What do you think?
Rate this book
Four Points #1
Pile ou face tome 1 : Cavale au bout du monde
It’s 1860 in New York City. When 12-year-old twins Alexander and Cleopatra’s father disappears, they join the Black Hook Gang and are caught by the police pulling off a heist. They agree to reveal the identity of the gang in exchange for tickets to New Orleans. But once there, Alex is shanghaied to work on a ship that is heading for San Francisco via Cape Horn. Cleo stows away on a steamer to New Granada where she hopes to catch a train to San Francisco to find her brother. Neither Alexander nor Cleo realizes the real danger they are in — they are being followed by pirates who think they hold the key to treasure. How they outwit the pirates and find each other makes for a fast-paced, breathtaking adventure.
220 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2016
60 people are currently reading
2194 people want to read
About the author
Hope Larson
141 books719 followersHope Larson is an American illustrator and comics artist. Hope Larson is the author of Salamander Dream, Gray Horses, Chiggers, and Mercury. She won a 2007 Eisner Award. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 453 reviews
January 6, 2020
A swashbuckling tale aimed at Middle graders and those who love to read adventure tales. This is set in the past during the sailing age. We follow two sets of twins who are orphans and who are wanting to get to San Francisco so that they can con an old rich man into thinking they are his twin nephews. One of the twins is a girl and boy pair, so that's a nice twist.
I thought the story was decent, but it didn't thrill me or wow me. It is a mistaken identity tale. There are pirates of course and being chased across the country.
It is possible I will go on and read the next book in this series that is out. I'll see how I feel. I'm fairly luke warm about the story. It's one of those, I doubt I will even remember I read in a year. I think younger readers might enjoy it more than I.
I thought the story was decent, but it didn't thrill me or wow me. It is a mistaken identity tale. There are pirates of course and being chased across the country.
It is possible I will go on and read the next book in this series that is out. I'll see how I feel. I'm fairly luke warm about the story. It's one of those, I doubt I will even remember I read in a year. I think younger readers might enjoy it more than I.
December 10, 2017
Cher's 1971 hit, "Tramps and Thieves":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG0C5...
So, I've been quickly reviewing Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series (and the comics version) as I prepare to read his recently released The Book of Dust, and in the process saw this first volume of The Four Points series, Compass South, which I read last year, and its second volume, in a pile of books, so finally will review, very briefly:
This is an adventure story, without the politics or religion of Pullman's series. Or the language. But it reminds me of so many books I read growing up: The Prince and the Pauper, Around the World in Eighty Days, Hardy Boys. Castaway kids. The Swiss Family Robinson. Kids making their way in the world, some of them orphans. Danger, thrills.
Compass is a comics series, so it is quicker and has less language to fill in the story, but it is fun. Lots of swash and buckle. A beautifully illustrated story of a sister and her twin brother, a lost/absent father, possible treasure, the girl pretending to be a boy, thieves, pirates. A quick and fun read. 3.5, rounded up because the 11 and 12 year olds here liked it quite a bit. (And I dusted off The Swiss Family Robinson and The Prince and the Pauper and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to put on the pile of books).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG0C5...
So, I've been quickly reviewing Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series (and the comics version) as I prepare to read his recently released The Book of Dust, and in the process saw this first volume of The Four Points series, Compass South, which I read last year, and its second volume, in a pile of books, so finally will review, very briefly:
This is an adventure story, without the politics or religion of Pullman's series. Or the language. But it reminds me of so many books I read growing up: The Prince and the Pauper, Around the World in Eighty Days, Hardy Boys. Castaway kids. The Swiss Family Robinson. Kids making their way in the world, some of them orphans. Danger, thrills.
Compass is a comics series, so it is quicker and has less language to fill in the story, but it is fun. Lots of swash and buckle. A beautifully illustrated story of a sister and her twin brother, a lost/absent father, possible treasure, the girl pretending to be a boy, thieves, pirates. A quick and fun read. 3.5, rounded up because the 11 and 12 year olds here liked it quite a bit. (And I dusted off The Swiss Family Robinson and The Prince and the Pauper and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to put on the pile of books).
April 15, 2022
Cool art and idea. Four similar characters is a LOT for this kind of thing, and having them split on similar but different missions got me confused every once in a while as to who was who and what they were doing. Also some of the trappings were a bit generic (especially the crushes and daddy issues). But like I said, it was cool! I was surprised we didn't get the larger treasure quest, but I guess that's for book 2.
