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Plundering Paradise
Nathan loves pirates - his days are spent dreaming about them and wondering what it would be like to be one. Anything to brighten up his grey and dreary existence. So when Tamo White, the son of a real-life pirate, suggests that Nathan go home with him to Madagascar, it is too good a chance to miss. There's just one problem . . . Nathan's sister, Maud. He can't leave her behind but will she really be able to survive in a strange land full of pirates? You never know - perhaps she'll adapt better than Nathan, or even she herself, could ever have imagined . . .
Plundering Paradise will whisk you away to a distant land and fill your senses with amazing sights, sounds and beautiful colours. You will feel as though you've really visited Madagascar and have lived among the pirates and the islanders.
Plundering Paradise will whisk you away to a distant land and fill your senses with amazing sights, sounds and beautiful colours. You will feel as though you've really visited Madagascar and have lived among the pirates and the islanders.
231 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Geraldine McCaughrean
307 books329 followersGeraldine McCaughrean is a British children's novelist. She has written more than 170 books, including Peter Pan in Scarlet (2004), the official sequel to Peter Pan commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the holder of Peter Pan's copyright. Her work has been translated into 44 languages worldwide. She has received the Carnegie Medal twice and the Michael L. Printz Award among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 1, 2019
Good but unusual. Sort of like an 18th Century hunger games, with children being kidnapped by pirates etc. Enjoyable but did slightly drag in patches.
April 19, 2022
I managed to secure a free, signed copy of this, so I’d likely keep it even if I didn’t love it.
Misleading title, but I enjoyed especially the Madagascar scenery and animals.
I would have my children skip chapter 11, for crude name calling at the mother.
McCaughrean weaves a tale that is historically accurate to the time (contrasted with Nathan’s far-removed-from-real-life-piracy books), which means much of it may be hard to stomach for some people.
She also brings to our attention to the glamorized piracy versus right and wrong in the pseudo-Christian worldview of the native British children.
The title was misleading because the pirate’s son played no leading role, but the three children collectively. I really would’ve like more character development on the kids. That would’ve sealed it for me. By the time the book is over you’re only piecing them together. You start to fall in love with each one and then…it’s over. I liked Maud best.
It was really nice for a young person’s novel to not be full of lustful comments and romance.
Touchy subjects to discuss with kids: forced marriage, kidnapping of women, fortune telling, superstition, cultural rituals, murder, blasphemy single mention of Jesus being her son’s father)
Misleading title, but I enjoyed especially the Madagascar scenery and animals.
I would have my children skip chapter 11, for crude name calling at the mother.
McCaughrean weaves a tale that is historically accurate to the time (contrasted with Nathan’s far-removed-from-real-life-piracy books), which means much of it may be hard to stomach for some people.
She also brings to our attention to the glamorized piracy versus right and wrong in the pseudo-Christian worldview of the native British children.
The title was misleading because the pirate’s son played no leading role, but the three children collectively. I really would’ve like more character development on the kids. That would’ve sealed it for me. By the time the book is over you’re only piecing them together. You start to fall in love with each one and then…it’s over. I liked Maud best.
It was really nice for a young person’s novel to not be full of lustful comments and romance.
Touchy subjects to discuss with kids: forced marriage, kidnapping of women, fortune telling, superstition, cultural rituals, murder, blasphemy single mention of Jesus being her son’s father)
April 5, 2025
I've been having rather a hard time evaluating my thoughts about this book. I enjoyed it, yet there were several troubling elements that spoiled my complete enjoyment. I found it quite well written. I easily immersed myself in the story; first in the cold, harsh atmosphere of Graylake College, grieving with Nathan Gull. Next, free as air aboard the TENDERNESS heading to Madagascar. Then exploring the gloriously lush world of Madagascar, feeling Maud and Nathan's confused wonder.
