Le voyage de Lucy P. Simmons, tome 1 :

The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons #1

by Barbara Mariconda

Une flûte enchantée qui vibre à l’approche du danger, un brouillard scintillant qui déverrouille un tiroir de secrets familliaux et une bibliothèque qui se gonfle assez pour préserver sa cachette… Voilà les éléments de magie que découvre Lucy P. Simmons depuis la mort de ses parents en mer.La magie aide Lucy à garder sa maison — le « navire sur la rive » de Père — hors de portée des mains avides de son oncle Victor. Lucy croit que la magie est le fait de Marni, la femme mystérieuse qui paraît ne faire qu’un avec la mer… et dont la ressemblance avec la sirène mythique de la peinture du bureau de Père est frappante.Ensemble, Lucy et Marni élaborent un plan pour mettre un terme aux projets machiavéliques de Victor. En cours de route, Lucy se fait des amis inattendus et découvre que le courage pourrait bien être le plus puissant des pouvoirs magiques. Mais cela sera-t-il assez pour triompher de son oncle ?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adventure, Magic, Young Adult

243 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 2012

Reviews

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy Simmons loses her parents in a boating accident when her father tried to save a drowning man. Her parents will states she is to be left in the care of her Aunt Pru, but no one can find her and her last communication says she is somewhere in remote Australia. In the meantime, Lucy is put under the care of her Uncle Victor, who seems to be much more interested on working out a way to get his hands on the family inheritance than taking care of Lucy. With the help of her housekeeper Addie, the mysterious lady Marni, and the house itself, Lucy must outwit her uncle and find a way to save herself and her inheritance from his evil clutches.

I might have liked this more, except I just can’t stand those stories about the orphans being mistreated by their greedy guardians. It’s why I’ve never cared for The Little Princess, and why it took me forever and a day to finally suffer through David Copperfield. I just don’t find reading page after page of injustice and suffering fun. Of course, it usually does work out in the end and you’re all the more relieved and triumphant for making it through the suffering, and it usually helps make the character a better person…but still not what I like to read for fun and relaxation. So that said, Lucy would find herself quite a kindred spirit with Sara and Davy, but she’s not going to win herself a place on my favorites shelf. Uncle Victor gets full rights in the evil, conniving guardians club. Lucy’s salvation didn’t come in quite the way I expected, so the book got points for not being entirely predictable. Aunt Pru never does show up, but the house uses its magic to turn into a boat and Uncle Victor gets swept overboard. Overall, it was well-written but not overly amazing. The magic was so-so (sorry, I just read Tuesdays at the Castle and Lucy’s house paled dramatically in comparison to Castle Glower).

Notes on content: One or two minor swear words. No sexual content. There are a couple drownings. Part of the story involves kids who have been physically abused by a drunk dad. (This doesn’t happen on page except for one hit.) The drunk man threatens several.

[Lucy Takeda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the magic of the sea component. I loved the independent female characters. I adore pretty much anything that involves music. However, I wanted more background information about the sirens.
Lucy is on a sloop with her parents when a storm hits. Plus a gigantic man in the ocean is screaming for help. Lucy’s father tries to save the man, which does not end well.
This all leads to evil Uncle arriving to oversee Lucy until she is eighteen years old.
I guess I need to read the sequel.

[Chloe Hey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title was misleading! The story is exciting- but it is too dependent on each following book. It should rather be titled something along the lines of “The Start of The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons”

In the first chapter- We /see/ Lucy’s parents fall over their boat into the ocean and just- die! (Apparently they both were terrible swimmers? It made no sense)
And then we- through Lucy’s eyes- have two problems- how her guardians are temporarily her Uncle and Aunt(who are absolutely terrible people... mmmmm... where have we seen that before?) and mysterious people/things on the beach.

