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Race to the Bottom of the Sea
Can a clever young inventor uncover a ruthless pirate’s heart of gold?
Thrilling sea adventure takes on a hint of steampunk in the second book by the author of the acclaimed Hour of the Bees.
When her parents, the great marine scientists Dr. and Dr. Quail, are killed in a tragic accident, eleven-year-old Fidelia Quail is racked by grief — and guilt. It was a submarine of Fidelia’s invention that her parents were in when they died, and it was she who pressed them to stay out longer when the raging Undertow was looming. But Fidelia is forced out of her mourning when she’s kidnapped by Merrick the Monstrous, a pirate whose list of treasons stretches longer than a ribbon eel. Her task? Use her marine know-how to retrieve his treasure, lost on the ocean floor. But as Fidelia and the pirates close in on the prize, with the navy hot on their heels, she realizes that Merrick doesn’t expect to live long enough to enjoy his loot. Could something other than black-hearted greed be driving him? Will Fidelia be able to master the perils of the ocean without her parents — and piece together the mystery of Merrick the Monstrous before it’s too late?
Thrilling sea adventure takes on a hint of steampunk in the second book by the author of the acclaimed Hour of the Bees.
When her parents, the great marine scientists Dr. and Dr. Quail, are killed in a tragic accident, eleven-year-old Fidelia Quail is racked by grief — and guilt. It was a submarine of Fidelia’s invention that her parents were in when they died, and it was she who pressed them to stay out longer when the raging Undertow was looming. But Fidelia is forced out of her mourning when she’s kidnapped by Merrick the Monstrous, a pirate whose list of treasons stretches longer than a ribbon eel. Her task? Use her marine know-how to retrieve his treasure, lost on the ocean floor. But as Fidelia and the pirates close in on the prize, with the navy hot on their heels, she realizes that Merrick doesn’t expect to live long enough to enjoy his loot. Could something other than black-hearted greed be driving him? Will Fidelia be able to master the perils of the ocean without her parents — and piece together the mystery of Merrick the Monstrous before it’s too late?
432 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2017
58 people are currently reading
1634 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
April 3, 2017
I didn't know it until this moment, but this is the book I have been waiting for since I was ten years old. Exploration, sharks, pirates, plundering, treasure, love, adventure, mystery: this book has it all. I think Fidelia Quail embodies exactly what ten-year-old me wanted to be. She was smart, nerdy, and brave, but she also had a lot of heart. I love her for that. What a great character for middle-grade girls to look up to.
October 25, 2017
I received a finished copy of this book from Candlewick Press in exchange for a free and honest review.
Race to the Bottom of the Sea follows eleven year old Fidelia Quail, who is the product of two world renowned marine biologists. Fidelia herself is a young genius inventor who helps her parents with their work and studies. At the beginning of the book, Fidelia experiences a great personal loss that shakes her entire world, and causes her to feel some discomfort with the aspects of her life that she's always known and loved (such as the ocean).
There were a couple of aspects of this book that I really loved, the first being the recurring existential themes of death, grief, and loss. Fidelia is grappling with these human issues at such a young age, and I found it moving to see how she was processing and experiencing her grief. She even moves into a state of examining what impact she wants to leave on the world and the lives of others. I also appreciated Fidelia's love for invention, sharks, and the ocean in general. It's always fun when a character has a particular interest that they obviously know a ton about. I love seeing a character's passions!
There were a few downsides of this book for me. I typically enjoy symbolic language, but I wasn't a fan of the constant aquatic similes that were used in this text. However, I also understand that this helped to establish just how much Fidelia's life on the ocean has shaped her; it just didn't suit my particular reading tastes. There was also a mystery element to this story that I figured out about halfway through the book. Perhaps to middle grade readers (rather than adults) it might not have seemed quite as obvious though!
I would recommend this for younger readers, particularly if they love pirate mysteries! Also, check this out if you want to read something about young girls in STEM. :)
Race to the Bottom of the Sea follows eleven year old Fidelia Quail, who is the product of two world renowned marine biologists. Fidelia herself is a young genius inventor who helps her parents with their work and studies. At the beginning of the book, Fidelia experiences a great personal loss that shakes her entire world, and causes her to feel some discomfort with the aspects of her life that she's always known and loved (such as the ocean).
