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Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra de Winter and Bram Broen
It’s 1663 and there is an extra passenger on board a Dutch merchant ship setting sail for the East Indies. Twelve-year-old Petra has stowed away to escape her abusive father. But she quickly realizes that surviving for months at sea will be impossible without help. So when Bram, the half-Dutch / half-Javanese son of the ship’s carpenter finds her hiding spot, Petra convinces him to help her stay hidden . . . and help disguise her as a boy.
If Petra is discovered and exposed as a girl, she could be tossed overboard, or worse . . . returned to her father. And if Bram is exposed for helping her, he could lose the only home—and family—he has. As tensions rise on the ship, with pirates attacking, deadly illness, and even mutiny, Petra and Bram face impossible decisions that test their friendship and threaten their dreams of freedom.
Told in alternating voices, this richly researched novel is filled with secrets, intrigue, and incredible adventure.
If Petra is discovered and exposed as a girl, she could be tossed overboard, or worse . . . returned to her father. And if Bram is exposed for helping her, he could lose the only home—and family—he has. As tensions rise on the ship, with pirates attacking, deadly illness, and even mutiny, Petra and Bram face impossible decisions that test their friendship and threaten their dreams of freedom.
Told in alternating voices, this richly researched novel is filled with secrets, intrigue, and incredible adventure.
318 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2015
4 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Eve Yohalem
11 books28 followersI write books for kids. My newest book, The Truth According to Blue, is about a treasure-hunting girl and her diabetic alert dog. I also wrote Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra De Winter and Bram Broen, Escape Under the Forever Sky, and a series of funny short stories for younger readers, called Grandpa Hates the Bird.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 27, 2015
I really liked this one. It reminded me of BLACK DOVE WHITE RAVEN in the relationship of the two main characters. In both cases, the boy (Bran in CAST OFF) is of mixed race and the girl is white. And they behave like true friends; like brother and sister. Petra is the daughter of a Dutch merchant whose uncontrollable temper finally causes her to run away. By accident, she ends up on the same ship where Bran's father is ship's carpenter. Bran befriends her, and helps her to hide from the other sailors. Well researched, and well written. Besides, who can resist pirates and possible mutiny and all the other salty trappings of a sea-going adventure?
February 7, 2017
A charming and adventurous story of a headstrong girl in the trading/ piracy days of 17th century Holland.
Excellent!
Excellent!
September 20, 2017
Petra de Winter is my hero. I LOVE her. This story was not what I thought it would be given that it’s considered a middle-grade book. There’s so much violence, pain and important issues depicted that I was a bit taken back.
This book transports you on a dangerous and treacherous journey in which two kids, Petra and Bram Broen, unite in friendship and survival. Petra escapes her abusive father by stowing away on a ship that is, unbeknownst to her, setting sail to the East Indies. Bram, the ship’s carpenter’s illegitimate and mixed race son, finds her. Instead of revealing her to the crew, he helps her come up with a plan that will keep her identity hidden until they reach their destination.
In that time, around 6 months of traveling on sea, Petra disguises herself as a boy, and works hard to prove herself to the rest of the crew. She becomes the surgeon’s helper tending to the sick and injured and doing a good job of it. She learns to eat like them, drink like them, sleep like them and speak like them.
Bram, on the other hand, is trying to prove himself in different ways. If he proves he is a hard worker and indispensable to the Captain of the ship, he could earn the legitimacy he’s always dreamed of, allowing him the freedom to go on shore and live a normal life. This legitimacy could only be earned with a recommendation from the Captain.
As these two sail together, they are faced with many obstacles. Storms, pirates and a mutiny, they experience many losses, and even more pain. The only thing keeping them determined to survive is each other.
This historical adventure was such a good and enjoyable read. The research that has gone into writing this book is very evident in the descriptions and portrayal of life on a ship. Written from alternating viewpoints, you get to know both Petra and Bram very well and you can’t help but love them both. For me though, Petra was the true hero in this journey. She is and should be every little girl’s idol.
This book transports you on a dangerous and treacherous journey in which two kids, Petra and Bram Broen, unite in friendship and survival. Petra escapes her abusive father by stowing away on a ship that is, unbeknownst to her, setting sail to the East Indies. Bram, the ship’s carpenter’s illegitimate and mixed race son, finds her. Instead of revealing her to the crew, he helps her come up with a plan that will keep her identity hidden until they reach their destination.