Lucy is a bright kiddo- she felt like a kid. I like her.
BUT!
- the child did not at all struggle with watching her parents dramatically fall over the boat and drown. It hardly seemed to bother her at all (why why why do kids never /really/ care when their parents die/are dead? )

This book needed more plot- but for a $4 thrifted book I was happy to read it in a few hours.

Warnings for this book:
-her parents dying are quite in your face since there’s basically a death scene in the first chapter.
-a woman is seen by Lucy swimming naked in the ocean- but it is just something along the lines of “she disrobed and started swimming in the ocean, she was not wearing anything beneath her robe” (an odd- pointless detail in a middle grade- don’t you think?)

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coastal Maine, April 1906. On a chilly spring day, Lucy’s father and mother have a fatal accident out on their sloop. With Lucy as the only survivor, her father’s will left her and her estate in the hands of an eccentric aunt. But until she can be found, her greedy, obnoxious uncle is in control of everything. Very sad beginning, but it does get better. The house makes sure of that.

One of the first things I would have done as a lawyer is order a complete third party inventory of the house contents, etc. BEFORE her uncle moves in.

Slightly spooky, but lighter story similar in style to the Jane Eyre and David Copperfield books only with magic.

Fave scenes: the woman on the beach, Mr. Pugsley’s escape and under Lucy’s skirts.

[Emily Sarjeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. This book is good for 4th graders or even 5th it depends on your reading skills. I read it and I am in 6th grade, It was easy for me. This book is exciting fun trilling and interesting. It sometimes feels like you are that character in that situation. I think this book would be worth reading, but it does depend on what type of books you like to read. If you like fantasy than you will probably like this book.

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her parents drown in a tragic accident, Lucy’s life is thrown into a turmoil as she is treated harshly by her greedy, thieving aunt and uncle. Lucy discovers a strange magic that seems to emanate from the house itself that helps her (along with some new friends) overcome. 4th and 5th grade for sure, possibly 3rd depending on reading level and interest.

[RennRenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant YA read. I can see my younger self absolutely loving this. A plucky main character and a touch of magic with emotional weight.

I've seen others comment on the fact it is a series and I also wasn't expecting a "to be continued" ending. But for what it was I had a good time with the story.

[Holli · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Very unique.

[Janet Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice mix of magic and reality, mixed in with bad guys and good ones. An enjoyable read.

[Lilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters were one-dimensional and inconsistent, plot had some gaping holes, story was mediocre .

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not compelled to read the second book, but I can see how I would have loved this story when I was younger.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Child abuse

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Mariconda's website indicates that The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons is the first in a trilogy of middle grade fantasy novels. The book takes place in the early 1900s in northeastern U.S., right along the Atlantic coast. The cover artwork is lovely and the synopsis really piqued my interest. It promises an enchanted flute, a magical mist in a mystical family home and a tragic disaster that orphans Lucy and sets her at odds against her greedy uncle and others who would steal away her heritage.

The language of the book is beautifully formed and very poetic at times while still being simple and easily accessible to the middle grade audience. The descriptions of settings, actions and motivations were all wrapped inside wonderfully articulated language that touched the senses and made for a vivid and engaging read.

The story jumps right into the action with the tragic death of Lucy's parents and continues to keep a steady pace throughout the entire book. I really loved the way the tragedy was handled and especially the disorientation, denial and grief that followed as Lucy found herself trying to recover and make sense of her life. The horrible situation into which Lucy is tossed felt a little trite and overused at first but quickly took on a fresh, imaginative turn that allowed it to be compelling even if it was a story I felt like I'd heard before (that story being: child becomes orphan, forced to bow to whims of overbearing greedy adult who just wants the family estate/money/etc).

I really enjoyed the introduction of the various magical and mystical elements in the story. I loved the concept of the possibility of a true Siren from mythology. I was intrigued and curious as to how and why the Siren was involved and kept turning page after page to try and understand the magical mist that seemed to bring the house to life in ways meant to help Lucy stay safe and progress towards some goal she did not even understand. I loved the suggestion of a family Curse potentially having something to do with the water.

