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In the second installment of their series, Pete, Inna, Vicky, Aaron and Gary are finally getting their hands dirty with some real pirating work. Being lookout in the midst of a storm isn’t a whole lot of fun, but they consider it the most important job on the ship. Rotten Teeth might not…but the Captain repays him for his doubts by sticking him up in the crow’s nest til morning, which makes it all worth it.
Early the next morning, Pete wakes up and spies a surprising sight through his spyglass–a Ghost Ship! Rotten Tooth just sets to laughing at them again when they tell him about it, so they go to Clegg instead, because Clegg knows everything. He tells them Ghost Ships are very important and its their job to find out what it wants.
With special permission from the captain to sleep on deck, the kids set about to do just that, trying to save the day yet again. Even when it seems no one believes them, these kids stick to their guns and do what they know is right. Which is lucky for their crew mates, since as of yet, this little crew hasn’t been wrong!
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As the series starts off, pirate-hopefuls Pete, Inna, Vicky, Aaron and Gary all left their respective ships behind to come crew the Sea Rat, whose Captain—Stinky Beard—wanted to start a Pirate School. Rotten Tooth, the best pirate on the ship, was given the job of being their teacher. He didn’t much appreciate the job, so his students had yet to learn anything much more than how to clean and stay out of his way. But they were determined to find a way to make him see that they were ready to be real pirates.
After a number of backfired plans, the group strikes gold: the crew is set to take off on a Treasure Hunt on Snake Island. The kids seek out Clegg, the pirate who knows all, to ask him about the curse of the snake of Snake Island. They also copy themselves the treasure map. Then, with permission from the captain to camp on the beach for the night, they’re set to try and save the day. The plan? Get that treasure first! And prove they’re ready to be pirates.
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In this sequel to Airborn, we pick up about where we left off. Matt’s taken his money and used it to enroll in the Airship Academy, sending some home for his mother and sister’s. Kate has enrolled in the Sorbonne and taken up flying lessons. The adventure begins with Matt’s internship about the Flotsam.
Assistant to the Navigator, he’s learning things he never really took the time to notice board the Aurora. He was always more concerned with the flying than the routes. And while he appreciates his realization of the importance of the Navigator to a ship, he can’t wait to be done with the Flotsam, whose captain is questionable at best. When he flies them straight into a storm, Matt is sure he’s mad. When they get through, he begins to rethink his opinion…until they get caught in an updraft, and having jettisoned their ballast, are all but powerless to stop their ascent.
While floating at dangerous heights, they stumble upon an incredible discovery–an airship that has become myth, declared lost years ago. At 20,000 feet she floats, a ghost ship. The captain means to salvage her, but as the crew one by one all succumb to air sickness, Matt goes against orders, vents the ship’s hydrium, and saves their lives.
Despite the manner of the discovery, the news is still magical. While he feels a deep sadness when he hears of the loss of the navigator, Matt also realizes this makes him the only person to now know the coordinates of the mythical Hyperion. He can’t wait to tell Kate. Only Kate’s already found out. The story, it seems, has been leaked. This makes the idea less appealing.
When a meeting with a supposed member of the family of the deceased owner of the Hyperion turns bad, Matt starts to second-guess everything. Whether finding the ship was a good thing after all, whether Kate’s scheme to go after it is insanity or a worthwhile dream. An attempt on his life and the discovery of another man in Kate’s house make his mind up for him.
And still things don’t go his way. The very ship he and his newfound partner Nadira mean to hire is the same ship Kate has already hired, its owner the very man Matt spied in her house. And yet, the ragtag crew strikes a deal. Hal has the ship, Kate has the funds, Nadira the key, Matt the coordinates.
This adventure is even more fantastic than the last. An excellent read, highly recommended.
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Matt Cruse was born for Airship life–quite literally. When his father is killed in an accident, the idea of remaining at home is insufferable to him, and he takes a job aboard the very same ship his father used to frequent. The Aurora. To Matt, the ship is home.
In the air he feels most alive, most comfortable, most himself. At night he dreams of his father, by day he dreams of becoming a captain someday.
Through some rather interesting twists of events, Matt becomes a hero for rescuing a hot air balloon, but the situation leaves him glum, as he feels he disappointed the balloon’s occupant on his deathbed. A year later, he finds himself face to face with the man’s grandaughter, and the mystery starts anew.
Kate has brought along her grandfather’s journal, which she shares with Matt. Inside are detailed drawings of the creatures the man had been speaking of when he died. Matt can scarcely believe his eyes, but it does seem likely that the things actually exist. Though their route won’t take them very close to where the animals were spotted, Matt promises to tell Kate when they come close, so she can try to spot them and prove her grandfather right.
Instead, they ship suffers a run in with pirates; an episode which leaves them battered and broken, lucky to find land to tie-down the ship and make repairs. Aside from the cook, who is overjoyed at the culinary options offered by thei new paradise, not many seem too enchanted with their island. Except for Matt and Kate, who know where they must be.
Many adventures and much trouble ensue.
A fast-paced read, lots of fun. Like me, you’re likely to be off to the sequel when you’re through.
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