In that time, around 6 months of traveling on sea, Petra disguises herself as a boy, and works hard to prove herself to the rest of the crew. She becomes the surgeon’s helper tending to the sick and injured and doing a good job of it. She learns to eat like them, drink like them, sleep like them and speak like them.
Bram, on the other hand, is trying to prove himself in different ways. If he proves he is a hard worker and indispensable to the Captain of the ship, he could earn the legitimacy he’s always dreamed of, allowing him the freedom to go on shore and live a normal life. This legitimacy could only be earned with a recommendation from the Captain.
As these two sail together, they are faced with many obstacles. Storms, pirates and a mutiny, they experience many losses, and even more pain. The only thing keeping them determined to survive is each other.
This historical adventure was such a good and enjoyable read. The research that has gone into writing this book is very evident in the descriptions and portrayal of life on a ship. Written from alternating viewpoints, you get to know both Petra and Bram very well and you can’t help but love them both. For me though, Petra was the true hero in this journey. She is and should be every little girl’s idol.
June 8, 2015
Take me away! This book whisked me off on a marvelous adventure filled with grave dangers, stow aways, tall ships, and mutiny. I couldn't help but be reminded of one of my childhood favorites, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. Petra escapes from a horribly abusive relationship with her father, and her bravery is an excellent model for young readers. She is discovered by Bram, the illegitimate son of the ship's carpenter, and they form a very special friendship. This book delivers richly realized themes---particularly those of loyalty, heroism, sexism, and racism---that are very relevant to readers across time. I imagine a wide variety of audiences would appreciate this text because it touches on so many fascinating topics. It is clear that the author did her homework, and the result is magnificently entertaining.
Teachers' Tools for Navigation: This book is an excellent example of a text that could be analyzed with a critical theorist lens. (See Appleman's book about teaching critical theory to students of all levels.) I imagine rich classroom discussions would evolve from the application of gender theory or race theory, for instance, to this text. This is a compliment to the author and the depth of this book.
Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=6425 (Available after June 4, 2015)
Teachers' Tools for Navigation: This book is an excellent example of a text that could be analyzed with a critical theorist lens. (See Appleman's book about teaching critical theory to students of all levels.) I imagine rich classroom discussions would evolve from the application of gender theory or race theory, for instance, to this text. This is a compliment to the author and the depth of this book.
Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=6425 (Available after June 4, 2015)
March 29, 2015
Exciting middle-grade historical adventure. Full of the dangers of life aboard a 17th Century merchant ship, it also shows the birth of a great friendship and a girl discovering her true self. Exciting, adventurous and often quite sweet and charming. I would love to see a sequel showing the adventures of Petra and Bram after the end of the book.
November 15, 2018
All around a good book. I was cheering for the characters the whole time.
August 16, 2022
I'm going to go ahead and say it:
5 Stars.
This book wasn't perfect, in fact, I'll start with the negative first. It had a pretty abrupt ending and we had this huge build up to the climax, and the incident ended within (I think) about 3-4 pages?
HOWEVER
I feel as though I've stumbled across a rare gem of a book here. This beautiful seafaring adventure has been out since 2015 and it only has, like, 130 reviews here on Goodreads? Why is no one reading this? This book (despite its abrupt ending and the quick resolution to the climax) was a treasure. I was completely immersed from page one, and let me tell you, a book hasn't been able to do that for me in a while. I think this is one of the best books I've read this year so far (I may even add it to my favorites shelf).
Despite knowing absolutely NOTHING about boats (especially the 17th century kind), I was right there on that boat with these two kids and the whole crew. I could SEE everything. I could hear the splash and slap of the water against the wood of the boat, and smell the salt on the sea spray. It was incredible. I finished the whole thing in a day (which is pretty rare for me these days), so if that isn't saying something, I don't know what will.
Cast Off was a fantastic adventure full of pirates, and mischief, and two kids just trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. It touched my heart and I enjoyed it so freaking much.
Yep, and that's it. I'm adding it to my favorites shelf.
Like I said, the book wasn't perfect, and the story had some structural flaws that the editor/beta readers should have caught, BUT STILL. It was an amazing story and that made it totally worth 5 stars for sure.
So, if you're looking for a grand adventure, pretty great characters, and a story you can really fall into and immerse yourself in, then go ahead and read Cast Off. I enjoyed it, at any rate, and I hope you will too. 🖤
Happy reading, and sorry for another mess. 🖤
5 Stars.
This book wasn't perfect, in fact, I'll start with the negative first. It had a pretty abrupt ending and we had this huge build up to the climax, and the incident ended within (I think) about 3-4 pages?