In addition to the magical elements, I really enjoyed the mundane natural elements of the story. I love that the quirky little dog is named Mr. Puggsley. Just such a fun and funny name. I liked the interactions between Lucy and the housekeeper Addie. I really enjoyed the descriptive elements of the setting along the Atlantic coast and turn of the century America. I also liked the subplot that occurs later in the story when Lucy meets another group of children who aren't orphans but are separated from their family for another tragic reason.

There are a lot of things to really like about this book and the way it is written. In fact, probably my biggest complaint about this book is that there are TOO MANY things going on. The story moves at a quick pace as Lucy whirls through her life trying to make sense of the recent tragedy and figure out a way to ensure her future isn't entirely destroyed by her uncle. As her life seems to be spinning out of control, we are introduced to mystery after mystery. Who is the mysterious Siren? What is the family curse? Where does the magic of the house come from? Is Marni magic; psychic; something else entirely? I felt like the book introduced a ton of interesting and compelling ideas, fleshed them out to a degree, but then left most of the questions unresolved. As mentioned on the author's website, this is intended as part of a trilogy so I can accept that we'll (hopefully) get answers in the next book. However, I read this book unaware that it was going to be part of a series, so the lack of resolution to so many questions caught me rather unprepared and left me a little unsettled.

As to the concept of this being a trilogy, I suspect the entire trilogy will use the overarching title "The Voyage of Lucy" since honestly this first book did not involve any real "voyage" at all. The farthest any of our characters travelled was across the little bay, hardly a trip to be called a "voyage" (though I suppose it could be granted with some poetic license). At the same time, Lucy definitely makes a definite Journey of maturation and self discovery. She's a young girl and behaves impetuously and immaturely at times but she is also learning, growing and coming to her own as an admirable, strong, decisive and powerful protagonist.

Overall this is a fun story with a lot going for it. The magic, whimsy and adventure should appeal to younger readers while the intricacies and depth of the mysteries should keep older readers interested. I do see a little risk in leaving so much unresolved. While it will certainly drive readers to a sequel, it may leave some less satisfied with the initial offering. Still, the climactic ending of this book is exciting, surprising and a lot of fun and offers a good degree of wonder and satisfaction in spite of the many questions it leaves hanging. I for one am definitely looking forward to the sequel and I'm going to be pushing this book on my kids next.

****
3.5 out of 5 stars

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand, I think some of it is very beautiful. The descriptions of magic and the emphasis on the sea and sailing are some of the better prose in the book. The visual image of the house’s transformation at the end is striking. I also really like the cover art and the little glimpses of alternate-America (or, I guess, magic America). And it’s a good story, for the most part, although I thought Uncle Victor was over-the-top.

On the other hand, I felt that this book was incomplete. I didn't know when I read it that it was apparently a series. A number of things were left unresolved, such as who Marni is and the mystery of Lucy’s Aunt Pru. It also ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger, which gave me the feeling that Lucy’s adventures hadn’t even started—that what I had been reading was just a precursor. I also felt the title didn’t quite fit, since the end of the book shows that Lucy is just starting her voyage. I suppose the title could mean a metaphorical voyage rather than a literal one.

I also felt as if the magic and the flute could have been much better explained. Why was the magic there? Was it attached to the flute? Why did it want to protect the house? What’s up with that song Lucy was singing, the one with no words? I initially thought the book would be about Lucy finding the words to the song that was mentioned so many times as not having any lyrics. But I guess not, since apparently that wasn’t important at all. Or maybe it will be, in the future, if there’s another book?

Overall, The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons has some beautiful imagery and prose in parts, but in others it’s clumsy or over-the-top. I thought it was a good story, with some nice detail and a nice dash of originality, but it felt incomplete when it ended. There were too many unresolved questions, such as the issue with Marni, and I finished the book thinking that I had only read the prologue.

