THE ACCIDENTAL STOWAWAY

In 1910, a headstrong girl finds herself on an unplanned ocean voyage.

Esme “Patch” Leonard, a pale girl with wavy dark hair, has been shuttled from relative to relative all her life, “passed from pillar to post.” At her latest placement, with a family friend in Liverpool, she discovers a small package labeled “For E.” Does it contain a clue to the mother who disappeared when she was born? She takes the ruby ring she finds inside while exploring the port city on her roller skates. After crashing on cobblestones, Patch meets Arturo, an Italian American boy from New York who works on the ocean liner SS Glorious. Patch shares one skate with him, and when he zooms away on it, she follows him onto the ship, accidentally becoming a stowaway when it leaves the dock. The characters, many of whom offer up confusing and befuddling lies, are rarely what they seem. Readers will encounter numerous clues that will make sense as events unfold. Mystery piles upon mystery, and surprises come at a breathtaking pace. The third-person narration reveals Patch’s thoughts and follows her rash plans, which often place her in increasing danger. The story has twists and turns galore, as convoluted as the ship’s corridors and back stairs, along with dastardly villains and loving relationships. The highly detailed narration conveys the syntax, language, sights, and sounds of the era. Several charming and dramatic full-page illustrations perfectly capture the events and characters.

A fascinating, imaginative adventure.