HOWEVER
I feel as though I've stumbled across a rare gem of a book here. This beautiful seafaring adventure has been out since 2015 and it only has, like, 130 reviews here on Goodreads? Why is no one reading this? This book (despite its abrupt ending and the quick resolution to the climax) was a treasure. I was completely immersed from page one, and let me tell you, a book hasn't been able to do that for me in a while. I think this is one of the best books I've read this year so far (I may even add it to my favorites shelf).
Despite knowing absolutely NOTHING about boats (especially the 17th century kind), I was right there on that boat with these two kids and the whole crew. I could SEE everything. I could hear the splash and slap of the water against the wood of the boat, and smell the salt on the sea spray. It was incredible. I finished the whole thing in a day (which is pretty rare for me these days), so if that isn't saying something, I don't know what will.
Cast Off was a fantastic adventure full of pirates, and mischief, and two kids just trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. It touched my heart and I enjoyed it so freaking much.
Yep, and that's it. I'm adding it to my favorites shelf.
Like I said, the book wasn't perfect, and the story had some structural flaws that the editor/beta readers should have caught, BUT STILL. It was an amazing story and that made it totally worth 5 stars for sure.
So, if you're looking for a grand adventure, pretty great characters, and a story you can really fall into and immerse yourself in, then go ahead and read Cast Off. I enjoyed it, at any rate, and I hope you will too. 🖤
Happy reading, and sorry for another mess. 🖤
August 2, 2020
Cast Off is a gripping nautical adventure very reminiscent of Meyer's Bloody Jack, with a touch of Mackenzi Lee's style. While the main characters are middle-grade-age, the book as a whole leans YA-ish for violence and pacing--a solid crossover pick. Yohalem clearly did plenty of research and it shows in the details of 1600s sailing life and medical care. Two complaints: I often found myself confused about the layout of the ship--the map/diagram at the beginning wasn't very helpful--and I found the ending of the story unsatisfying. Still, overall an enjoyable piece of historical fiction for the right audience.
December 30, 2020
Interesting if labored children's historical novel. It’s 1663, and twelve-year-old Petra sees only one way to escape her abusive father: She stows away on a merchant ship bound for the East Indies. But she quickly realizes that surviving for months at sea will be impossible without help. So when Bram, the illegitimate, half-Dutch/half-Javanese son of the ship’s carpenter, finds her hiding spot, Petra convinces him to help her stay hidden.
May 9, 2021
Swashbuckling sounds trite but it really is a good word to describe this novel. It is excellent, even for adults. The writing is strong and the characters are believable. I was on the edge of my seat on several occasions while reading this book! I haven’t been this impressed with a YG book in a looooong time.
September 5, 2023
Cast Off was very well researched, but the story elements weren't really enough to keep my interest. But if you have a young reader that is interested in history and ships, this seems like a good starting book.
May 16, 2022
The cover is a lot better than the book
November 2, 2019
Great Read, couldn't put it down!
June 2, 2015
t was the comparison to The True Confession of Charlotte Doyle that drew me to this new novel by Eve Yohalem, and I'm happy to report that the comparison was apt. Charlotte Doyle's adventures sparked my lifelong love of books set at sea... and stories featuring fearless, headstrong girls aboard ships. I'm thrilled that today's young readers will find similar inspiration in Petra, one of Cast Off's main characters.
Yohalem's Cast Off alternates perspectives, switching from that of Petra, a stowaway escaping an abusive home, to that of Bram, a boy with mixed parentage that severely limits his prospects. The two form a fast friendship after Bram helps hide Petra aboard the ship, then keeps her secret when she joins the crew disguised as a boy.
I enjoyed Petra from the start and Bram quickly grew on me as well. Perhaps because of her difficult upbringing, Petra is extremely resourceful, hardworking, and quick to action. She was a wonderful character from which to view the ship and its crew because, initially, all is completely foreign to her, but her curiosity and intelligence provide ample opportunity to learn and explore. Bram offers an important, but very different perspective, as he is quite familiar with the ship, its crew, and the various cultures and events the two experience during their journey.
I can't say for sure how accurate all of the historical details are regarding life on ships in 1663, but I can say that Yohalem's descriptions felt genuine. One event in particular, the description of a character being keelhauled was especially terrifying. Upon further investigation, I discovered that punishment by keelhauling was indeed a regular practice! In fact, the description of the punishment in the book and the resulting wounds are very accurate (and shudder-inducing).
I highly recommend this fantastic piece of historical fiction for readers of all ages!