[Janet DeCastro · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable MG read. Although the book begins with a tragedy and the main character Lucy becomes an orphan and evil Uncle Victor tries to take over the family fortune & home in Lemony Snickett (evil Uncle) fashion the story takes on it's own unique plot lines. Takes place in coastal New England, turn of the Century (20th C.).

Lucy's parents are drowned in a boating accident while attempting to save a drunken "brute" of a man. Lucy's father had been an accomplished sea Captain (retired). Lucy was rescued.

Lucy discovers a naked silver haired lady who takes moonlit swims after shedding her silver robe, selkie like.(Sea Nymph) Marni had saved Lucy from drowning and must take her under wing (get her away from Uncle Victor) to teach her the ways of life and survival in and on the sea which Lucy fears with all her heart. Marni introduces Lucy to the underpriviledged Perkins children who have been rescued by Marni as well - taken from their abusive Brute father. The very same father who drowned Lucy's parents.

Lucy discovers that her parent's Victorian house is filled with magic; a glittery fog dust appears and her fathers flute plays reels and creels on its own. Lucy's challenges are; to come to terms with loss, find courage to face her fears and accept the help of new friends and adult mentors (Marni & Addie the housekeeper).

The story works well as a stand alone. But it has been set-up for a sequel: Finding Aunt Pru in Australia and what about the Simmons Family Curse? Can't wait for more from Barbara Mariconda.

Said to Lucy - "Courage is not about being unafraid.Courage has to do with moving forward in the face of fear. Do you understand?" - Marni

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the vein of a Lemony Snicket novel, The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons opens with tragedy. Lucy's family is taken from her quite suddenly and her evil Uncle Victor comes to live with her as her legal guardian. His plan is to take over her family home. What is a young girl to do to fight back? Although the book opens with a rather sad note, I can tell you without a doubt that once it takes off it's hard to stop reading.

Lucy is quite a protagonist. Brilliant beyond her years, she is an easy character to fall in love with. Full of courage, and willing to take on whatever comes her way. In fact, one of Lucy's biggest draws is her ability to accept the unexplained. It allows magic to flow into her life and makes for an even more enchanting read. I see young readers being drawn in by the magical elements. The message here is clear and simple:

“Courage is not about being unafraid... Courage has to do with moving forward in the face of fear.”

I was simply disappointed by the lack of answers upon ending Lucy's story. The magic in this story is dazzling, but never really explained. We meet some wonderful characters during our romp through Lucy's life, but we never really see into their pasts. I'm hoping that this means this is the first of the a series that will eventually wrap things up. I for one will be happy to follow Lucy to wherever she ends up next!

[Jessica at Book Sake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute middle grade read with a bit of magic dispersed throughout. Lucy’s character is smart and cunning and she is always attempting to do the right thing – just the same as her parents would have done. In her trials the house seems to help her out – well, the house, or the magic, we aren’t quite sure where it’s coming from – but it’s suddenly there.

When Marni shows up and enters into Lucy’s life things get even stranger for her. First of all she doesn’t know who Marni really is, but Marni is convincing as a headmistress and is able to place herself in between Lucy and her aunt and uncle. Though, with an aunt and uncle reminiscent of Petunia and Vernon Dursley from Harry Potter – it doesn’t take much to pull one over on them. They are the characters to hate in this story, along with the Brute – known for treating his children and dog very badly.

The story ends with an opening to an adventure on the sea, leaving us without information on where the magic came from and who this Marni person is. I do wish there were more information given away, it feels as if everything is being held back for the next book in the series.

ARC reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.
Book Received: For free from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara I · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't remember the exact reasons that I picked up this book. Probably because the cover looked cool and I was slightly interested in the description. I often do that :P However had I known how this book would end up I probably would have left it on the shelf.

