Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Race-against-time sequel has magic, surprises, trouble.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Twelve-year-old Everly "Benny" Benedict finds that her ancestor Evelyn Terry didn't exactly tell her the whole story in Book 1, and she has to take on a new role: THE CURSE BREAKER. True, she's already found the magical Isle of Ever, which appears every 200 years, but it's complicated—Evelyn's friends (and frenemies) from 1825, long believed to be dead, are alive and well on the island, with no idea how much time has passed. The magical coins she used to get them there were stolen from a treasure said to give immortality, and three pirates and royals from 1625 all want it. Also wanting it: the Rudds, a local rich family who've had a grudge against Evelyn's family for centuries and pretty much own everything in town already. Things look pretty hopeless for Benny, who has to get the treasure back where it belongs and retrieve the missing coins in order to put things to rights and claim her inheritance. But fortunately, she has help—from the townspeople, from her friends, and from Evelyn's notes and riddles. Meanwhile, Evelyn's crush, 14-year-old Gil, is devastated to learn that Evelyn is long dead in the time he's been on the island. But now that he's in 2025, he's doing his best to help her descendant.
Is It Any Good?
Pirates, time travel, a lost treasure, an inheritance, plot twists, puzzles, betrayals, and surprise reveals all make for a lot of suspense and a lot of confusion as the Isle of Ever reappears. As she strives to become The Curse Breaker who rights the magical wrongs of centuries past, Benny faces a lot of challenges, from solving her ancestor's riddles to helping kids from 1825 adjust to life in 2025 to dodging assorted pirates and villains. Clever heads and kind hearts often prevail in this installment, but there's heartbreak and loss along the way, not everyone is who or what they claim to be, and coping is an important skill.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like The Curse Breaker that involve life-changing challenges and rewards for the lead character—and a raft of other characters trying to seize the rewards for themselves. Why do you think this theme is so popular, and what are some other examples?
There's a lot of debate among the characters about whether immortality is a blessing or a curse. Many don't want to outlive their loved ones, while others want to live forever and get rich in the process. What do you think?
Do you have family stories or traditions involving your ancestors that are still important in your life today? What are they?
How do characters show empathy and integrity in this story? Does it help them reach their goals? How so?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Grandparents , Moms ) , Friendship , Pirates
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Sourcebooks for Young Readers
- Publication date : March 10, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 13
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : March 27, 2026
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