There were a couple of aspects of this book that I really loved, the first being the recurring existential themes of death, grief, and loss. Fidelia is grappling with these human issues at such a young age, and I found it moving to see how she was processing and experiencing her grief. She even moves into a state of examining what impact she wants to leave on the world and the lives of others. I also appreciated Fidelia's love for invention, sharks, and the ocean in general. It's always fun when a character has a particular interest that they obviously know a ton about. I love seeing a character's passions!
There were a few downsides of this book for me. I typically enjoy symbolic language, but I wasn't a fan of the constant aquatic similes that were used in this text. However, I also understand that this helped to establish just how much Fidelia's life on the ocean has shaped her; it just didn't suit my particular reading tastes. There was also a mystery element to this story that I figured out about halfway through the book. Perhaps to middle grade readers (rather than adults) it might not have seemed quite as obvious though!
I would recommend this for younger readers, particularly if they love pirate mysteries! Also, check this out if you want to read something about young girls in STEM. :)
April 22, 2021
I enjoyed this book to the point I reached, however, I feel it is aimed at a younger age group and isn't quite what I hoped it would be. A great book for those around the age of 13/14 yrs that like a ocean adventure.
October 9, 2017
Originally posted at Log Cabin Library
Opening lines: "Two scoops of mashed fish guts. Four gallons of blood. Mix together in a barrel then pour into the ocean."
There are a lot of interesting elements going on in Race to the Bottom of the Sea that I didn't expect. For one, it's a pirate story filled with high sea adventure, cannons, and a corrupt Navy Admiral in pursuit of Captain Merrick, his crew, and the treasure they have hidden. There are lovely descriptions of life on the Jewel, hoisting masts, and removing barnacles. Trying to evade the Admiral and rival pirates too. While Fidelia brings all the wonder and knowledge of marine life to the story. Everything from the sharks that she encounters to her first glimpse of jellyfish. She's bright and creative and knowledgeable and this gives her the perfect opportunity to show what she knows. Interspersed within the chapters are passages from Fidelia's parent's book, Exploring an Underwater Fairyland and pages from her parent's journals on their previous explorations which she uses to help her come up with a solution on how to breathe underwater. Captain Merrick was a very complex character who I ended up liking more than I thought I would. His story is told through flashbacks to events from his past, giving context for many of his actions and helping fill in the blanks for how the treasure ended up at the bottom of the sea and why it is so important to him to retrieve. Merrick doesn't turn out to be as entirely ruthless as I initially thought, and his motivations make more sense as more of his history is revealed. At 423 pages this was on the longer side, I did however become so engrossed in the story that it seemed to fly by. Overall, I enjoyed this pirate adventure with its determined and knowledgeable main character.
Favorite quote: "Knowledge is a vessel deeper than the sea. A fool splashes in a pond and thinks he has the answers, but a wise man knows the only way to reach its depths is to ask questions."
* I received an ARC paperback as a part of a giveaway sponsored by ArmChair Book Expo and book provided by Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review*
Opening lines: "Two scoops of mashed fish guts. Four gallons of blood. Mix together in a barrel then pour into the ocean."
There are a lot of interesting elements going on in Race to the Bottom of the Sea that I didn't expect. For one, it's a pirate story filled with high sea adventure, cannons, and a corrupt Navy Admiral in pursuit of Captain Merrick, his crew, and the treasure they have hidden. There are lovely descriptions of life on the Jewel, hoisting masts, and removing barnacles. Trying to evade the Admiral and rival pirates too. While Fidelia brings all the wonder and knowledge of marine life to the story. Everything from the sharks that she encounters to her first glimpse of jellyfish. She's bright and creative and knowledgeable and this gives her the perfect opportunity to show what she knows. Interspersed within the chapters are passages from Fidelia's parent's book, Exploring an Underwater Fairyland and pages from her parent's journals on their previous explorations which she uses to help her come up with a solution on how to breathe underwater. Captain Merrick was a very complex character who I ended up liking more than I thought I would. His story is told through flashbacks to events from his past, giving context for many of his actions and helping fill in the blanks for how the treasure ended up at the bottom of the sea and why it is so important to him to retrieve. Merrick doesn't turn out to be as entirely ruthless as I initially thought, and his motivations make more sense as more of his history is revealed. At 423 pages this was on the longer side, I did however become so engrossed in the story that it seemed to fly by. Overall, I enjoyed this pirate adventure with its determined and knowledgeable main character.