Tamo White was a very intriguing character. I liked him, but I wish that he could have realized that he could just be himself, that he didn't have to be like his father or mother, no matter what they were. I like to imagine that Maud helped him to eventually realize that.:)
Nathan, the main character was really the least likable of the three central characters. However, he couldn't help being who he was and it seemed like he had grown up a bit by the end.
Maud was the most fun to watch develop. It was wonderful to see her change from a meek and timid little mouse into a "happy, strong, and able" young woman. One of my favorite parts is at the end when Nathan is thinking about botanists transplanting flowers, and how he had successfully transplanted Maud to thrive on Madagascar.
The pirate element in the story was not actually what bothered me. Some of it was certainly horrid and disgusting, but it was very interesting! What really bothered me was the way the author portrayed Christianity and the natives' beliefs. Tamo and Nathan were both so confused! I felt sorry for them. This was mainly what kept me from giving this book a higher rating. I would say it deserves about 2.5-2.75 stars.
I will keep this book, but I will probably not read it again for a long time.
Tamo White was a very intriguing character. I liked him, but I wish that he could have realized that he could just be himself, that he didn't have to be like his father or mother, no matter what they were. I like to imagine that Maud helped him to eventually realize that.:)
Nathan, the main character was really the least likable of the three central characters. However, he couldn't help being who he was and it seemed like he had grown up a bit by the end.
Maud was the most fun to watch develop. It was wonderful to see her change from a meek and timid little mouse into a "happy, strong, and able" young woman. One of my favorite parts is at the end when Nathan is thinking about botanists transplanting flowers, and how he had successfully transplanted Maud to thrive on Madagascar.
The pirate element in the story was not actually what bothered me. Some of it was certainly horrid and disgusting, but it was very interesting! What really bothered me was the way the author portrayed Christianity and the natives' beliefs. Tamo and Nathan were both so confused! I felt sorry for them. This was mainly what kept me from giving this book a higher rating. I would say it deserves about 2.5-2.75 stars.
I will keep this book, but I will probably not read it again for a long time.
June 25, 2020
This is a fun adventure and fairly historically accurate tale of what life would have been like during the Golden Age of Piracy.
Nathan, for the most part, is an enjoyable main character, though I kind of wish the story had been told more from his sister Maud's POV, as she was the most interesting character to me by the end. However, this is just as much his story as it is hers, so it works for him to be the main character. Tamo was an interesting character as well, and is the true catalyst for all of their adventures.
I had expected to spend more time on ships, but I found I didn't mind spending so much time on the land of Madagascar, as I loved the way the natives were written and how respectful Maud and the author were of their customs.
My one complaint is how the character of Delilah was portrayed. She would have been find if it wasn't for the fact pretty much every time she's in a scene, the author has to mention how big she is or how big her thighs are or whatever. I get it, her butt and legs are big. I don't need it constantly mentioned.
Other than that, it was an enjoyable tale, and while the ending was just a little bittersweet, I couldn't see it ending any other way. I loved seeing more of the native/pirate hideout side of things, which until now wasn't something I knew I knew nothing about. :P
Overall, if you enjoy pirate tales, this is a fun book. It does take a bit to get to the real pirate action, but the time with the natives becomes fascinating in its own right.
I will say I wish the book had a different title, as I don't think the title really reflects the story, but that just might be me.
Nathan, for the most part, is an enjoyable main character, though I kind of wish the story had been told more from his sister Maud's POV, as she was the most interesting character to me by the end. However, this is just as much his story as it is hers, so it works for him to be the main character. Tamo was an interesting character as well, and is the true catalyst for all of their adventures.
I had expected to spend more time on ships, but I found I didn't mind spending so much time on the land of Madagascar, as I loved the way the natives were written and how respectful Maud and the author were of their customs.
My one complaint is how the character of Delilah was portrayed. She would have been find if it wasn't for the fact pretty much every time she's in a scene, the author has to mention how big she is or how big her thighs are or whatever. I get it, her butt and legs are big. I don't need it constantly mentioned.
