Seven Dead Pirates

by Linda Bailey

Overview

A shy boy comes to life and finds his voice when the ghosts of seven dead pirates appear in his bedroom. A humorous, inspiring, critically acclaimed adventure!

Lewis Dearborn is a lonely, anxious, "terminally shy" boy of eleven when his great-grandfather passes away and leaves Lewis's family with his decaying seaside mansion. Lewis is initially delighted with his new bedroom, a secluded tower in a remote part of the house. Then he discovers that it's already occupied — by the ghosts of seven dead pirates. Worse, the ghosts expect him to help them re-take their ship, now restored and on display in a local museum, so they can make their way to Libertalia, a legendary pirate utopia. The only problem is that this motley crew hasn't left the house in almost two hundred years and is terrified of going outside. As Lewis warily sets out to assist his new roommates — a raucous, unruly bunch who exhibit a strange delight in thrift-store fashions and a thirst for storybooks — he begins to open himself to the possibilities of friendship, passion and joie de vivre and finds the courage to speak up.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781770498167
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	08/01/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	427,666
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

LINDA BAILEY is the author of more than two dozen books for children, including the Stevie Diamond mystery series, the Good Times Travel Agency graphic novels, and an eclectic assortment of picture books including When Santa Was a Baby, If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur and the acclaimed Stanley's Party. She has won awards across North America such as the California Young Readers' Medal, the Georgia Storybook Award, the Ontario Blue Spruce and Silver Birch Awards, the Oregon SMART Award and the Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writers of Canada. Born in Winnipeg, Linda has now traveled around the world, and so have her books. She has two grown daughters, Lia and Tess, and lives in Vancouver within strolling distance of the sea. The author lives in Vancouver, BC.

Editorial Reviews

Bailey endows Lewis with several scene-stealing allies (notably a fierce kindergartener) and leaves him confidently steering a course toward calm waters. Piratical fun well-stocked with colorful cast members living and arrghh.” - Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

“This rollicking tale moves apace with a vivid setting, surprising depth, great humor, and memorable characters. Readers will root for Lewis as he finds his sea legs and the courage to make friends, both spectral and human. VERDICT Ahoy, ye maties: don’t miss this treasure of a middle grade yarn.” - Starred Review, School Library Journal

“It is Bailey’s extraordinary skill as a storyteller that keeps the entire fantastical premise, and its meaningful undercurrent, from ever straying into the unbelievable. Seven Dead Pirates is a story that flows almost like magic .... At times earnest, at times playful, and always infused with the power of imagination, Seven Dead Pirates is a rollicking and exciting story that will entertain and enlighten in equal amounts.” - CM Magazine

“The larger-than-life (afterlife?) pirates are the perfect foil to introverted Lewis. Bailey paints them with broad strokes, but her caricatures are filled with a whole lotta heart. It’s unlikely that every shy kid will have seven dead pirates at their disposal to teach them how to believe in themselves, but they can have Bailey’s book, which is a pretty nice alternative.” - National Post

“…I enjoyed this story right from the start…one of the best openings I have read in a long time…Lewis tackles his problems and wins my affection as a true hero moving on his journey... I give this story a five out of possible five.”
- Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

Lewis Dearborn has always been more than a little shy. With few friends and overprotective parents, Lewis does not imagine his life ever changing. The one bright spot is the close relationship he has with his great-grandfather, who lives in a dilapidated mansion near the sea. When his great-grandfather dies, Lewis and his family are left the house on the condition they live there for a specified amount of time. Lewis is thrilled and quickly chooses a tower bedroom that used to belong to his great-grandfather. He is happy until he discovers that he has roommates—seven dead rowdy pirates. The pirates died nearly died centuries ago but they dream of making it back to their ship, now restored at a local museum. Captain Crawley and his hearty crew want Lewis to help them navigate the terrifying car-filled route to the museum. Lewis wants to help but he is not sure how. On top of that, sixth grade is starting soon and he knows it’s going to be a disaster. Lewis and his merry band of pirates are delightful. The pirate antics and their fondness for bedtime stories make for hilarious and surprisingly touching moments. Readers will be cheering Lewis along as he finds the courage to help the pirates and believe in himself. A great read for any age. Reviewer: Natalie Gurr; Ages 8 to 12.

Children's Literature - Natalie Gurr

★ 09/01/2015
Gr 4–7—There is little joy in lonely Lewis Dearborn's young life. He's the only child to older, overprotective parents, shy to the point of becoming selectively mute at school, and friendless. One bright spot is his relationship with his eccentric great-grandfather, who lives in Shornway, a run-down mansion by the sea. When his great-grandfather dies, Lewis and his parents move into the ramshackle estate. He chooses the tower bedroom, with its ocean views, old toys, and creaky floorboards. He is thrilled with the room despite the fact that the middle window won't stay shut even if he latches it; there's a slightly fishy odor; and there are noises, which are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. In a hilariously cinematic scene, Lewis discovers that he has roommates—seven dead pirates who have been waiting for him. They want Lewis to help them navigate the terrifying roads filled with cars to the local museum so that they can retake their ship and sail to Libertalia, a pirate utopia. But first he needs to read aloud to them. This rollicking tale moves apace with a vivid setting, surprising depth, great humor, and memorable characters. Readers will root for Lewis as he finds his sea legs and the courage to make friends, both spectral and human. VERDICT Ahoy, ye maties: don't miss this treasure of a middle grade yarn.—Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ

School Library Journal

★ 2015-05-06
A new bedroom with seven high-spirited spirits! Just the place where shyness goes to die. Thanks to smothering parents and a bullying classmate, young Lewis is such a skittish wreck that he's unable to speak at all in school. An isolated tower room in Shornoway, a ramshackle seaside mansion that his family has inherited, seems like the perfect hideout—until, that is, he discovers that he's sharing space with a boisterous, argumentative crew of pirates two centuries dead. Terror turns to cautious acceptance as he discovers that his ghostly roommates are captivated by tales of Capt. Hook and Long John Silver. Lewis also learns that if only they can be reunited with their old ship, now housed in the town museum, they will happily sail off for a fabled pirate haven. But for all their bluster and cutlass-waving, these sea dogs are leery of venturing out into the modern world. Their tendency to become visible when upset becomes an issue when one follows him to school. This and other incidents forcibly chip away at Lewis' reserve, leaving him not only ready to lead the pirates publicly down to the museum, but to perform heroically when the ship turns out to have a rival spectral crew. Bailey endows Lewis with several scene-stealing allies (notably a fierce kindergartener) and leaves him confidently steering a course toward calm waters. Piratical fun well-stocked with colorful cast members living and arrghh. (Fantasy. 10-12)

Kirkus Reviews