I can see what kids will like about this one -- it's goofy and a little strange -- but it was a bit too over-the-top for me. I would have liked it better if it was either all fantasy (set in a different time and place) or if it was more rooted in the real world (kids just playing at being pirates) than the weird hybrid it is (a child pirate who lives on a New Jersey beach).

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher. ( )

Shivers is a pirate, but he’s terrified of being one. He lives on a ship that’s on land and avoids eating things that start with the letter C because he gets C-sick. Clouds, strawberries, and bubble baths terrify him. When he gets a letter from his pirate parents, however, he has to work through his fear to go rescue them. With the help of his friend Margo and his first mate Albee the fish, he sets off in search of his missing family and the Treasure Torch. Their adventures bring them to a giant squid, NYC, and the Statue of Liberty, and best of all to the knowledge that you can be scared and learn to overlook it anyway.

This book will make both children and adults giggle. The illustrations are plentiful and fun, and the adventure is silly enough to capture the interest of reluctant readers. It ties into some historical fact, but overall the characters are story are meant to be silly and fun. Sometimes it is a strange mixture of real life and fantasy, making it seem a little disconcerting like it wouldn’t be if it were based solidly in one world. The humor will entertain readers, and the message about facing your fears also adds a good lesson to the silliness. Young readers will love this story about a pirate who is too scared to be a pirate until it matters most. ( )

Humorous book about pirates for young readers -- even though the main character (who comes from a pirate family) is scared of everything and can't save his family ( )