July 6, 2017
Lots of swash and adventuring in this beautifully illustrated story of a sister and her twin brother, a lost/absent father, a possible treasure, the girl pretending to be a boy, thieves, pirates, nefarious schemes and plenty of action. A quick and fun read.
August 12, 2021
What happens when you take two pairs of twins, mix them up and send them in separate directions? Unexpected friendships. And what happens when one of those twins just happens to be a girl in disguise? Very unexpected but very sweet romance.
This was fantastic! A beautifully illustrated and coloured middle grade graphic novel.
I thought it was going to be all adventure—and to be fair there was quite a lot of adventure—but that wasn’t the main focus. Throughout the story the focus remained subtly on the bond of new friendships and that really took me by surprise.
The quest for treasure was more of an afterthought. And after that ending I’m not certain what lies in store for the characters in Knife's Edge but I’m eager to find out!
This was fantastic! A beautifully illustrated and coloured middle grade graphic novel.
I thought it was going to be all adventure—and to be fair there was quite a lot of adventure—but that wasn’t the main focus. Throughout the story the focus remained subtly on the bond of new friendships and that really took me by surprise.
The quest for treasure was more of an afterthought. And after that ending I’m not certain what lies in store for the characters in Knife's Edge but I’m eager to find out!
May 31, 2025
if you're looking for a swashbuckling tale full of adventure, lost treasure, siblings finding their way back to each other, friends in unlikely circumstances and found family, this is it!! this was so much fun. Tried it for a book club challenge and glad I did ☠️💙
March 13, 2018
Manhattan, 1860. Red-headed twins Cleopatra and Alexander find themselves burglaring for an orphan street gang after their father goes out to a job one day and never returns. A run-in with the police and an ad in the paper send them off on an ocean adventure that includes another set of red-headed twins, some pirates, heirlooms that are more than what they appear, and finding out who they are as individuals.
It's a fun, fast-paced, sea-adventure graphic novel with diverse characters and a forward-moving plot. The art is bright, breezy, and endearing.
Highly recommended for its intended audience.
It's a fun, fast-paced, sea-adventure graphic novel with diverse characters and a forward-moving plot. The art is bright, breezy, and endearing.
Highly recommended for its intended audience.
July 13, 2019
This is an adventure story that follows orphaned twins in the nineteenth century. The protagonists start out as members of a children's street gang in New York. Due to complications with the law, they have to leave the city, and they decide to go to the west coast in order to do a con job. In the process, they get separated and have adventures at sea. There are a lot of twists and turns, and I found myself surprised at some of the twists that occurred. Overall, this is a great adventure story that is well worth reading.
June 25, 2016
Compass South is one of the best adventure comics I’ve read in years. Hope Larson’s script delivers a propulsive narrative with engaging characters, and Rebecca Mock’s expressive art masterfully flushes the world of 1860 and the folks who live in it.
As dialogue goes, many historical comics create an obstacle for readers. Either the author offers up text that is too wrapped up in period syntax to make for an easy read (leading a prospective younger audience struggle), or they eschew that syntax for a more modern style of dialogue and in doing so robs the story of its flavor and verisimilitude. Compass South strikes a deft balance between delivering period authenticity (if there were anachronisms in content or dialogue, none jumped out at me) and accessibility. Though the story pulls no punches with its depictions of life-and-limb danger, it’s entirely appropriate for a younger audience, and I suspect that I’ll either read it with my daughter (six) soon or pass it on for her to read herself. The dialogue makes that possible, but it also doesn’t mar the experience for adult period buffs, either.
Like many YA books, this one allows for a sequel, but is a complete story in its own right (installment books that fail to deliver a stand-alone reading experience are a pet peeve, so that aspect is certainly appreciated). I can think of few books whose arrival I anticipate more than the follow-up to this one.
As dialogue goes, many historical comics create an obstacle for readers. Either the author offers up text that is too wrapped up in period syntax to make for an easy read (leading a prospective younger audience struggle), or they eschew that syntax for a more modern style of dialogue and in doing so robs the story of its flavor and verisimilitude. Compass South strikes a deft balance between delivering period authenticity (if there were anachronisms in content or dialogue, none jumped out at me) and accessibility. Though the story pulls no punches with its depictions of life-and-limb danger, it’s entirely appropriate for a younger audience, and I suspect that I’ll either read it with my daughter (six) soon or pass it on for her to read herself. The dialogue makes that possible, but it also doesn’t mar the experience for adult period buffs, either.
