Pirates of the Silver Coast. (Three Thieves; Bk. 5). Scott Chantler. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2014. 92 pp., pbk., hc. & eBook, $8.95 (pk.), $17.95 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-894786-54-6 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-894786-53-9 (hc.). Subject Heading: Graphic novels. Grades 4-7 / Ages 9-12. Review by Tara Stieglitz. **** /4

excerpt:

“I’ve got enough gold to get me around the six kingdoms and back - probably twice. You interested or not?”

“That depends on where you’re going.”

“To an island…It’s called Astaroth.”

Pirates of the Silver Coast is the fifth instalment in Scott Chantler’s excellent “Three Thieves” series of graphic novels. It continues the story of the previous books, following Dessa’s adventures with her friends, Topper and Fisk. The book also continues to follow their mysterious adversary, Captain Drake, in a parallel storyline. Dessa, recovered from her broken leg, contracts with pirates in order to continue her search for her lost brother, ending up in at a mysterious island and in a situation that leaves more questions asked than answered. Meanwhile, Captain Drake reluctantly meets with a psychic who shares indefinite news of his future, revealing more mysteries about his character and his motivations. In this book, readers also learn more about some of the other characters. Fisk, the Ettin, encounters another character of his species, and readers get an inkling of how he ended up exiled from his own people.

     Scott Chantler deftly converts Captain Drake from the straightforward villain of the early books into a more ambiguous and sympathetic figure, creating a character that readers will want to know more about. Dessa’s storyline continues the excitement and fast pace of the earlier books.

      As with the previous four novels in this series, Pirates of the Silver Coast is an exciting and quick read. The dialogue is snappy and engaging, and the illustrations are dynamic and vibrant, perfectly illustrating the kinetic pace and tone of the novel. This book will appeal to fans of adventure stories and will leave readers waiting eagerly for the next instalment. Recommended for public and school libraries.

Highly Recommended.

Tara Stieglitz is a librarian at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, AB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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