The Accidental Stowaway is just the sort of thing action-seeking readers will tear through: a high-octane romp set aboard a Titanic-like ship, the RMS Glorious, in 1910. Judith Eagle (The Secret Starling, The Pear Affair) continues to write about fearless, independent young heroines whose thirst for adrenaline leads them to mystery and danger.
From the start, 12-year-old Esme Leonard, called Patch, is a cantankerous soul, described as “the kind of parcel that no one wants to receive and everyone is always passing on.” Her father died and her mother ran away, leaving Patch to be passed from relative to relative, until none were left who were willing to take her in. Now she’s been sent to a girls’ school in Liverpool, England, to begin a new life.
But when Patch arrives in Liverpool and sets out on roller skates to explore her new environs, she finds herself catapulted aboard the Glorious as it departs for New York City. “Never in her wildest dreams had she thought the day would end on one of the floating palaces,” Eagle writes. The novel is chock-full of surprises, and Jo Rioux’s illustrations bring these incredible happenings to life, while a large diagram of the luxurious liner will help readers follow Patch’s escapades. The ship provides the perfect playground for someone like Patch and the mates she meets.
These mates include a young heiress traveling solo, Lilian de Haviland, and Turo, an American errand boy for the ship’s stewards. The three end up becoming “a trio of sleuths.” They encounter a large cast of characters, who are described in broad, sometimes caricature-like strokes. That’s largely okay, however, because this is a book fueled by intrigue, excitement and suspense, and there’s never a dull moment, with several dastardly villains up to no good. Everyone seems to have secrets. As one passenger notes, “This ship is awash in characters claiming they aren’t who they are. Most entertaining!”
The Accidental Stowaway brings torrents of unexpected, dangerous delights for thrill-seeking young readers.