Like many YA books, this one allows for a sequel, but is a complete story in its own right (installment books that fail to deliver a stand-alone reading experience are a pet peeve, so that aspect is certainly appreciated). I can think of few books whose arrival I anticipate more than the follow-up to this one.
December 2, 2017
This is a great book, I loved graphic novels and this is a great choice for everybody to read it. The ending was sad, I love it and I can’t wait for chapter 2 of this you should watch it, it is really good.
August 11, 2020
This honestly is my favourite book and i give it 15.5 five stars, 'cause it's JUST THAT GOOD- Alright? The drawing's are obviously amazing and The love is also very cute :,) even though that's not the main focus- shut up
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2016
This reminded me a lot of Amulet, I really liked the friendship and the adventure.
April 6, 2024
Representation: Black and Native American characters
Trigger warnings: Near-death experience, death and murder, dead bodies, physical assault and injury, sword violence, disappearance of a father
Score: Seven out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
I haven't heard of Compass South, a historical novel composed of illustrations until a few days ago when I picked it up at a public library while I tried to search for other books that sadly I missed and and now weren't available. The blurb made it seem intriguing and when I closed the final page, the novel was enjoyable.
It starts with a prologue set in 1848 spanning a few pages before cutting to 1860 where the central story begins with Alex and Cleo who join a gang to try to find their father who disappeared, but that doesn't go to plan. Alex has to work on a ship while Cleo goes on another ship to look for him, all while a pair of twin brothers have gone missing but are still alive somewhere. Compass South shines in its action scenes and fast pacing, but sometimes the plot can get disjointed and do too much with the multiple POVs. Prose novels handle multiple POVs better than illustrated ones most of the time so that could've been a better choice and the characters are likable and ones I could root for but they're not the most relatable. Other characters were in the background, but I'd loved to have seen more of them like the other pair and that one Native American character or that Black captain (who only got a brief appearance.)
I thought Compass South ended too quickly since it was barely over 200 pages, but at least there's a sequel but it's unclear if any library has it yet. Compass South has a theme of questionable moral choices, especially the ones Alex and Cleo make, implying that morals can go out the window when times get desperate. The conclusion can work fine by itself as all the characters achieve their goals as Alex and Cleo reunite and the other pair aren't missing anymore, but I question why the series needs a second instalment.
Trigger warnings: Near-death experience, death and murder, dead bodies, physical assault and injury, sword violence, disappearance of a father
Score: Seven out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
I haven't heard of Compass South, a historical novel composed of illustrations until a few days ago when I picked it up at a public library while I tried to search for other books that sadly I missed and and now weren't available. The blurb made it seem intriguing and when I closed the final page, the novel was enjoyable.
It starts with a prologue set in 1848 spanning a few pages before cutting to 1860 where the central story begins with Alex and Cleo who join a gang to try to find their father who disappeared, but that doesn't go to plan. Alex has to work on a ship while Cleo goes on another ship to look for him, all while a pair of twin brothers have gone missing but are still alive somewhere. Compass South shines in its action scenes and fast pacing, but sometimes the plot can get disjointed and do too much with the multiple POVs. Prose novels handle multiple POVs better than illustrated ones most of the time so that could've been a better choice and the characters are likable and ones I could root for but they're not the most relatable. Other characters were in the background, but I'd loved to have seen more of them like the other pair and that one Native American character or that Black captain (who only got a brief appearance.)
I thought Compass South ended too quickly since it was barely over 200 pages, but at least there's a sequel but it's unclear if any library has it yet. Compass South has a theme of questionable moral choices, especially the ones Alex and Cleo make, implying that morals can go out the window when times get desperate. The conclusion can work fine by itself as all the characters achieve their goals as Alex and Cleo reunite and the other pair aren't missing anymore, but I question why the series needs a second instalment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2021
After reading The Poppy War I needed something light and with more pictures than text. Compass South is a kids-graphic novel with a Treasure Island and Pirates of the Caribbean take on it. I really liked it: the art is great, the story is adventerous und exciting and our main characters fun to follow. I recommend for graphiv novel fans like me!
