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Summary
Summary
A Sri Lankan fisherboy is swept up in a thrilling seafaring adventure, complete with kidnapping, missing treasure, and a huge blue whale! From the author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant .
Razi, a local fisherboy, is watching turtle eggs hatch when he sees a boat bobbing into view. With a chill, he notices a small, still hand hanging over the side.
Inside is Zheng, who's escaped a shipwreck and is full of tales of mutiny, sea monsters, and hidden riches. But the villains who are after Zheng are soon after Razi and his sister, Shifa, too. And so begins an exhilarating escapade in the shadow of the biggest sea monster of them all.
Author Nizrana Farook has crafted another briskly paced, action-packed quest that swells with empathetic heroes, peril on the open sea, and a great beast lurking beneath. Set against a vibrant landscape inspired by Sri Lanka, this delightful caper will thrill young fans of adventure and fantasy.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--5--When Razi slips down to the beach early one morning to watch the hatchling sea turtles scurry to the safety of the sea, he finds a boat drifting near shore. In the boat, he discovers a boy, unconscious, parched, and covered with salt. Just as Razi pulls Zheng to safety and places him in the shade of the coconut trees, he encounters two nefarious-looking men searching for the boy, whom Razi quickly misdirects. When the beguiling Zheng regains consciousness, he quickly charms Razi into the adventure of his life. The two 12-year-old boys, along with Razi's twin sister, Shifa, set off to recover buried treasure ahead of the pair of villainous crew members from Zheng's storm-sunk ship. The story unfolds like a luminous fairy tale, enhanced by the ebullient Zheng, whose stories the twins find almost too outlandish to believe. Farook invokes the beauty of her native Sri Lanka with sparkling descriptions of island and sea. The intrepid trio manage to outwit their enemies with some quick thinking and a few assists from sea creatures, including the titular whale. Along the way, the three find more than the jeweled Dagger of Serendib; they find themselves. Each youngster ends up a wiser, better person: orphan Zheng finds a family, Razi rediscovers his love of the sea, and Shifa learns to trust. Like the sea turtles Razi loves, each child experiences growth on the sea, but also a pull back to the island. VERDICT This lyrical story, reminiscent of Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories will be appreciated by all lovers of adventurous fairy tales.--Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor S. D., Lancaster, PA
Publisher's Weekly Review
In Farook's (The Girl Who Stole an Elephant) second outing set on the beautiful, Sri Lanka-inspired island of Serendib, the lives of grieving fisher boy Razi and his sister Shifa are further upended by the arrival of Zheng, a loquacious seafaring child who claims to be on the run from two villainous thieves after escaping a shipwreck. The siblings are skeptical of Zheng's tales but soon find themselves on a maritime adventure featuring an ancient dagger, a sea vessel chase, and an encounter with the titular whale. Farook draws from Sri Lankan geography, ecology, and culture, punctuating the text with vivid descriptions of Indian Ocean port city Galle, marine life, Razi's fishing village, and delicious Sri Lankan foods. Razi's wonder at the natural beauty and fauna of the island never fails "to amaze him and lift his spirits," brightening this treasure hunt tale, which offers a fantastical, fresh take on familiar tropes. Ages 8--12. Agent: Joanna Moult, Skylark Literary. (Feb.)
Booklist Review
After his father's death at sea, former fisher boy Razi wants nothing more to do with the ocean. He prefers peaceful mornings on land, observing sea turtles on a deserted Sri Lankan beach. When a seemingly empty vessel drifts into view, Razi is shocked to spot an unconscious passenger. He rescues a bedraggled Zheng, fresh off a shipwreck and clinging to life. As Razi and his twin sister help Zheng regain his strength, they are taken with his outlandish seafaring stories, but it becomes apparent that there are dangerous people in search of Zheng and his mysterious treasure map. With a priceless cultural artifact at stake, the skeptical trio must learn to trust one another, and Razi must find the courage to trust the sea. It's a thrilling, old-fashioned treasure hunt, and the Sri Lankan setting makes familiar arcs feel fresh. Short, action-packed chapters keep things moving at a fast clip, while lush descriptions and flashes of beauty (including an astonishing encounter with the titular whale) will keep readers absorbed. A proper adventure story with a tender heart.