Favorite quote: "Knowledge is a vessel deeper than the sea. A fool splashes in a pond and thinks he has the answers, but a wise man knows the only way to reach its depths is to ask questions."
* I received an ARC paperback as a part of a giveaway sponsored by ArmChair Book Expo and book provided by Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review*
March 24, 2019
This is a sweet, atmospheric, adventurous tale with so much packed into its tiny sweetness that you forget how good it really is and how "deep" (pun intended) it can be and let yourself be swept away with the tale of pirates, treasure, love, loss, and some amazing animal creatures.
A 4.8 for me but rounded up to 5 for good measure. I was sad but satisfied when I finally finished the tale :)
A 4.8 for me but rounded up to 5 for good measure. I was sad but satisfied when I finally finished the tale :)
January 26, 2021
I don't know how to put in words how much I loved this book! If you read Race to the Bottom of the Sea you will receive lots of facts about marine life and unexpected emotions from the characters. It has lots of good words worth writing in a quote book, and some how good romance which was a surprise for me most on page 402 taking place ten years before the protagonist point of view. It taught that a person still has emotion and that not all people are as bad as there careers, But all in all it was a good book.
April 28, 2019
There's nothing better than a good pirate book, and this is a good pirate book!
Fidelia is a fantastic character. She's brilliant, but realistic. There are so many fun, suspenseful moments, but my favorite thing is that this novel deals with death and loss in such a profoundly beautiful and accessible way.
Fidelia is a fantastic character. She's brilliant, but realistic. There are so many fun, suspenseful moments, but my favorite thing is that this novel deals with death and loss in such a profoundly beautiful and accessible way.
October 12, 2017
This was SO good! Thanks to my amazing school librarian, I wouldn't of read this but luckily for me I did. Race to the Bottom of the Sea is a book about a girl called Fidelia Quail whose parents died in her own invention. She gets kidnapped by a notorious pirate who wants her to retrieve a precious treasure.
March 17, 2017
This is the second novel of Ms. Eagar's that I've read and it did not disappoint. 11 year old Fidelia is the kind of character I would love my girls to look up to. She is intelligent, loyal, creative, spunky, and doesn't allow the doubts of others to deter her. She knows more about the ocean and sea life than most adults, thanks in part to growing up with marine scientists for parents. She keeps her cool in the most intense situations and can come up with solutions to most of her problems. Fidelia is not without her flaws, and she finds herself in sticky situations due to her own overconfidence. She learns more about herself as the adventure progresses.
Merrick the Monstrous is the ideal pirate; Rich and ruthless. The reader learns more about Merrick's history in "flashback" sections in the book. This normally is something that puts me off, but Ms. Eagar does it in a way that I found myself enjoying.
My favorite thing about this novel is the beautiful imagery that Ms. Eager uses to describe the world around Fidelia. This to me, is what sets Ms. Eagar's writing apart from other authors. I felt like I was in the ocean seeing what Fidelia is seeing. I highly recommend this novel!
Merrick the Monstrous is the ideal pirate; Rich and ruthless. The reader learns more about Merrick's history in "flashback" sections in the book. This normally is something that puts me off, but Ms. Eagar does it in a way that I found myself enjoying.
My favorite thing about this novel is the beautiful imagery that Ms. Eager uses to describe the world around Fidelia. This to me, is what sets Ms. Eagar's writing apart from other authors. I felt like I was in the ocean seeing what Fidelia is seeing. I highly recommend this novel!
August 11, 2018
I loved Lindsay Eager's HOUR OF THE BEES, but I loved this one even more. A fantasy adventure that is written with lyricism and doesn't shy away from deep, difficult feelings—with tons of marine exploration and beautiful descriptions of the sea, plus pirates and TONS of bittersweet emotion, it has all my favorite things together in one book. Highly recommend! If you enjoyed thoughtful, lyrical fantasies like THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON or Grace Lin's fantasies, you'll love this one.
November 12, 2024
SO GOOD LIKE SO GOOD SO GOOD 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
November 21, 2017
First sentence: The recipe in Fidelia Quail's observation book was for chum, and at eleven years old, she could recite it by heart.