June 26, 2017
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
Compass South was originally published in 2016, and I hadn't heard about it until the awesome folks over at :01 First Second Books invited me to join the blog tour for the sequel, Knife's Edge. Also, I really hadn't been into graphic novels until very recently, so I guess that's another reason I hadn't heard of it. But now that I'm obsessed with graphic novels, I jumped on the chance to check this out - I mean, face it - a middle grade graphic novel adventure that features pirates, twins, and secrets? Yes, please - sign me up!
Twins Alex and Cleo are twelve years old, and they are essentially abandoned by a father who leaves on a job and never returns. After waiting for a few weeks, they realize that something horrible must have happened and that he isn't coming back, and they decide to take up an offer in the newspaper about a man looking to find his twin boys, both of whom have red hair. The man is offering a reward, and they figure hey, why not? They don't have anything to lose, and they're down on their luck, so Cleo cuts off her hair and the two decide to board a ship and head to San Francisco. So the twins sell off their old gang boss's identity (they were a part of the Black Hook Gang, completing robberies and the like), and in exchange will receive passage to New Orleans, where they can begin a new life. Since they want to get to San Francisco, they decide that this is good for now - they can complete the journey on their own.
Unfortunately, they meet up with another set of twins who have the same idea, and Alex and Cleo get separated from each other - and the other set of twins get separated as well. Alex is kidnapped and thrown on a ship, where he is forced to work, while Cleo becomes a stowaway on another ship, hoping that she will meet Alex at the end of their journeys.
All through this, we see glimpses of the Black Hook Gang and how they are after both Alex and Cleo, looking for them and the two items that they hold dear - a pocket watch and a knife, from their mother, before she died. Avoiding these people is difficult, and when they get separated and are forced to do what they can to survive, it becomes a really fun and interesting adventure.
This is such a fun story, and it worked out amazingly well as a graphic novel. It was the kind of fun that keeps you at the edge of your seat and allows you to use your own mind to slowly put the pieces of the puzzle together. The twins are great characters and the story goes back and forth between Alex and Cleo. It's easy to follow, and the twists and turns keep it interesting and exciting through the very last page.
I loved both Alex and Cleo as characters. Alex is a hardworking, steadfast character who knows what he wants, and Cleo is loyal and, at the same time, independent. She does what needs to be done. I think that the way her character was written will definitely draw in a lot of readers - middle grade readers especially will rejoice when they have the chance to read an enthralling and exciting story about these two.
The artwork in Compass South was beautifully done - I really love Rebecca Mock's style and the way that she was able to really make her characters come to life through her art. The images and the story meshed so well together and were both so full of life. This is the very first middle grade graphic novel that I've read, and I can't wait to pick up more!
Compass South was such a delight to read - the story was a complete adventure from the very beginning until the last page, and I'm thrilled that the sequel is soon to be published as well, giving us a chance to see what happens in the lives of Alex and Cleo after the end of Compass South.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!
Compass South was originally published in 2016, and I hadn't heard about it until the awesome folks over at :01 First Second Books invited me to join the blog tour for the sequel, Knife's Edge. Also, I really hadn't been into graphic novels until very recently, so I guess that's another reason I hadn't heard of it. But now that I'm obsessed with graphic novels, I jumped on the chance to check this out - I mean, face it - a middle grade graphic novel adventure that features pirates, twins, and secrets? Yes, please - sign me up!
Twins Alex and Cleo are twelve years old, and they are essentially abandoned by a father who leaves on a job and never returns. After waiting for a few weeks, they realize that something horrible must have happened and that he isn't coming back, and they decide to take up an offer in the newspaper about a man looking to find his twin boys, both of whom have red hair. The man is offering a reward, and they figure hey, why not? They don't have anything to lose, and they're down on their luck, so Cleo cuts off her hair and the two decide to board a ship and head to San Francisco. So the twins sell off their old gang boss's identity (they were a part of the Black Hook Gang, completing robberies and the like), and in exchange will receive passage to New Orleans, where they can begin a new life. Since they want to get to San Francisco, they decide that this is good for now - they can complete the journey on their own.
Unfortunately, they meet up with another set of twins who have the same idea, and Alex and Cleo get separated from each other - and the other set of twins get separated as well. Alex is kidnapped and thrown on a ship, where he is forced to work, while Cleo becomes a stowaway on another ship, hoping that she will meet Alex at the end of their journeys.