Lucy's parents are killed with the first two (?) chapters after a boating accident. Lucy's sly uncle moves in and is clearly after her father's money. Which should be her's but as her newly appointed guardian he thinks he can get away with it.

Lucy is shipped of to what her uncle thinks is a boarding school. But really it is merely Marni's house where several other children have also taken refuge. Marni started hanging around right after Lucy's parents were drowned. Also Lucy started seeing something magical at about that time too...

While the beginning was interesting by the middle it was getting slower and didn't seem to have much of a point other than get rid of Lucy's uncle. The ending was a bit strange and left several things open and didn't tie them up. If this becomes a series that wouldn't be as much of a problem but I don't know if it/was/will be. So the ending and last half was a bit off for me.

The characters were nice, I liked Lucy but they weren't outstanding.

Content wise there were several deaths by drowning, two people get turned to wood, there were two cuss words near the end, and some magic.

[Sx3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barbara Mariconda's "The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons" takes place in turn of the century Maine with Lucy, a feisty but not annoying young girl, as the lead heroine.

Story opens with Lucy joining her parents for a ride on the ocean as her father is a former sea captain. The outing ends in tragedy as Lucy's father tries to save a strange man and ... well... let's just say that Lucy ends up in a bad situation.

There are flaws to the story in that Lucy seems to adjust a little too fast to her change in circumstances. The bad guys are little too obvious as well. And there is technically no 'voyage'. At least not in this volume although the writer does seem to be setting up for a series, which I am not opposed to.

Lucy is a nice turned heroine. Not too annoying and not too Mary Sue. She also knows how to apologize and she's the not the best at everything.

There are some good supporting characters too in Addie, the housekeeper, and Miss Maude who isn't Mary Poppins but who knows what she might be.

Overall, it was just a nice book to read on a rainy afternoon. Not quite a 4 but a decent 3.5.

[Jayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost rated this 5 out of 5 stars taking into consideration that this is a middle grade book, but in the end I felt more like a 4.5. However, that is not to say that this book is not fabulous, because it is amazingly wonderful, especially for the intended audience. I was anxious at the climax, yelling at the characters to hurry, so it is wonderful.

The protagonist Lucy lives on the Eastern shore. Like many classic children's tales she is orphaned early in the story, and this is where her dilemma and adventure begin. There is a complexity to the plot, some mystery, and magical realism that does ask the reader to suspend belief. Since this is a middle grade/children's novel this suspension of belief is not explain in logic, it is just presumed. I know that some may take issue at this, but that is why I started my review reminding readers that this is not a YA or adult novel. The themes of the book allow the protagonist to show strength in the midst of tragedy. Though the character does not take great strides in development, she does change and recognizes her independence and self-sufficiency in a way that is appropriate to her age. Bonds begin while others are severed.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an ok middle grade read, not one that I will rush to recommend to my students. My first reaction was "oh here's yet another story about an orphaned girl mistreated by her guardians." Then the author woven in a little magic, a hint of a curse, a mysterious woman who might be a sea witch and a mysterious missing aunt. These are all elements for a good story, but somehow they never quite merged together to create that good story. It's as though the author was in a hurry to get the story told and didn't quite take the time to develop it properly.

I was also bothered by the fact that despite the title, Lucy doesn't embark on a voyage until the end of the book. The ending left so many unanswered questions, that I'm guessing there must be a sequel planned. However, I'm not sure I'll spend my treasured reading time, reading it.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Lucy's parent's die in a terrible boating accident, she is left at the mercy of an unfeeling aunt and uncle who are scheming to get control of her parents' estate. At first, it seems that her only hope is the arrival of another aunt, to whom everything was entrusted, but the aunt never shows up and likely doesn't know of any of the events as she is on an unspecified quest elsewhere. Instead, another woman comes to her aid, someone who is at times compared to a siren. Other magical elements are at play as well and the whole thing wraps up in a completely unbelievable way, even suspending disbelief. It felt too much like this was the beginning of a story--yet another trilogy--as there are numerous questions left unanswered. It's too bad--it really started off quite good.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a little bit fantasy, a little historical and a lot of action. Mariconda has created a likable heroine in Lucy and the story starts off strong (though Victor made for a rather predictable villain). The added touch of sailing also made this a clever story. However by the end it became very apparent that the book was setting up for further installments which, unfortunately, made for a bit less closure in this volume than I would have liked.

