About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle schooler is grappling with questions of identity, social standing, or the feeling of being defined by their family circumstances rather than their own merit. It is an ideal choice for a child who feels like an outsider and needs to see characters navigate the messy transition from childhood stability to the unpredictable adult world. The story follows Nathan and Maud, siblings who lose everything and find themselves on a dangerous voyage to Madagascar with Tamo, the son of a pirate. Beyond the high-seas adventure, the book explores how we reinvent ourselves when our foundations crumble. While it features the grit of eighteenth-century life, it serves as a powerful metaphor for finding one's footing in a world that often judges based on labels and lineage. It is a sophisticated, atmospheric read for ages 10 to 14.