All through this, we see glimpses of the Black Hook Gang and how they are after both Alex and Cleo, looking for them and the two items that they hold dear - a pocket watch and a knife, from their mother, before she died. Avoiding these people is difficult, and when they get separated and are forced to do what they can to survive, it becomes a really fun and interesting adventure.
This is such a fun story, and it worked out amazingly well as a graphic novel. It was the kind of fun that keeps you at the edge of your seat and allows you to use your own mind to slowly put the pieces of the puzzle together. The twins are great characters and the story goes back and forth between Alex and Cleo. It's easy to follow, and the twists and turns keep it interesting and exciting through the very last page.
I loved both Alex and Cleo as characters. Alex is a hardworking, steadfast character who knows what he wants, and Cleo is loyal and, at the same time, independent. She does what needs to be done. I think that the way her character was written will definitely draw in a lot of readers - middle grade readers especially will rejoice when they have the chance to read an enthralling and exciting story about these two.
The artwork in Compass South was beautifully done - I really love Rebecca Mock's style and the way that she was able to really make her characters come to life through her art. The images and the story meshed so well together and were both so full of life. This is the very first middle grade graphic novel that I've read, and I can't wait to pick up more!
Compass South was such a delight to read - the story was a complete adventure from the very beginning until the last page, and I'm thrilled that the sequel is soon to be published as well, giving us a chance to see what happens in the lives of Alex and Cleo after the end of Compass South.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!
December 23, 2019
and it was good. i liked it but it wasn't anything special to me.
i don't read a ton of graphic novels so i'm not a graphic novel connoisseur but i really liked the art style.
i think the main problem i had with this story was that it was really simple. painstakingly so. maybe i would have liked it when i was younger and hadn't had all the experience to more complex books but it was really simple. another gripe that i had was that, at the beginning, i couldn't tell who was who. the story is about 2 sets of readhaired twins. (i'm not gonna crack a ginger joke i promise). they were both sets of identical twins as well so it made it very hard for me to keep the storylines straight. i figured it out later into the story but i was very confused for a while.
i think that this story would translate really well into a movie. just something about the story and the time period tells me that it could be very well done as a film.
anyways, 3 simple stars about of 5✨.
i am now one book closer to my goodreads challenge!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
i'm trying to finish my goodreads goal with a graphic novel. i hope this is good.
i don't read a ton of graphic novels so i'm not a graphic novel connoisseur but i really liked the art style.
i think the main problem i had with this story was that it was really simple. painstakingly so. maybe i would have liked it when i was younger and hadn't had all the experience to more complex books but it was really simple. another gripe that i had was that, at the beginning, i couldn't tell who was who. the story is about 2 sets of readhaired twins. (i'm not gonna crack a ginger joke i promise). they were both sets of identical twins as well so it made it very hard for me to keep the storylines straight. i figured it out later into the story but i was very confused for a while.
i think that this story would translate really well into a movie. just something about the story and the time period tells me that it could be very well done as a film.
anyways, 3 simple stars about of 5✨.
i am now one book closer to my goodreads challenge!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
i'm trying to finish my goodreads goal with a graphic novel. i hope this is good.
December 8, 2016
True story: yesterday I was at the bookstore, and I overheard a grandmother asking a clerk to help her find a book for her grandson. She had a short list of titles, but could not find any of them on the shelves. I hear the bookseller say, "Oh, that's because these are with the graphic novels." After a short pause (I wish I could have seen their faces!), she added, "Graphic novels as in novels with lots of pictures, not GRAPHIC novels!", and I heard the grandmother let out a big breath and say, "Ohhh.... okay."
Anyway, I was thinking I would not like this book. I was thinking, a story set more than 100 years ago, as basically a comic strip? No, thank you. But I picked it up at the library anyway, and I was more than pleasantly surprised! Quick read? Yes! Developed and believable characters? Check! Nice story arc and good plot? Bingo! I would say it took about three to six pages before I was completely engrossed -- pretty darn fast. Am I a new fan of graphic novels? No, not yet. But for anyone who doubts the genre in general, I would point them to this title.