Other than that, it was an enjoyable tale, and while the ending was just a little bittersweet, I couldn't see it ending any other way. I loved seeing more of the native/pirate hideout side of things, which until now wasn't something I knew I knew nothing about. :P
Overall, if you enjoy pirate tales, this is a fun book. It does take a bit to get to the real pirate action, but the time with the natives becomes fascinating in its own right.
I will say I wish the book had a different title, as I don't think the title really reflects the story, but that just might be me.
August 18, 2025
¿Es un libro de ficción o de no ficción? ficción
¿De qué trata el libro?El libro era sobre un chico que se llamaba Nathan. nathan estudiaba en un colegio que se llamaba graylake pero cuando su papá murió lo sacaron del colegio, decidido nathan se fue con tamo white el hijo del pirata. junto con su hermana magda y su amigo tamo fueron a madagascar y se quedaron viviendo allí. obvio que tuvieron que haber llegado en barco y se fueron en el barco del tutor de tamo que resultó ser un traficante de esclavos y por poco vendía a magda, la hermana de nathan pero logró escapar luego se quedaron viviendo en zaotralana una aldea cercana hasta que la invadió un pirata llamado sansón tamo y nathan tuvo que ser piratas junto a sansón hasta que nathan tuvo una enfermedad llamada tazo. magda y tamo fueron a buscar algún comerciante que vendiera quinina,una planta medicinal, después se encontraron con sheller,el tutor de tamo, y le comerciaron la quinina por un barco de hierro de thomas white aunque en e l camina hacia el barco nathan mejoró y sheller se fue con el barco de hierro, después de eso sansón murió envenenado. nathan y charles hardcastle regresaron a inglaterra.
¿Cuál fue tu opinión del libro? ¿Qué te gustó y qué no? me gusto que era de piratas. no me gusto que hablaran mucho de alcohol y racismo
¿El libro te cambio o te ayudo a crecer de alguna forma? ¿Cómo? (Si no fue así, explica por qué) no
¿A qué tipo de personas le recomiendas el libro y por qué? a personas que le gustan los piratas
¿De qué trata el libro?El libro era sobre un chico que se llamaba Nathan. nathan estudiaba en un colegio que se llamaba graylake pero cuando su papá murió lo sacaron del colegio, decidido nathan se fue con tamo white el hijo del pirata. junto con su hermana magda y su amigo tamo fueron a madagascar y se quedaron viviendo allí. obvio que tuvieron que haber llegado en barco y se fueron en el barco del tutor de tamo que resultó ser un traficante de esclavos y por poco vendía a magda, la hermana de nathan pero logró escapar luego se quedaron viviendo en zaotralana una aldea cercana hasta que la invadió un pirata llamado sansón tamo y nathan tuvo que ser piratas junto a sansón hasta que nathan tuvo una enfermedad llamada tazo. magda y tamo fueron a buscar algún comerciante que vendiera quinina,una planta medicinal, después se encontraron con sheller,el tutor de tamo, y le comerciaron la quinina por un barco de hierro de thomas white aunque en e l camina hacia el barco nathan mejoró y sheller se fue con el barco de hierro, después de eso sansón murió envenenado. nathan y charles hardcastle regresaron a inglaterra.
¿Cuál fue tu opinión del libro? ¿Qué te gustó y qué no? me gusto que era de piratas. no me gusto que hablaran mucho de alcohol y racismo
¿El libro te cambio o te ayudo a crecer de alguna forma? ¿Cómo? (Si no fue así, explica por qué) no
¿A qué tipo de personas le recomiendas el libro y por qué? a personas que le gustan los piratas
September 13, 2017
Nathan had almost always dreamed of pirates back at Graylake School. When he and his sister, Maud, become orphaned after their father suddenly dies, they leave England with the famous pirate’s son, Tamo White after he offers them a place to stay. They sail away to far away Madagascar where they settle in with a subtle and quite peaceful village. But soon, Tamo’s treacherous past is revealed and the three then lived with merciless buccaneers and pirates. Now they must drive the pirates out….. but how? As the story moves on, the two boys and girl encounter Tamo’s dangerous past, a different language to speak, pirates that want to take over, and also deathly illnesses and murder. Will Nathan, Maud, and Tamo be able to take out these ruthless pirates by themselves? This book is a great read for people who enjoy adventure out in the wild. The Pirate’s Son by Geraldine McCaughrean is a good book for adventurists and moves you through the interesting and different living style on the island of Madagascar through the eyes of Nathan and Maud Gull. This was a pretty challenging read for 294 pages. It is a really phenomenal story and should be really worth your time reading.