Premise/plot: Love orphan stories? Love sharks? Love pirates? Love adventure stories? Love non-traditional narratives that jump back and forth in time? Love unhappy endings? Then have I got a book for you: Lindsay Eagar's Race to the Bottom of the Sea. Fidelia Quail is a clever, inventive eleven year old who is kidnapped by pirates just a few weeks after her parents death. Fun times, right? Merrick the Monstrous is on a mission--a quest. He only has a few weeks to live and he needs help reclaiming his greatest treasure--which is at the bottom of the sea. Can he force Fidelia to help him? Will Fidelia figure out how to make her water-eater work so she can breathe under water and dive to the bottom of the sea?
My thoughts: I don't love orphan stories, sharks, pirates, adventure stories, or narratives that jump back and forth in time. The fact that this book is ALL of those things at once didn't work in its favor. I loved Eagar's Hour of the Bees so my expectations were high--too high. I do think for the right reader this one could definitely work.
One problem I had with this one is establishing the world it was in. Was it a fantasy novel with made-up lands and seas, countries and nations? Was it set in the real world? And if so what time period? Whether it was set in a fantasy world or the real world--I had trouble "placing it" in terms of development. Fidelia comes from a science-loving, inventive family. And Fidelia herself made a submarine for her family to use. Her other project is a water-eater which would allow her to breathe under water if she could find a way to filter sea water into breathable oxygen. The diving equipment her family uses seems homemade. Their research however is funded by grants. There were elements that led me to think it was modern, and elements that made me think it wasn't. I spent almost all of the novel confused about very basic things.
Premise/plot: Love orphan stories? Love sharks? Love pirates? Love adventure stories? Love non-traditional narratives that jump back and forth in time? Love unhappy endings? Then have I got a book for you: Lindsay Eagar's Race to the Bottom of the Sea. Fidelia Quail is a clever, inventive eleven year old who is kidnapped by pirates just a few weeks after her parents death. Fun times, right? Merrick the Monstrous is on a mission--a quest. He only has a few weeks to live and he needs help reclaiming his greatest treasure--which is at the bottom of the sea. Can he force Fidelia to help him? Will Fidelia figure out how to make her water-eater work so she can breathe under water and dive to the bottom of the sea?
My thoughts: I don't love orphan stories, sharks, pirates, adventure stories, or narratives that jump back and forth in time. The fact that this book is ALL of those things at once didn't work in its favor. I loved Eagar's Hour of the Bees so my expectations were high--too high. I do think for the right reader this one could definitely work.
One problem I had with this one is establishing the world it was in. Was it a fantasy novel with made-up lands and seas, countries and nations? Was it set in the real world? And if so what time period? Whether it was set in a fantasy world or the real world--I had trouble "placing it" in terms of development. Fidelia comes from a science-loving, inventive family. And Fidelia herself made a submarine for her family to use. Her other project is a water-eater which would allow her to breathe under water if she could find a way to filter sea water into breathable oxygen. The diving equipment her family uses seems homemade. Their research however is funded by grants. There were elements that led me to think it was modern, and elements that made me think it wasn't. I spent almost all of the novel confused about very basic things.
March 25, 2018
Solid 4.5
Not what I was expecting, but still in a direction I liked. Some cutesy, easy to digest commentary on death and it's meaning. A hopeful tune wrapped in a light, hopelessly romantic pirate adventure.
Characters had great drive, and concrete personalities that weren't comprised for plot purposes. The main characters trauma after her parents death stay with her throughout the novel and the reader bares witness to her emotional strength of pulling through her grief. This type of sturdy character is one I've not been familiar with for a long time, she was amazing.
The other characters whilst not completely fleshed out were also still pretty sturdy. They had a goal, and the strove towards it without letting plot hinder them.
The only thing that was a little a wry was the pacing and the POV. The pacing was slow, not terrible so but enough to notice that if I wasn't already invested in the characters I probably wouldn't have been able to finish the book. While there was action, it always felt like the main was too far from danger to be really captivated in it. I found myself reading less for the adventure and more for the in depth look into the main characters life and thoughts. The POV switched between present time with our main - Fidelia, and 2 years in the past from Merrick the Monstrous. Plus a few chapters from Admiral Bridgewater (which were usually two pages long, if that), and a chapter from Aunt Julia. Mix in the mountains of flashbacks from present day Fidelia as she thinks back on her parents and the random 'Ten Years Earlier' chapter right at the end of the book, you've got a not so cohesive storyline, for most. I personally enjoyed it and thought it created a type of mystery (a predictable one but still there) that unravelled in front of me.