Anyway, I was thinking I would not like this book. I was thinking, a story set more than 100 years ago, as basically a comic strip? No, thank you. But I picked it up at the library anyway, and I was more than pleasantly surprised! Quick read? Yes! Developed and believable characters? Check! Nice story arc and good plot? Bingo! I would say it took about three to six pages before I was completely engrossed -- pretty darn fast. Am I a new fan of graphic novels? No, not yet. But for anyone who doubts the genre in general, I would point them to this title.
September 15, 2019
This is the first part of a treasure hunt story reminiscent of Treasure Island, but none of that is clear at first. At first it's just about a pair of orphan twins, a brother and a sister, who dream up a scam to find parents so they can stop stealing and living on the streets. They get separate and have two different adventures at sea. What they don't know is that they have the means to find a treasure and a pirate is looking for them.
There are surprises and while they may seem ridiculous, they all make perfect story-telling sense. Great read.
There are surprises and while they may seem ridiculous, they all make perfect story-telling sense. Great read.
September 6, 2016
Really strong first volume hooks you right from the start so that you have a tough time putting it down! Usually it's a bad idea to mix elements from so many different genres together in one book, but Larson makes it work and doesn't even stretch plausibility all that much. I'm really excited about this series, especially as it makes for a good read-alike for the Three Thieves series and vice versa.
June 15, 2016
Old-fashioned adventure on the high seas and in tropical jungles. Set in the nineteenth century, two sets of red-haired twins race from New York to San Francisco with pirates! on their tail. #bookaday
January 13, 2018
This book was really cute and loving. I loved how they are separated and how they miss each other. I thought it was adorable how Cleopatra's relationship with her guy. How she got jealous that he kissed someone was so cute and how they kissed each other. I cannot wait to see how the father is.
August 22, 2016
A rollicking, Mark Twain-style adventure that will appeal to both graphic novel fans and reluctant readers. This one is a lot of fun!
November 12, 2018
4* art
4* story
A fun adventure with treasure and two sets of twins and a lost father...
4* story
A fun adventure with treasure and two sets of twins and a lost father...
November 20, 2019
Good but could be better.
January 15, 2022
Manhattan 1848: A Mr. Dodge recieves a midnight visitor with an unusual gift- a pair of newborn twins born to Mr. Dodge's true love Hester, whom he hasn't seen in five years. Hester has died, leaving her babies behind in the care of Mr. Dodge, along with a compass and knife- the twins' birthright. 12 years later Mr. Dodge is missing, presumed dead, leaving Cleopatra and Alexander are alone in the world and have joined the Black Hook gang. Alexander is learning to be a thief but a robbery gone wrong changes the course of the twins' lives and sends them on a wild adventure involving kidnapping, pirates, another pair of twins and an unusual treasure map. Can they survive to be reunited and find out what happened to their father and where the treasure is?
This series came highly recommended by my brother and my niece. They know I love the 19th-century and to get an idea of what my niece knows about history, I thought I'd check it out. Graphic novels aren't my thing. I need more story and I never like the illustrations. This one has a good amount of story to it but the way it is presented makes it read like one of Louisa May Alcott's early thrillers ("blood and thunder tales"). It has all the hallmarks of that sort of adventure tale but for kids, so hopefully less drama and violence. Actually there is a fair amount of violence. The lack of substantial text made me confused in spots. As with many kids' stories these days, there's a brief attempt to explain why the villain kid is so nasty to Alexander, but that seems to go nowhere fast. It's very weird. The treasure map plot comes out of thin air but I suspected the knife and compass were important to the story somehow. I sincerely hope there's not a literal treasure like gold. Lazy writing. Snooze. Been there, read that.
Cleo is supposed to be a role model for girls because she's tough, feisty, smart- she always makes the plans- and loyal. I didn't really warm up to either twin. There's not enough text to tell me what they're thinking and feelings, what their story is. It's all very strange. There's a bizarre romantic subplot that makes no sense and one kissing scene that also doesn't make sense. Alexander is the softer of the pair. He loves his sister and feels protective of her but doesn't always make the best decisions. I liked him a little better than Cleo who is too impulsive but I didn't like how Alexander is always fighting.
