Scarlet Morning
Viola and Wilmur, two teens who’ve been waiting for their parents to return to their baron, salt-filled island for fifteen years, decide to leave when adventure comes kicking down their door (literally). In exchange for a mysterious book, Captain Chase agrees to take the children on her pirate ship where adventures ensue.
The world-building in this story is extremely imaginative and because of this, readers genuinely won’t know what’s around the corner. From killer, mutant whales to islands so filled with salt it looks like snow; there’s something deeply wrong with the world Viola and Wilmur find themselves in. The sense of mystery this invokes will have readers turning the page, trying to figure out how it all works.
Though Viola and Wilmur are not sister and brother, their sense of family is challenged throughout the book. Were they only keeping each other company because they had nobody else growing up, or do they truly care for each other? Through their adventure, they discover what’s really important.
I think the key word to describe this book is adventure. Captain Chase, with her wild and interesting back story, takes these kids on a rip-roaring ride on her ship, with a colourful cast of characters as her crew. Stevenson melds the text with eye-catching illustrations which brings vivid focus to the story, emphasising its quirky vibe.
This book is filled with action, humour and characters that readers will fall in love with. Recommend for those who are looking for something delightfully different.
