Pearson, Ridley and Dave Barry. Escape from the Carnivale: A Never Land Adventure.
Illustrated by Greg Call. Hyperion, 2006. ISBN 0786837896. $9.99. 144 p.
Reviewer: Janice Card
Reading Level: Intermediate
Rating: Excellent
Genre: Adventure stories; Fantasy fiction
Subject: Pirates--Juvenile fiction; Orphans--Juvenile fiction; Mermaids--Juvenile fiction; Books--Reviews;
Anyone who liked Peter and the Starcatchers will enjoy this little book that tells of adventures had by others who inhabit Mollusk Island. This is probably the start of a series of Never Land adventure stories for age eight and up created by the Pearson and Barry duo.
Little Scallop, the chief's daughter, and her mermaid friends disobey the rules and go out beyond the reefs. They meet with a storm and something far more sinister: Crookshanks! He captures the mermaid, Surf, and plunks her in a tank on board his vile ship. He intends to sell her as a freak and make lots of money. Surf's twin, Aqua, Little Scallop, and Lost Boy, James work with the dolphins and come up with a plan to rescue Surf. Involving and fun!