May 27, 2025
This coming-of-age story focuses mainly on Nathan Gull, but also includes his sister, Maude, and his friend, Tamo. I take away one star because it was incredibly slow in the beginning. It wasn't until about the middle of the book that the story really jumped into gear and has you guessing what will happen next. I love his sisters character most though. She goes from little mouse to bold lion before he can blink. And the hint of future romance was a sweet touch. The ending was just as I would have hoped it would be.
June 7, 2024
Because I am not a fan of violence and detest profanity, I could only give this story three stars - the historical value, Island folklore and rituals, the character, Maud, and the ingenuity the naive characters showed at such a young age deserves 5 stars. Not sure that what they did would be possible, but it made the story an interesting read. I wouldn't recommend it for young teens, but then again, today's kids have seen it all.
April 13, 2024
This was a children’s book, so I rated it a bit higher than I would’ve otherwise. It had a lot of complex action, which is the type of book I would love as a kid. I was worried about some of the characters represented (specifically Maud) in the beginning, but loved her arc and how the story played out for her.
February 10, 2020
Suitable for young adults as the editor says, although I would widen the age-range: "children" older than 11 will enjoy it greatly (adults also!)
May 28, 2024
It's good, sticked with me a lot after i read it, kinda liked the idea of "modern" era travel adventure
April 9, 2013
McCaughream me sorprende por su facilidad con la cual puede hablar de piratas, domina todos los modismos, y las acciones dignas de un corsario, por este libro y otros más seguramente pudo obtener el premio para realizar la segunda parte oficial de Peter Pan, más por supuesto los diversos premios que ha obtenido por sus otros diversos libros. La historia de estos 3 personajes que por razones del destino terminan en un viaje por la mar, envuelve entre aventuras y desafíos inimaginables una bien cuidada metáfora acerca del proceso de la adquisición de madurez, la toma de decisiones, la religión y creencias, la solidaridad, la tolerancia, el encuentro con uno mismo y la búsqueda de nuestro sitio. Me ha sorprendido el final, ya que el personaje menos esperado se ha convertido en el más fuerte ya que es quien toma la decisión más difícil, y lo hace con una convicción nada esperada.
... Ahora tengo que robarme aquella edición de Una sarta de mentiras que sé que tiene un pariente, y buscar por otros sitios algo más de la escritora, que al parecer ha sido bastante premiada, y me gustaría husmear esos trabajos en especial.
... Ahora tengo que robarme aquella edición de Una sarta de mentiras que sé que tiene un pariente, y buscar por otros sitios algo más de la escritora, que al parecer ha sido bastante premiada, y me gustaría husmear esos trabajos en especial.
August 22, 2010
Read in 2005, review from then;
This book wasn't that good either. It was called, "The Pirate's Son" and that character was fairy cool, but the book focused more on the friend of the boy, Nathan. (starting and ending the book with the most boring and annoying character isn't cool.) Nathan was a stupid boy obsessed with being christian, who hated pirates, but was fascinated by stories of them.
Nathan had a sister that was better than him, but still not all that great. And she lied to the Pirate's son (because he believed in superstition and a fortune teller elder told him he would end up just like his father-none of the good little christian people wanted him to be a pirate like his father) by having the pirate's mother lie and tell him his dad was actually a doctor.
The whole point of reading this book was that pirates can rock. Instead she spent the book trying to let it be known that pirates should repent or something.
The best thing about this book: it was short.
