The Pirate Who's Afraid of Everything

Shivers! #1

by Annabeth Bondor-Stone

Recommended for summer reading by The Huffington Post!

"When Shivers sets sail, adventure—and laughs—abound."—Tom Watson, author of the Stick Dog series

Meet Shivers, the scaredy-est pirate to ever sail the Seven Seas. Along with his best friend, Margo, and his loyal fishmate, Albee, Shivers battles a giant squid, discovers hidden treasures, and gets pooped on by a pigeon to save his parents from the clutches of evil. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll never eat snails again. So put on your pantaloons, batten down the hatches, and join Shivers on his first (but still very dangerous) adventure.

Comic book–like illustrations in each chapter bring Shivers to life and invite even the most reluctant readers to join the adventure.

Genres: Adventure, Humor, Pirates, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Juvenile

192 pages, Unknown Binding

First published February 1, 2015

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Quick Review:
Shivers is an 11 year old pirate but he is seriously scared of EVERYTHING. Margo is looking for adventure. When Shivers parents and brother go missing, Margo, Shivers and his goldfish Albee set out to find them.

This is a great book for younger kids but it’s so much fun for adults. This is my first book from Annabeth Bondor-Stone and I am looking forward to reading more. She has a great way of telling a very fun and silly story. I can't explain how adorable this book is and how much I loved the characters. This book was HILARIOUS! the Illustrations were adorable and I found myself laughing out loud more often than not. The idea of a pirate being scared of everything including the ocean is just funny. I LOVE that Shivers gets C-Sick ,that’s anything that starts with the letter C, and he is extremely terrified of Snails. Margo is a tough little girl and is very brave and willing to help and do anything she can to help Shivers. It's a great friendship and a wonderful read. I 100% recommend this to young boys and girls and adults too :)

After the first couple of paragraphs I knew this was going to be a 5 star read for me, the story and the characters totally had me sold and I can't see it being any less than 5 stars.

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my review

Hope you have a great day and Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life

[Rebecca Shook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shivers and Margo are in for the adventure of a lifetime. When Bob and Tilda are captured, its up to their son to save the day. The only problem? Shivers is afraid of EVERYTHING. His ship is docked on land (afraid of water? Check!), he spends most of his days in a pillow fort and his first mate is a fish. Margo, his best friend, helps Shivers become the pirate everyone always knew he could be. Margo and Shivers get into hilarious hijinks but eventually save the day! This humorous book is perfect for adventure seekers and scaredy-cats alike. Ages 8-12, Grades 3-7.

*Thank you to Harper Collins via Baker & Taylor for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own and do not reflect those of the publisher.
**Available for purchase February 24, 2015.

[Peggy Terrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an advanced reader copy to my niece and nephew and they couldn't stop laughing and asking me to "read more, read more!" The writing is terrific and the illustrations make the book even funnier. I would go on any adventure with Shivers and Margo, who are two of the most appealing and likable new characters in children's lit.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis- Shivers is a pirate. His mom is a pirate, his dad is a pirate, and his big brother is a pirate. It runs in the family. So why is Shivers afraid of everything that can do anything on this world? And if that’s not bad enough, why did his entire family have to be captured while sailing the high seas, leaving only Shivers and his pet fish, Albee, to rescue them. But then Margo comes along. Her dad is chief police officer, and she’s almost as good as him! Will Margo be enough to whip Shivers into shape?

What I Thought- This was a hilarious early chapter book! I read it while I was stuck in bed because I was sick, and I read it in an afternoon. It really cheered my spirits up. Shivers is a great character, and he’ll make you laugh! The book has random chapters missing, or blotted out, but all with a purpose, and they add humor (for example, the last page of Chapter 5 is blotted with “squid ink” because they were being attacked by an angry squid). I like how Margo, Shivers’ best friend, helps him on his adventures, taking control of a “frightening” situation. It’s a nice touch that she’s a girl. The book is wacky and slightly unbelievable, and kids will learn a little about the Statue of Liberty. Story-book pirates still exist in modern-day New Jersey and New York City, and they sail around looking for the treasure in the Statue of Liberty’s torch. This is a really funny book!
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! White and Bondor-Stone really know how to write an exciting and hilarious yarn, that's fun for both kids and adults. More please!

[Tnb · Rating 2 out of 5]

When we started this book, it was very promising. The beginning is indeed silly and fun. Soon enough it became a very dull story, and unpleasant to read. It was boring for the kids, the excitement from the beginning not only slowed down but disappeared. To me, the parent reader, it proved to be a very painful experience after page 70. So, at page 92 we agreed to move on to a better read. I did skim the book until the end, and frankly, I am glad we decided to quit because the ending is duller than what I would have ever imagined. I bet it is a good quick read for some kids to get them reading. I like to read to my kids stories which are interesting and have meaningful characters and character development, so that there is room for discussion long after we are done reading. This book most definitely lacks this. My librarian suggested this book to me and the first person I reviewed it for was her.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun, cute, gross, and ultimately engaging book for young students who are just starting to read chapters. I enjoyed the gross out humor and I have had a hard time keeping this book on my shelf in the library. Shivers will have students (2nd and 3rd grade I would think) in stitches reading this book. I think this book would be a lot of fun as a read aloud. As an introduction to a series, the book does a good job of laying out the roles of Margot, Shivers, and Albee. The ending is incredibly strange and out of nowhere but that silly element will have readers chuckling and immediately recommending this book their friends. If you are looking for an odd, funny, gross, and ultimately charming adventure story, this is a good pick for you.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, funny story that gets a bit silly at times. Shivers is an 11-year-old boy who is part of a pirate family. His parents and brother are fierce, Shivers is afraid of everything. One day his parents and brother are kidnapped and they are counting on Shivers to save them. Setting out on this adventure, Shivers meets Margo, who is looking for an adventure.