Those two points are the reason I didn't give this book a five star but seeing as I found a way to not be annoyed by these techniques I'll only take half a star off.
Really good, would recommend.
Not what I was expecting, but still in a direction I liked. Some cutesy, easy to digest commentary on death and it's meaning. A hopeful tune wrapped in a light, hopelessly romantic pirate adventure.
Characters had great drive, and concrete personalities that weren't comprised for plot purposes. The main characters trauma after her parents death stay with her throughout the novel and the reader bares witness to her emotional strength of pulling through her grief. This type of sturdy character is one I've not been familiar with for a long time, she was amazing.
The other characters whilst not completely fleshed out were also still pretty sturdy. They had a goal, and the strove towards it without letting plot hinder them.
The only thing that was a little a wry was the pacing and the POV. The pacing was slow, not terrible so but enough to notice that if I wasn't already invested in the characters I probably wouldn't have been able to finish the book. While there was action, it always felt like the main was too far from danger to be really captivated in it. I found myself reading less for the adventure and more for the in depth look into the main characters life and thoughts. The POV switched between present time with our main - Fidelia, and 2 years in the past from Merrick the Monstrous. Plus a few chapters from Admiral Bridgewater (which were usually two pages long, if that), and a chapter from Aunt Julia. Mix in the mountains of flashbacks from present day Fidelia as she thinks back on her parents and the random 'Ten Years Earlier' chapter right at the end of the book, you've got a not so cohesive storyline, for most. I personally enjoyed it and thought it created a type of mystery (a predictable one but still there) that unravelled in front of me.
Those two points are the reason I didn't give this book a five star but seeing as I found a way to not be annoyed by these techniques I'll only take half a star off.
Really good, would recommend.
October 8, 2019
This is most definitely a five-star read for me! Any book that makes me laugh and cry and think and wonder gets all the stars.
This book grabbed me right from the start and never let up.
The action is non-stop, but it never feels rushed or overly detailed.
I loved Fidelia from page 1 and she got better with each passing page. She is smart, funny, caring, smart, independent, imaginative, smart, adventurous. Did I mention smart?!!? Hah!
The Quails are a wonderful family, and even though Mom and Dad perish early on, we learn more about them and there travels and discoveries throughout the tale. They are great parents and role models, supporting Fidelia and her efforts to just be her best self. Loved that a lot.
The pirates - Merrick, Charlie and Elle - were fabulous. Each had their own personality and strengths. And there wasn't any of the silly "Arrgh! Matey!" shite going on either.
Plenty of smarty nature facts spread liberally throughout the book. What I loved was how they seamlessly blended into the stoy and never cam across as preachy-teachy, just additional info for the readers enjoyment.
The various plot lines all worked superbly, each one got explained in time, and it made the book quite involved but still easy to follow.
The ending bits were emotionally powerful and just heart-wrenchingly real. Wow.
I simply don't have any bad things to say about this book. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a great tale told with aplomb. High praise for sure.
This book grabbed me right from the start and never let up.
The action is non-stop, but it never feels rushed or overly detailed.
I loved Fidelia from page 1 and she got better with each passing page. She is smart, funny, caring, smart, independent, imaginative, smart, adventurous. Did I mention smart?!!? Hah!
The Quails are a wonderful family, and even though Mom and Dad perish early on, we learn more about them and there travels and discoveries throughout the tale. They are great parents and role models, supporting Fidelia and her efforts to just be her best self. Loved that a lot.
The pirates - Merrick, Charlie and Elle - were fabulous. Each had their own personality and strengths. And there wasn't any of the silly "Arrgh! Matey!" shite going on either.
Plenty of smarty nature facts spread liberally throughout the book. What I loved was how they seamlessly blended into the stoy and never cam across as preachy-teachy, just additional info for the readers enjoyment.
The various plot lines all worked superbly, each one got explained in time, and it made the book quite involved but still easy to follow.