This book wasn't that good either. It was called, "The Pirate's Son" and that character was fairy cool, but the book focused more on the friend of the boy, Nathan. (starting and ending the book with the most boring and annoying character isn't cool.) Nathan was a stupid boy obsessed with being christian, who hated pirates, but was fascinated by stories of them.
Nathan had a sister that was better than him, but still not all that great. And she lied to the Pirate's son (because he believed in superstition and a fortune teller elder told him he would end up just like his father-none of the good little christian people wanted him to be a pirate like his father) by having the pirate's mother lie and tell him his dad was actually a doctor.
The whole point of reading this book was that pirates can rock. Instead she spent the book trying to let it be known that pirates should repent or something.
The best thing about this book: it was short.
July 17, 2016
This is one of my favorite books ever, and I know that it’s weird and probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I adored it. It’s in the 1700s and about an English boy and his sister who end up traveling with an awesome boy named Tamo who happens to be a pirate’s son, to Madagascar, where they live with natives and meet nasty pirates and… I don’t even know. I JUST LOVE IT OKAY? <3 I’ve read it like three times. I randomly got it at a library sale (I think because I liked Peter Pan in Scarlet by the same author?) and fell in love with it and I doubt anyone else would even like it but… it’s one of my favorites and I got addicted to this author and need to try more by her. ^_^
January 17, 2011
Nathan Gull's father died penniless, so Nathan is thrown out of his school. Another student, Tamo, is the son of a pirate. He decides to return to his homeland of Madagascar, and he takes Nathan and his sister Maude, along. Their ship's captain betrays them, trying to sell Maude to pirates. The three struggle to suvive the troubles Tamo's past brings.
January 18, 2015
Nathan has read everything on pirate's he can find. When he is kicked out of school,after his father died penniless, he finds his dream comes true to go to sea. The pirate's son, Tamo, takes Nathan and sister Maude to Madagascar. Nathan's dream soon becomes a nightmare, but Mousie Maude finds herself. A book that is definitely for young adult students or adults.
February 11, 2009
I have to read this for school and I hate it! It's the most boring book I have ever read! Please DO NOT READ! And maybe you will like it but this is just my opinion so don't take it personally if you like it.
February 2, 2011
Great YA book. The title is deceiving, it's more about a quiet orphan girl than her brother. They take off with pirates and she is the smart one that gets them out of many tough places. Coming of age novel that's can inspire young girls.
October 2, 2014
An okay book. I found it hard to understand to while i was reading it. It was hard to tell who characters where at some times. It was a boring book i thought and i board reading it all the time. It was hard to follow along with the book too.
October 24, 2014
Plundering Paradise is the first book I have read set in Madagascar and it was a thoroughly enjoyable adventure, made more so because Maud, the female character in the book has the strongest spirit throughout!
Read
September 25, 2007This was the worst book i have ever read! I DO NOT recomend it!!!
July 12, 2008
Good, simple book. Casual reading.
May 12, 2009
Kind of slow. Didn't care for writing style. Boys father dies. He and sister join pirate's son to Madagascar, and live with the natives. But there are other pirates on the reef...
September 7, 2009
Loved this. I enjoyed this more than I expected to. Kind of "Dickenesque" - or maybe it's just the period that creates this feeling,
January 29, 2019
Enjoyable and well-done. I especially enjoyed the last quarter of the book. It kept getting better and better. :-)
June 8, 2012
A rollicking tale of three children cast adrift at sea in the clutches of n’er-do-well pirates – brilliantly written, recommended!
August 7, 2014
An excellent ripping yarn in a spectacular setting, even if porcupines shouldn't have appeared in the cast - Madagascar has some much stranger prickly fellows called tenrecs.
Want to Read
July 2, 2015My copy hardback 294 pages.
February 16, 2016
Themes of trying to escape fate. Well-plotted and described, but seems to have an anti-Christian agenda. Unrealistic view of happiness of the natives.
April 9, 2008
Great adventure, but not your typical pirate story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews