Searches

Readers who devoured The Wreckers (1998), Lawrence's first ripping yarn of adventure, mystery, and derring-do on the Cornish coast 200 years ago, will be eager to dig into this seafaring sequel. Now 16 years old, narrator John Spencer takes responsibility for bringing his father's ship, the Dragon from Kent to London with a cargo of wool. Dependent on the unscrupulous and perhaps mad captain appointed by his father, John is alarmed by hints of smuggling, warnings of evil, portents of death, all of which erupt in violence and murder as the journey nears its end. Along the way, John tries to sort out what to believe, whom to trust, and how to prove himself worthy of his father's belief in him. John makes a stalwart, sympathetic Everyman, surrounded by a cast of memorable and wildly colorful characters: the one-armed boatman who has a rude remark for every occasion; the blind woman who has waited 30 years for her seafaring husband's return; the sailor who fears drowning so much that he wears a jerkin sewn with layers and layers of corks; and the sailor's alter ego, a red-cloaked highwayman who has so many firearms in his belt, hands, and bandolier that he's said to bristle with pistols. A well-written period adventure, with the door left open for more to come. (Reviewed April 1, 1999) Gr 5-9Another adventure from the author of The Wreckers (Delacorte, 1998), featuring the same sturdy hero, John Spencer. As the 19th century begins in England, the 16-year-old is an able assistant in his fathers business. He still loves the sea, and is thrilled to be selected as the firms representative on a voyage bringing goods to London aboard the Dragon. This seemingly mundane venture turns sinister almost immediately. A stranger warns the Spencers about the beautiful schooners past as a smugglers vessel and her reputation as a death ship. Suddenly violence and close calls beset merchant and son, and John finds himself at sea, isolated from communication with his father, and accompanied by a less-than-trustworthy captain and crew. Soon they sail into dangerous waters, literally and figuratively, and John needs all of his strength and wits to overcome deadly threats from powerful enemies, find answers to old mysteries, and bring the Dragon home safely. As in its companion novel, the books nonstop action, fast-paced plot, and picturesque characters make for a real page-turner.Starr E. Smith, Marymount University Library, Arlington, VA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.