The other pair of twins are slighly more sympathtic characters. They knew once what it meant to be loved and have a family and all they want is that security back. While Edwin has a hasty temper and is always fighting, he loves his brother and is protective. He's rather proud and arrogant at times but also unused to and unable to do hard labor. His weakness showcase Alex/Patrick's strengths. His temper make shim want to fight and keep fighting so he agrees to anything the villanous captain puts him through. Silas is softer and kinder. He's more helpful and the bond between him and Cleo/Patrick feels more authentic. The character growths are good but in this format, everything feels sketched and not detailed enough to make a lot of sense.
The villain, Luther, is a kid, a street rat, badly in need of a backstory. How did he become part of the Black Hook gang? Why does he join up with the pirates and chase after Alex and Cleo? His reasoning for hating Alex does not make ANY sense to me. I hate it when the villains have a moral tale to tell. At least this story has a true villain as well. The pirate, Felix Worthy, is as nasty and ruthless as one would wish in a villain. He's scary and dangerous without a backstory or a redemption plot. Thank goodness. The most interesting character is "The Mate." Again the storytelling style is choppy and he needs for backstory. Is he immortal? Is Amira mythical? I appreciate how he helps the kids in spite of it being 1860 and the chilling threat of being sold into slavery. (Perhaps by his own father).
The brief interlude in the jungle of Panama feels WAY out of place. The introduction of an indigenous girl and her family was wildly inappropriate. It didn't fit the rest of the story and is whitewashed.
I've read a lot of nautical books set in the heyday of the whaling industry, California Gold Rush stories and others and this one seems a little off in the historic detail. Some of it is great but other things just felt off to me, like why doesn't the mate have a name? I'm being nitpicky but this is one reason I do not enjoy graphic novels. I need some more specifics, I need an author's note at the end.
I'm not a huge fan of the illustrations. I don't care for that wide-eyed look but I know it's popular with tweens. I had a hard time telling the twins apart - both pairs, which might be deliberate. I had to go back and see if I could find a small detail to differentiate them.
I will, of course, tell my niece I liked it and read the second volume.
This series came highly recommended by my brother and my niece. They know I love the 19th-century and to get an idea of what my niece knows about history, I thought I'd check it out. Graphic novels aren't my thing. I need more story and I never like the illustrations. This one has a good amount of story to it but the way it is presented makes it read like one of Louisa May Alcott's early thrillers ("blood and thunder tales"). It has all the hallmarks of that sort of adventure tale but for kids, so hopefully less drama and violence. Actually there is a fair amount of violence. The lack of substantial text made me confused in spots. As with many kids' stories these days, there's a brief attempt to explain why the villain kid is so nasty to Alexander, but that seems to go nowhere fast. It's very weird. The treasure map plot comes out of thin air but I suspected the knife and compass were important to the story somehow. I sincerely hope there's not a literal treasure like gold. Lazy writing. Snooze. Been there, read that.
Cleo is supposed to be a role model for girls because she's tough, feisty, smart- she always makes the plans- and loyal. I didn't really warm up to either twin. There's not enough text to tell me what they're thinking and feelings, what their story is. It's all very strange. There's a bizarre romantic subplot that makes no sense and one kissing scene that also doesn't make sense. Alexander is the softer of the pair. He loves his sister and feels protective of her but doesn't always make the best decisions. I liked him a little better than Cleo who is too impulsive but I didn't like how Alexander is always fighting.
The other pair of twins are slighly more sympathtic characters. They knew once what it meant to be loved and have a family and all they want is that security back. While Edwin has a hasty temper and is always fighting, he loves his brother and is protective. He's rather proud and arrogant at times but also unused to and unable to do hard labor. His weakness showcase Alex/Patrick's strengths. His temper make shim want to fight and keep fighting so he agrees to anything the villanous captain puts him through. Silas is softer and kinder. He's more helpful and the bond between him and Cleo/Patrick feels more authentic. The character growths are good but in this format, everything feels sketched and not detailed enough to make a lot of sense.
The villain, Luther, is a kid, a street rat, badly in need of a backstory. How did he become part of the Black Hook gang? Why does he join up with the pirates and chase after Alex and Cleo? His reasoning for hating Alex does not make ANY sense to me. I hate it when the villains have a moral tale to tell. At least this story has a true villain as well. The pirate, Felix Worthy, is as nasty and ruthless as one would wish in a villain. He's scary and dangerous without a backstory or a redemption plot. Thank goodness. The most interesting character is "The Mate." Again the storytelling style is choppy and he needs for backstory. Is he immortal? Is Amira mythical? I appreciate how he helps the kids in spite of it being 1860 and the chilling threat of being sold into slavery. (Perhaps by his own father).
