Joshua Mowll

As promising as the book cover looked, the plot didn't nearly convince me as much of the story. The characters felt archetypal, sometimes unrealistic and not very well-developed. The turning point was especially disappointing, as the author was unable to introduce the battle in any convincing way. The reason for the book to receive three stars by me was its layout, the fantastic cover and the way it was structured with all those additional information on the ship etc. Even though the book show more looked like a journal, the author soon gave up on the idea to write it as one, in the beginning switching from journal entries to narrative chapters before totally concentrating on the narrative parts.

The beginning was well-executed and would even have convinced me to read the second installment, but the ending egalized that opinion and left me very disappointed. The positive thing about it is that it looks absolutely stunning. show less

A book in the grand tradition of 'Boy's Own Adventures', filled with secret societies, kidnappings, submarines, and mysterious disappearances - and, of course two intrepid children, whose parents have gone missing in the wilds of China. Characters are somewhat stock: the technologically inclined boy, a feisty tomboyish sister (with amazingly short hair, from the pictures), Captain Nemo for an uncle, twin junior assassins, the evil pirate villain, the slimy betrayer. Good (and an unambitious show more one at that) of course triumphs, but the real villain gets away. That, complete with a coming typhoon sets up an obvious sequel. This admittedly doesn't bring much depth to the story: what does help, however, is the added ephemera, all supposedly from said society's archives. I have a liking for books with this kind of additions: [book: Lyra's Oxford] come to mind, even though this is much more direct and less mysterious. The author/illustrator did an excellent job here, although his technical skill is not quite believable for a child of 12 or so. I won't work hard to find the sequels but should I come across them, I won't hesitate to dive back in for an hour or so. show less

Touches of realia make this suspenseful story even more intriguing and include illustrations, side bars, and archival documents. Follow a brother and sister duo as they become embroiled in a confidential mission while aboard their uncle’s ship after their parents go missing on a South Seas expedition during the 1920s. Full of intrigue, this novel also highlights some of the unschooler tendencies of interest-led learning focused on an individual’s passions and interests. Readers eleven show more and up may “pore over the details in this novel; others will simply appreciate the comic adventure” according to School Library Journal. --SJ Cournoyer show less

Rebecca and Douglas MacKenzie’s parents have disappeared on a expedition in China, and so the brother and sister are sent to stay with their uncle on his ship The Expedient. It is the 1920s and while on board, the siblings discover that their uncle and parents are part of a secret society called the Honorable Guild. After disobeying their guardian, Becca and Doug are set off the ship in China, and then they end up in the middle of a battle between Chinese pirates and ancient martial-art show more warriors as they fight for a mysterious chemical weapon called “Daughter of the Sun”.p.36-40 up too “parents think” Becca and Doug meet their uncle and Duchess. show less