A cute book sure to appeal to readers seeking adventure on the high seas--particularly anyone looking for something similar to The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi, The Nathaniel Fludd: Beastologist series by Robin LaFevers, or A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy loses her parents during a sea outing as her father tries to save a man and her mother tries to help. After their death, Lucy’s guardian becomes her greedy uncle who wants to sell her home. However, Lucy has help from an enchanted flute, her magical house and s mysterious lady who seems to come from the sea. Lucy is a feisty heroine; her story is an adventurous one that will appeal to young girls and anyone who enjoys fiction. Barbara Mariconda has entertainingly set the stage for the next book in The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons as Lucy and her friends set sail to find her aunt.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly Shakespeare, but a well-written, serviceable YA, good enough that adults can enjoy it too. The writing is crisp, the pacing is brisk, the plot is twisty enough that you're not guessing everything 3 chapters ahead. In all, a pretty decent read. I'd probably have considered it an excellent book back when I was young enough to be in its target audience... In particular, I would recommend this book to parents who are trying to raise a strong, independent daughter

(minor spoilers in the next paragraph)

Our Heroine is a 12-year-old in New England, who is orphaned by a tragic accident in 1906. Her house, it is gradually made clear to her, is... not exactly normal.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable middle-grade novel, appropriate for 7-14 year olds. This book is a lovely and imaginative adventure, complete with (unresolved) mystery and magic, and a bit of mayhem. Considering the sheer volume of unanswered questions by the end of the book, I assume it's the first in a series (I am hoping for it to be, anyway, and for the series to be as moving as the Gregor the Overlander series was for me). Lucy is a very likeable character who has all the hallmarks of a budding heroine. I look forward to joining her on her continuing adventures in the Victorian-era nautical world that Mariconda has created.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Voyage of Lucy P Simmons by Barbara A Mariconda follows Lucy P Simmons through her adventure of living with her uncle and aunt. Her uncle sends her off to a boarding school and there they find out that her uncle plans to sell the house. What will happen next and can her "boarding school" teacher save everything with a bit of magic.



This book was terrific. The characters were amazing and the magical setting is wonderful. The book was a very fast book that keeps the reader asking for more.



Appropriateness: There is no adult content in this book and it is only a bit scary. I would reccomend this book to readers 9-13

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’all, I am attracted to a bright orange cover. Hello eye candy. So, of course when The Voyage Of Lucy P. Simmons by Barbara Mariconda was up for grabs on Vine, I immediately snatched it up. ESPECIALLY because I love middle grade books with a nautical theme and for the most part, I thought The Voyage Of Lucy P. Simmons delivered on my nautical expectations.
Read the rest of my review here

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not care for this YA, or is it MG, historical fantasy about a young girl on the Maine coast whose parents drown at sea, on page 12. An abusive and awful uncle and aunt become her guardians, even though her parents’ will stated an aunt was to be her guardian. This avaricious uncle disregards the will at every turn. Meanwhile, odd magic is going on. Did I make this novel sound capricious and nonsensical? Good, I intended to. It doesn’t follow its own internal logic and that’s not good in a fantasy.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucy's idyllic life comes to a end with the tragic drowning of her beloved parents and the arrival of her greedy uncle Victor. Helped by the mysterious Marni and her faithful servant Addie, Lucy discovers secrets about her home, her family, and herself. Mariconda creates a wonderful setting for the story along with well developed characters. Unfortunately the ending was just a bit too far-fetched, even for a fantasy, and left me sadly disappointed.