The brief interlude in the jungle of Panama feels WAY out of place. The introduction of an indigenous girl and her family was wildly inappropriate. It didn't fit the rest of the story and is whitewashed.
I've read a lot of nautical books set in the heyday of the whaling industry, California Gold Rush stories and others and this one seems a little off in the historic detail. Some of it is great but other things just felt off to me, like why doesn't the mate have a name? I'm being nitpicky but this is one reason I do not enjoy graphic novels. I need some more specifics, I need an author's note at the end.
I'm not a huge fan of the illustrations. I don't care for that wide-eyed look but I know it's popular with tweens. I had a hard time telling the twins apart - both pairs, which might be deliberate. I had to go back and see if I could find a small detail to differentiate them.
I will, of course, tell my niece I liked it and read the second volume.
May 13, 2022
The story was promising, but ended super abruptly. I didn't love the artwork. It looks nice, but didn't give much detail to what was going on in the story. Sometimes they were too small to make out solid details that would have aided the story.
April 29, 2021
I really liked this book, the only reason why I didn't give it a four-star review was that sometimes I couldn't tell which twin was who because both pairs looked alike.
March 12, 2024
I love this book so much!!!!!
I’ve read it so many times!!!!
I’ve read it so many times!!!!
June 22, 2017
"I bought 'er that shell from Tahiti. She sewed it over her eye patch so she could watch over me, no matter the distance between us."
This adventure novel has it all: rollicking fun, danger, heart, family bonds, and a pinch of budding romance. It's aimed at middle grade readers, so it's a fast read. But the plot kept me hooked, and I'm already excited to dive into book two.
The story revolves around a pair of twins who are separated while they are on the run from gangsters, pirates, and the law. The bond between them plays a large role in the novel, but there's are also themes of found families and I loved that inclusion.
Graphic novels illustrated in full color are my kryptonite. Rebecca Mock did a great job will the artwork here. I enjoyed her style and use of color to set the mood. She's only worked on this series, but I'm looking forward to seeing more from her.
There is a heartbreaking side story of a sailer and his lost love (the quote above is from their tale), and I do hope the author considers giving them a spinoff novel.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend to middle grade readers looking for a fun adventure book, and older readers in the mood for an enjoyable graphic novel to spend the afternoon with.
This adventure novel has it all: rollicking fun, danger, heart, family bonds, and a pinch of budding romance. It's aimed at middle grade readers, so it's a fast read. But the plot kept me hooked, and I'm already excited to dive into book two.
The story revolves around a pair of twins who are separated while they are on the run from gangsters, pirates, and the law. The bond between them plays a large role in the novel, but there's are also themes of found families and I loved that inclusion.
Graphic novels illustrated in full color are my kryptonite. Rebecca Mock did a great job will the artwork here. I enjoyed her style and use of color to set the mood. She's only worked on this series, but I'm looking forward to seeing more from her.
There is a heartbreaking side story of a sailer and his lost love (the quote above is from their tale), and I do hope the author considers giving them a spinoff novel.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend to middle grade readers looking for a fun adventure book, and older readers in the mood for an enjoyable graphic novel to spend the afternoon with.
April 27, 2018
I read this with our 5yo, and we both enjoyed it. The storyline stretched her (it's a visuals-centric tale with two sets of identical twins after all...and there are some ship names and a variety of geographic settings - details to track), but - with a few pauses to review who characters were and where in the world they were - it was a fun story.
As so often happens with main-character youth, Cleo and Alex's parents aren't in the picture. The adventures of untethered youth are interesting as anything seems possible and, well, they have to survive, don't they? Consequently, outlandish schemes seem reasonable and one can suspend belief as they stowaway on ships and run through the Central American jungle and such.
The book finished fairly satisfyingly even as we were eager to hop right into Book #2 in the series.
As so often happens with main-character youth, Cleo and Alex's parents aren't in the picture. The adventures of untethered youth are interesting as anything seems possible and, well, they have to survive, don't they? Consequently, outlandish schemes seem reasonable and one can suspend belief as they stowaway on ships and run through the Central American jungle and such.
The book finished fairly satisfyingly even as we were eager to hop right into Book #2 in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 453 reviews