Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there isn't too much to worry about here beyond some kissing and underage drinking.
Families can talk about how authors research their stories. For this book, for example, the character knows how to scuba dive -- and recounts in great detail her dive through a shipwreck. The author obviously had to learn about diving in order to make that believable. Can you think of other books you've read that have showcased this kind of expertise? What are the different ways that authors can research information? How does this research make a story richer?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kate Pavao
There's a lot going on here, both in the background and foreground, from the strained relationship between Clio and her dad to his crew's mysterious mission off the coast of Italy. Readers will be there for Clio's first kiss -- and her dive through an old shipwreck.
The author even creates a colorful backstory for Clio involving exotic childhood trips around the globe (during one, she even got a tattoo from a famous manga artist). All of these details are well described and well woven together -- and readers will find themselves engaged throughout Clio's journey at sea.
Letters between one of the shipwreck's victims and his own headstrong daughter help readers figure out what Clio's dad's crew is after. But readers will be guessing until the end about which characters they can actually trust.
Readers will appreciate the author's ambitious premise here -- and that her characters manage to, for the most part, be likable and flawed. All in all, there's a little something for everyone: adventure, romance, family drama -- even pirates!
From The Book
The fact that a popular game was made by a handsome man and his eleven-year-old daughter (and that they were even depicted on the packaging) made for a good story. For almost a year, Clio and her father were the subject of newspaper stories, early-morning news programs, and endless online chatting. That was hen her father decided regular school wasn't good enough for Clio, not when they had a sudden swell of income and opportunity. They would learn about the art and culture of the world directly. So, at twelve, Clio said good-bye to her friends at school. From then on, it was tutors and travel, drawing lessons, trips.
Plot Summary:
When her mom goes to Kansas to restore old paintings, Clio is sent to live with her unreliable father in Italy. Once there, she embarks on a mysterious journey upon her father's new yacht -- and finds herself the chef to his secretive crew. What's their mission? Will Clio and her father continue to clash? And what exactly is going on between Clio and Aidan, the professor's young assistant? Maybe she'll end up getting her first kiss after all.
Related Books:
More Spunky Girls:
Angels on Sunset Boulevard by Melissa de la Cruz
Romeo's Ex by Lisa Fielder
Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay
How to be Popular by Meg Cabot
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Sexual ContentSome kissing. Elsa, Clio's roommate, invites Aidan to spend the night with her. |
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ViolenceClio has accidents: She recalls being hit by a boat when she was a kid, and is stung by jellyfish on her current trip. Later in the book, pirates kidnap her at gunpoint. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoThe teens on the boat drink alcohol. |
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