Grade 5-8–In 1772, onboard the Storm Goddess, a horrible injustice was committed. Men were killed, gold was stolen, and the crew was cursed. Now, 230 years later, 12-year-old Vicki has discovered a secret hidden inside the ship's figurehead, which hangs in her father's restaurant, and the quartermaster's journal has been found and read. Unexplainable things begin to happen–the sea leaves the bay and the fully restored ship appears on the mudflats. Vicki and her friend Peter must defy dangerous odds in order to sneak on board the Storm Goddess and try to somehow break its curse. Reiche (I, Freddy [Scholastic, 2003]) has entered new ground with this traditional ghost story. Some story elements are reminiscent of the film Pirates of the Caribbean, including the atmosphere. Vicki and Peter are fairly stereotypical characters, and several plot progressions depend on sixth-sense movements by the characters. The adults (and Peter), who know what Vicki is up to and the danger she's in, are concerned but stay out of her way. The neat conclusion ties up all the loose ends. Libraries with patrons who love pirate stories and ghosts should probably pick up this plot-driven title, as it will be read.–Melissa Moore, Union University Library, Jackson, TN

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Suspending disbelief and falling into a world in which dead pirates relive their doomed fate each night, the listener is treated to a charming tale of foul play on the high seas. Marguerite Gavin's narration is cleverly done as she presents Vicki, a waitress in her father's Olde Seashell Room, and her discovery of the mystery relating to two pieces of art, a Storm Goddess figurehead and a painting of a sea captain. Gavin does the characterizations of quirky small-town characters, such as the crooked mayor, nosy reporter, and snack-bar owner, just as well. Each is unique in attribute and voice. This is a fun adventure with delightful twists. D.L.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Gr. 5-8. A summer job waiting tables at her father's seaside restaurant, Ye Olde Seashell Room, gets more interesting for 12-year-old Vicki when a mystery brews surrounding an old sailing ship and missing gold. The figurehead of the Storm Goddess, a local ship from 230 years ago, hangs on the wall of the restaurant. When it is taken down for restoration, Vicki discovers a hidden secret, and she and a vacationing boy named Peter become involved in a suspenseful adventure. The water in the bay dries up, the long lost ship appears in the mudflats, and Vicki's ancestor, the ship's quartermaster, repeatedly wages a ghostly battle on deck until Vicki puts all the pieces of the mystery together. The pompous mayor, the tenacious journalist, and other secondary characters are stock, and the translation suffers from pedestrian dialogue and lots of cliches. Even so, teens intrigued with the idea of an old pirate ship, a budding romance, and the lure of gold doubloons will gladly come aboard. Cindy Dobrez

Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.