Lilly and the Pirates

Starred review from August 15, 2010
Ten-year-old Lilly is perfectly content to be hauled around the world by her scientist parents in pursuit of boomerang beetles and lily pad leeches. So when they decide to leave her behind with her gray-as-dust great-uncle Ernest (a librarian!) while they head for the Shipwreck Islands to study the frangipangi fruit fly, she's crushed. One day chez Uncle Ernest, a flock of homing seagulls delivers an ominous note from her parents: "Have hit reef, sinkin." The next thing Lilly knows, she's on a sailboat on her way to rescue them, lost at sea with the frumpy-fierce pirate Mrs. Teagarden: "Aye, well, that's a problem, trusting pirates. Even if ye're a pirate yerself," she says. Lilly, a notorious worrywart, especially about the treacherous sea, finds her fears blasted away by the ocean spray when she bravely takes the tiller of Last Chance. This transformation from skittish bookworm to swashbuckling pirate girl is the real buried treasure in this enjoyably preposterous, emotionally resonant, library-revering adventure. Shepperson's cartoonish pencil illustrations are as wonderfully detailed, action-packed and good-humored as the story. (Adventure. 8-12)

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September 15, 2010
Grades 3-6 Ten-year-old Lilly has always joined her scientist parents on their expeditions, but their voyage to the Shipwreck Islands will be so dangerous that they send her to stay with Great-Uncle Ernest instead. In his seaside town, everyone seems to have a secret (and possibly pirate past). Even the librarys one book on the Shipwreck Islands has its own secret (and probably) a treasure map.When Lilly learns that her parents ship has sunk, she takes to the seas on a rescue mission. Lilly, who keeps lists to hold her fears at bay, battles her timid nature throughout the book and finds her courage when she needs it most. Whether puzzling out whos who and whats what or just enjoying Lillys exciting exploits, many children will relate to this rather cozy adventure story and its lovably flawed heroine. Like the story, Sheppersons many full-page illustrations are lively, engaging, and occasionally humorous.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)