As the ship Polaris sails on a scientific voyage to Brazil in 1831, young crew members no older than 12 are left to fend for themselves after half the crew mutinies, then abandons the ship. In this suspenseful blend of historical and science fiction, only a cabin boy, a botanist's assistant, and four deckhands are left. Half the crew was lost in the Amazonian jungle, one returned to the ship deathly ill, and another returned, only to disappear again. The young crew suspects something bad lurks below deck, but what they discover is truly horrific: a giant part-human insect covered in red scales that smells like fungus. Can they destroy it before it kills them? While withstanding treacherous storms, secrets, and injuries, they battle over whether to sail straight for the nearest land (full of pirates and slavers) or back to the U.S. This fast-moving adventure-survival novel with a science-fiction focus (an author's note says the creature is based on a real species) will appeal to reluctant readers who like thrills and chills.

A scientific exploration to the Amazon leads to mutiny aboard the nineteenth-century ship Polaris. Although the children on board survive, they are faced with the typical dangers of a sea journey home, as well as some sort of monster lurking below decks. There's just enough science to give the sci-fi creature some credibility, and the characters' motivations ring true.

An 1830s American scientific voyage to the Amazon goes terribly wrong.Only half of the men who went ashore for provisions before the book's outset return to the ship, the Polaris, anchored off the coast of Brazil. Afterward some remaining sailors seek to eliminate a sick crew member, and the resulting argument leads to violent mutiny. The successful mutineers, strangely, abandon ship while also attempting to blow it up—leaving behind a handful of the youngest, lowest-ranked, mostly white kids, who save it, overcoming class and racial distinctions to work together. Cabin boy Owen, captain's nephew, takes charge. Botanist's assistant Henry's highly intelligent but knows nothing about sailing. Thacher's rumored to be from a fine Boston family whose reversal of fortune has led to his being sold into servitude; powder monkey Aaron's said to be half Pequot (the other half unspoken but presumably white). Manny and Mario, the olive-skinned "Spanish brothers," are good sailors with a secret. The kids must keep the ship from sinking before they can reach land and safety. There's also something lurking belowdecks—strange noises and a disturbing, sweet smell lead them to speculate about a haunting. What's actually there is much worse than a ghost. The salty sailing details and the drama of keeping afloat in the face of damaging storms and winds is just as heart-pounding as the struggle for survival against the threat already onboard. An exciting blend of nautical adventure and monstrous horror. (Historical horror. 9-15)

In a chilling tale of horror on the high seas, set in the 1830s, a scientific mission to the Amazon jungle turns into a desperate struggle for survival after the crew brings something unexpected and terrifying on board. Following a brutal mutiny, every adult on the Polaris is either dead or has fled, leaving behind half a dozen children, including the captain-s 12-year-old nephew Owen, botanist-s assistant Henry, and assorted other ship-s boys, two of whom are girls in disguise. As tempers rise, food grows short, and the sea turns fierce, the young remnants of the Polaris crew must somehow sail the decrepit ship to safe harbor, but an abomination lurks below decks, growing in strength and ferocity. Northrop (the TombQuest series) incorporates a wealth of nautical and historical detail while making skilled use of atmosphere, tension, and a well-developed cast to drive home the darkness of this adventure. A brisk read, but one that is sure to linger after the lights have been turned out. Ages 9-12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Oct.)

Gr 5-8It's 1830, just off the coast of an Amazon rain forest, and a portion of the crew of the ship Polaris is on a scientific expedition on shore. When they return to the ship, mayhem ensues as the captain tries to load the botanist's discoveries on board. The six youngest members of the crew, merely children, are locked in the captain's quarters during the mutiny. The escaping crew members try to blow up the Polaris, but the six youngsters attempt to save the ship and themselves. Little do they know that in the lower decks lurks a monster that will grow, reproduce, and try to overcome them. This historical fiction/science fiction mash-up is filled with adventure, mystery, and horror. Readers will be engrossed in the story as they wait to find out if this skeletal crew without experience or muscle can make it back to civilization without being consumed by the monster below. There are wonderful descriptions of life aboard a 19th-century sailing vessel, and each of the six children are given well-drawn personalities. VERDICT Middle grade readers looking for an adventure on the high seas without leaving the comfort of their homes will love this swashbuckling, spine-tingling tale.Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, LA