Yohalem's Cast Off alternates perspectives, switching from that of Petra, a stowaway escaping an abusive home, to that of Bram, a boy with mixed parentage that severely limits his prospects. The two form a fast friendship after Bram helps hide Petra aboard the ship, then keeps her secret when she joins the crew disguised as a boy.
I enjoyed Petra from the start and Bram quickly grew on me as well. Perhaps because of her difficult upbringing, Petra is extremely resourceful, hardworking, and quick to action. She was a wonderful character from which to view the ship and its crew because, initially, all is completely foreign to her, but her curiosity and intelligence provide ample opportunity to learn and explore. Bram offers an important, but very different perspective, as he is quite familiar with the ship, its crew, and the various cultures and events the two experience during their journey.
I can't say for sure how accurate all of the historical details are regarding life on ships in 1663, but I can say that Yohalem's descriptions felt genuine. One event in particular, the description of a character being keelhauled was especially terrifying. Upon further investigation, I discovered that punishment by keelhauling was indeed a regular practice! In fact, the description of the punishment in the book and the resulting wounds are very accurate (and shudder-inducing).
I highly recommend this fantastic piece of historical fiction for readers of all ages!
July 24, 2015
To escape her abusive father, a wealthy Amsterdam merchant, Petra de Winter seeks refuge on a ship setting sail to the East Indies. She fears dire consequences when Bram Broen, the ship’s carpenter’s son, finds her. Instead, together they come up with a plan that will help Petra escape and Bram find favor with the captain. As they sail they find adventure in fending off pirates, weathering storms, and navigating a mutiny.
Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra de Winter and Bram Broen depicts life on a 17th century Dutch sailing ship in detail while telling a story of friendship and survival. Petra is used to hard work, but life on the ship will test her in new ways. She has to navigate living next to rats, eating meager rations, learning to climb up into the crow’s nest, and helping the ship’s surgeon tend to the sick and injured—all without giving away that she’s a girl.
Bram’s father is Dutch but his mother is Javanese, and as a mixed raced child he’s not allowed on shore in The Netherlands. With the recommendation of the captain, he may be able to earn the legitimacy he longs for. But talk of mutiny has him questioning whether his loyalties lie with the crew he works with or the captain in charge.
With the challenges they face, the friendship between Petra and Bram soon becomes the only thing they can count on.
Cast Off is a historical adventure that shines light on what life was like for cast offs and misfits in the early 1600s. It was a time when children had few options without the protection of legitimacy and loving parents. The action never stops and it is sure to satisfy adventurous girls and boys aged 10 and up.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra de Winter and Bram Broen depicts life on a 17th century Dutch sailing ship in detail while telling a story of friendship and survival. Petra is used to hard work, but life on the ship will test her in new ways. She has to navigate living next to rats, eating meager rations, learning to climb up into the crow’s nest, and helping the ship’s surgeon tend to the sick and injured—all without giving away that she’s a girl.
Bram’s father is Dutch but his mother is Javanese, and as a mixed raced child he’s not allowed on shore in The Netherlands. With the recommendation of the captain, he may be able to earn the legitimacy he longs for. But talk of mutiny has him questioning whether his loyalties lie with the crew he works with or the captain in charge.
With the challenges they face, the friendship between Petra and Bram soon becomes the only thing they can count on.
Cast Off is a historical adventure that shines light on what life was like for cast offs and misfits in the early 1600s. It was a time when children had few options without the protection of legitimacy and loving parents. The action never stops and it is sure to satisfy adventurous girls and boys aged 10 and up.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 26, 2015
Cast Off interested me right off the bat. I love books that take place on the sea and involve girls pretending to be boys. I like when there are two point of views as well and was very much interested in both Petra and Bram from the very first pages. Both have had troubled backgrounds but end up banding together despite their differences in gender, class and ethnicity.
Petra is being abused at home and runs away, ending up on a ship while hiding from her father. Bram is the one who discovers her, a boy who is the son of the carpenter for the ship and a mixed ethnicity. He works extra hard to earn the respect of the captain in hopes of gaining a letter that may allow him to finally be a legal Dutch citizen. Until then, he cannot step foot on Dutch soil.
Add in pirates, mutiny and gold and there’s more than enough to keep reading until the end. I really enjoyed the character development and the twists and turns throughout the book. There’s enough blood and guts to keep you reeling a bit from it all, but not overly so. Cast Off seems to balance it’s harsh background with some moments of hope and I really enjoyed the adventure that Bram and Petra embark on.
Verdict:
For lovers of the high seas and strong female characters, this book is a must-read!