Shivers learns to be brave and he and Margo become fast friends. The adventure takes them to NYC and the Statue of Liberty. There they find an evil man who has pirates doing all of his dirty work. Shivers and Margo become the heroes of the story.

Good for beginner readers and students who like adventure stories.

DRC from Edelweiss

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this advanced reader copy. Adorable story line of pirates tied into some historical fact and just all around fun. Shivers is a great voice to speak to all kids who are trying to handle their fears. Tough friend Margo is a fantastic and strong female character in this book. A must read for elementary readers. This would be good for a reluctant reader, it has the adventure, humor, and friendship that is so strong and well writen.

[Andréa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see what kids will like about this one -- it's goofy and a little strange -- but it was a bit too over-the-top for me. I would have liked it better if it was either all fantasy (set in a different time and place) or if it was more rooted in the real world (kids just playing at being pirates) than the weird hybrid it is (a child pirate who lives on a New Jersey beach).

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher.

[Shannon Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an early copy of this for my two boys and um....we have not put it down since! I have now read this book 7 times in the last 3 weeks! We LOVE Shivers! He is amazing and his best friend Margo is super strong and I love the female representation. Great book for boys AND girls (and parents too) ages 5 - 97! GET IT!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leah Age 9 -- This was a very funny book with Shivers, Margo, and Albee (a fish) who are all on a mission to save Shivers Parents. I think other kids would enjoy it because Shivers is afraid of everything, yet there is a giant squid, an angry mob of crew ship members, and a French dude. I feel very lucky that I got to read an AR copy.

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute and funny! Review forthcoming.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

For readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants or anyone who loves pirates. It has black and white drawings throughout. A funny read that will delight 3rd - 5th graders.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids and I jointly gave it a 4...the kids both said 4.5, actually. :) Cute story with a lot of silly laughs.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a FUN read! Silly, alliterative, LOUD. My 6YO and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Brush up on your silly voices and join the adventure!

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read-aloud title with fun spot illustrations and laugh-out-loud text!

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story for elementary chapter book readers. It has lots of humor, cheesy characters, and pictures too.

[Paula Lyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute funny read-loud for early elementary. I loved the fish sidekick.

[Sydney Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny and so sweet. LOVED IT.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shivers comes from a long line pirates. But unlike most of the pirates in his genealogy, Shivers is afraid of everything especially snails. When his parents and his older brother are taken captive it's up to Shivers to find and rescue them. With his trusty fish mate mate, Albee, and Margo who he meets along the way set sail to find the Treasure Torch, and rescue his family. Fun, and adventure await as Shivers finally leaves dry land for the first time.

[Andrea Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK so I pulled this book off our shelves on a whim. I opened the book randomly and immediately fell in love with the humor contained within! Silly enough for young readers and ridiculous enough for us adults that clubs can't even handle. The characters are truly lovable and the pace of the story is great: it grabs the reader and keeps the excitement going right until the end. Our Library classifies this book as "easy" so while it is accessible to many readers, the writing and narrative is interesting enough even for advanced readers who just want a quick book they can finish in an afternoon.

So if you love zany characters, awesome humor, and a great swashbuckling tale, this book is for you!

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might have read this book a long while ago and never finished it, but I still thought it was funny. There was no twist unless you read the chapter numbers like I do, and this book kept me entertained for the 30-60 minute time I read it. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a quick read that keeps them laughing the whole time.

[Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite character in this book is Margo because she s brave and helped Shivers make it through the quest. What surprised me about the book is that Shivers is a pirate and is less brave than Margo. I would not change the ending of this book because it has an ending that made me smile and make me feel good. If you want to go on an adventure with Shivers and Margo then buy this book!!! :)

[Kelsie · Rating 2 out of 5]

We listened to this book on a family road trip. My husband really enjoyed all the puns and jokes, and I laughed a lot but also thought it got old. My 4 year old liked it okay but was not thrilled with it. Still enjoyable, just more for the 7-9 year old crowd.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this in the car with my little guy. It is about a pirate kid who is afraid of everything. I liked how he managed to save the day ... and some of the jokes .... and hearing my little guy laugh.

[Beka · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6 yr old thought this one was hilarious! Good read. Well told story that wasn't too unbelievable as far as kids books go. We talked like a pirate for several hours after each reading lol.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny little tale full of humorous characters and things that will make the adults chuckle as well as the kids.

[Robin Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute but being afraid of literally everything was kind of annoying

[Sierra Humiston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my third grade class and they loved it! 5 stars was their rating