Castaways of the Flying Dutchman (original: 2001; edição: 2001)

I love this series. I read the second book when I was a child, and never knew it was part of a series until recently. With pirates and sailors, angels, legends, and a divine mission, this book is filled with adventure, friends, and mystery. ( )

While the target audience is definitely pre-teen/tween, it was a fun story. Took a different direction than I expected — rather than really being about the Flying Dutchman, the Flying Dutchman was the setup for the characters and their unusual lives. The sections seemed like slightly-jagged puzzle pieces, which didn't fit together exactly right — but it was close enough. Fun and short. ( )

Castaways Of The Flying Dutchman, by Brian Jacques
★★★ and 1/2

Synopsis: A boy and dog trapped aboard the legendary ship, the Flying Dutchman, are sent off on an eternal journey by an avenging angel, roaming the earth throughout the centuries in search of those in need. Their travels lead them to Chapelvale, a sleepy nineteenth century village whose very existence is at stake. Only by discovering the buried secrets and solving the dust-laden riddles of the ancient village can it be saved. This will take the will and wile of all the people-and a very special boy and dog!
In A Sentence: A fun read that's great for kids to enjoy.
What I Liked: This was a reread for me. The first time was way back when I was twelve and I loved it. Now as an adult I was still able to enjoy it, but not as much. I thought the main characters were really likeable, and I thought the plot was very fun with a feel-good ending.
What Was...Meh: I thought the treasure hunt was a little unbelievable as an adult. Why hide the deeds and titles for your land for four hundred years and make the clues and hunt so complicated, that your descendents can't find them? It just seemed a little unnecessary. Plus the translation of a clue from Latin to English rhymed, which bugged me a bit
In A Nutshell: This is a decent read. It's a warm, feel-good story that's great for kids ages 10-14. But it doesn't work so well for adults. I enjoyed it, and it made me feel nostalgic, but that was it. ( )

What ages would I recommend it too? – Twelve and up.

Length? – A few day’s read.

Characters? – Memorable, several characters.

Setting? – Historically, throughout the world.

Written approximately? – 2001.

Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more. I'd enjoy all the stories alluded to between the second and third story in the novel.

Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? No.

Short storyline: The first short story is a vivid dramatic tale that shares the fate of the Flying Dutchman ship. The second short story shares Ned and Den's first simple "case". They both learn what it's like to have someone care them, and learn the ways they can care for others. By the time the novella begins, an additional several hundred years have passed, and Ned and Den have changed their names for an unknown reason. Perhaps breaking with the fear of those early days. They have now learned how to help others learn to stand strong against bullies and stand on their own two feet.

Notes for the reader: This book is a setup of two short stories followed by a novella. In many ways, this novel reaches out and tells it like it is about bullies. I don't remember the exact page, or exact line. As the author says, 'ignoring the bully only goaded him on.' Standing tall, and believing in ourselves to keep our own towns and villages from being overrun is the overreaching theme of the novella. The short stories are more for fun and entertainment. ( )

Copied from copy-2. Substance: A young boy and a dog escape from the cursed 17th-century ship "The Flying Dutchman" because of their innocence of evil, but are doomed to wander the earth in eternal youth. After detailing the horrors of life on the ship and their dramatic escape, the second half of the book gives the story of their involvement in the riddles of a 19th century village.
Style: Dramatic and engaging, but the situations are definitely tailored for the junior reader. ( )