Petra is being abused at home and runs away, ending up on a ship while hiding from her father. Bram is the one who discovers her, a boy who is the son of the carpenter for the ship and a mixed ethnicity. He works extra hard to earn the respect of the captain in hopes of gaining a letter that may allow him to finally be a legal Dutch citizen. Until then, he cannot step foot on Dutch soil.
Add in pirates, mutiny and gold and there’s more than enough to keep reading until the end. I really enjoyed the character development and the twists and turns throughout the book. There’s enough blood and guts to keep you reeling a bit from it all, but not overly so. Cast Off seems to balance it’s harsh background with some moments of hope and I really enjoyed the adventure that Bram and Petra embark on.
Verdict:
For lovers of the high seas and strong female characters, this book is a must-read!
September 21, 2015
When Petra de Winter, daughter of a rich merchant, decides to run away for good after escaping a near-fatal beating from her father, she flees onto a ship in desperation. Once aboard, she decides she will stow away. But when she is discovered by Bram Broen, illegitimate son of the ship's carpenter, she is given the opportunity to pass as a boy and work on the ship. But Bram has his own reasons for protecting Petra, and the two together must overcome pirates, the fever, and a mutiny scheme.
I expected another light-hearted high seas adventure, but this book delivered some serious grit. It was unflinching with its depiction of daily life on a ship, as well as things like racism, sexism, etc. I was also impressed by the amount of research and detail that went into it. I would definitely recommend this for middle grade audiences both male and female.
-Kelsey
For the record, Kirsten LOVED this book.
I expected another light-hearted high seas adventure, but this book delivered some serious grit. It was unflinching with its depiction of daily life on a ship, as well as things like racism, sexism, etc. I was also impressed by the amount of research and detail that went into it. I would definitely recommend this for middle grade audiences both male and female.
-Kelsey
For the record, Kirsten LOVED this book.
October 28, 2015
This is not only a good seafaring tale in the manner of Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy, but also a very well-researched bit of historical fiction. I admit, I picked this up initially because I'd heard it was getting challenged because it's too accurate - the 12 year old protagonists drink alcohol on the ship because the water went bad, and some groups objected to it. Despite that, it's actually less "objectionable" than Bloody Jack and her ilk, and just a good story all around.
May 30, 2015
What a fun adventure! This book is rich with detail- so much you can taste the salty sea air and smell the sailors' B.O. Petra and Bram are such great characters, and when they are together, their friendship has such a phenomenal dynamic. I just wish we had more scenes watching them get to know each other! I am so glad I stumbled upon this book and can't wait for the next!
June 20, 2016
Set in the 1600's, Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra de Winter and Bram Broen is the story of a girl who is trying to escape her life. She ends up on a Dutch trading vessel and disguises herself as a boy. Here she meets Bram who helps save her life. Full of pirates, mystery and intrigue, pair this with The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi for a sea-faring adventure!
July 2, 2019
This book was truly interesting to me. I loved the relationship that Bram and Petra had. They really just sticked together no matter what. This book reminded me a lot of "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" which i had just read. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a pretty easy read and an exciting story.
November 2, 2015
This is a juvenile book, so reads pretty quickly. It has lots of adventure and the historical aspect was handled well - takes place in the 17th century. It ended too quickly - left me wanting more adventures for the two young people
February 4, 2016
Took me awhile to get through this because of my schedule. In the end, despite a slow patch in the middle, the last third picked up considerably, resulting in a captivating sea yarn good for readers not developmentally ready for the Bloody Jack series.
December 31, 2018
This was a book way out of my comfort zone. At first I could not get into it. This took me awhile to finish. Once I got more into the middle, I was at edge wanting to know what was going to happen next. But the ending didn’t do me any justice. Still a pretty well written book though.
April 2, 2015
reviewing for VOYA
November 24, 2017
Readalikes:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Bloody Jack: Being an account of the curious adventures of Mary "Jack" Faber
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Bloody Jack: Being an account of the curious adventures of Mary "Jack" Faber
Read
July 7, 2015Ok, this book was too young for me I really could not get into it. #regrets
December 14, 2015
I liked the voice of the two protagonists. I liked the plot. I thought that mention of brothels and some of the graphic details of the surgery shouldn't have been included in this middle grade book.
November 15, 2015
An enjoyable, well-written story that is also well told.
April 9, 2016
Love, love, love this seafaring adventure with so much historical detail and a moving unlikely friendship. Definitely recommended for fans of Charlotte Doyle and Jacky Faber.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews