Author: Avi
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: Historical Fiction, Children's fiction
Source: Own
My Review:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is the first book I have read by Avi. It is not a time period that I typically read from, but this was a book club pick.
The opening lines were strong and drew me in. However, once we got into the story, so much rubbed me the wrong way. Admittedly, I am not the intended audience of the story, so take my words with a grain of salt.
Instead of listing the things that rubbed me the wrong way, it is better to say I do not believe that a prim and proper thirteen-year-old would have been left at the docks by her chaperone, without first ensuring that another proper chaperone was present. Therefore, the story would not have been able to unfold the way it did. But, I am also not a historical expert on the 1830s 🤷.
On the other hand, I can see it being an engaging read for some youth to enjoy. Sensitive young readers would not enjoy this story.
★★★/5
Synopsis (Goodreads):
Avi's treasured Newbery Honor Book now with
exclusive bonus content! The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle joins
the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved
novels. Includes exclusive bonus content! A Newbery Honor Book* "A
thrilling tale, tautly plotted, vividly narrated." -- Kirkus Reviews ,
starred review Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is excited to return
home from her school in England to her family in Rhode Island in the
summer of 1832. But when the two families she was supposed to travel
with mysteriously cancel their trips, Charlotte finds herself the lone
passenger on a long sea voyage with a cruel captain and a mutinous crew.
Worse yet, soon after stepping aboard the ship, she becomes enmeshed in
a conflict between them! What begins as an eagerly anticipated ocean
crossing turns into a harrowing journey, where Charlotte gains a
villainous enemy... and is put on trial for murder!
I shelved a lot of Avi's books when I worked in an elementary school library, but I've never actually read one. And you'd definitely have to suspend some disbelief at the way Charlotte ends up on that ship all alone.
ReplyDeleteLark, yes. We read this for book club and several loved the "adventure" of it, and that Charlotte ends up choosing her own path. It just wasn't for me.
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