit.
Usual borrowers: Fifth grade and up
Genres: Adventure, fantasy, humor
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