The ending bits were emotionally powerful and just heart-wrenchingly real. Wow.
I simply don't have any bad things to say about this book. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a great tale told with aplomb. High praise for sure.
April 11, 2018
‘“Fidelia’s jaw dropped. “An admiral in the Queen’s Own Navy shouldn’t be drooling over treasure.”
Cheapshot Charlie raised his eyebrow. “People aren’t like your infernal sea creatures. You can chart their behaviors, observe their habitats, make predictions, but…” His gaze suddenly left Fidelia; she followed it behind her to the stern, where Merrick stood at the helm.
“But people don’t always act the way you expect them to,” Fidelia finished for him.”’ (264)
I picked up "Race to the Bottom of the Sea" by Lindsay Eagar because of the awesome cover art. I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I did... and I'm so glad.
This book was exciting, surprising, beautiful, and so very charming.
Fidelia, the inventive daughter of a marine biologist and a marine botanist (Dr & Dr Quail) is a fresh perspective. I often dislike protagonists, but I consistently enjoyed Fidelia's story.
I don't know what it is about a menacing pirate with a hint of softness, but it makes for a very compelling character. Merrick the Monstrous reminded me very much of Silver from the movie Treasure Planet. Harsh but lovable.
One of my favorite parts of the book were the excerpts from the fictional research book written by the Drs Quail. I don't really enjoy research, but I'd read "Exploring and Underwater Fairyland" if it actually existed.
Cheapshot Charlie raised his eyebrow. “People aren’t like your infernal sea creatures. You can chart their behaviors, observe their habitats, make predictions, but…” His gaze suddenly left Fidelia; she followed it behind her to the stern, where Merrick stood at the helm.
“But people don’t always act the way you expect them to,” Fidelia finished for him.”’ (264)
I picked up "Race to the Bottom of the Sea" by Lindsay Eagar because of the awesome cover art. I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I did... and I'm so glad.
This book was exciting, surprising, beautiful, and so very charming.
Fidelia, the inventive daughter of a marine biologist and a marine botanist (Dr & Dr Quail) is a fresh perspective. I often dislike protagonists, but I consistently enjoyed Fidelia's story.
I don't know what it is about a menacing pirate with a hint of softness, but it makes for a very compelling character. Merrick the Monstrous reminded me very much of Silver from the movie Treasure Planet. Harsh but lovable.
One of my favorite parts of the book were the excerpts from the fictional research book written by the Drs Quail. I don't really enjoy research, but I'd read "Exploring and Underwater Fairyland" if it actually existed.
March 3, 2018
I loved it. A feisty, bookish heroine who invents all sorts of whimsical scientific devices suddenly finds herself captive aboard a pirate ship with a motley crew and the most infamous pirate of the nine seas. Lindsay Eagar creates a magical voyage for the reader through places like Medusa’s Grotto and the Coral of the Damned, and introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters. Not only Fidelia and Merrick, but Charlie and Bloody Elle, Bridgewater, and Niccu and his crew. I got completely lost in this book; to me it had the feeling of traveling to Hogwarts or a similar creative alternate universe. I think my favorite part were the tiny details like all sorts of ocean related phrases i.e. “she wished on every swell of the sea.” I’ve loved the ocean my entire life so for me, this book was as much fun as a day spent playing in the waves, taking in a sparkling sea, hoping it doesn’t end!!
January 4, 2018
This wasn't my kind of story. It was too slow and weird for me. I didn't like the romance at all. I think that was the weirdest part of the story. I didn't like the time jumps either. Although, I did like the island and the ocean. The characters were okay. The MC was more likeable than anyone else in this story. I did like her parents, but they were only in a couple of chapters at the beginning of the book.
February 20, 2018
Race to the Bottom of The Sea was a good interesting book in the beginning but it kinda fell apart towards the end and didn't exactly give me the ending I was expecting/wanting. It had a sad twist but also was a beautiful book and showed strength. I liked the beginning not the middle and the end was meh. If you plan on reading this book I wouldn't.
November 23, 2017
What a gloriously thrilling/heartbreaking adventure! Fidelity is a heroine with a heart and brain as large as the entire ocean, and this swashbuckling pirate adventure story is a wonderful story of grief, hope, and resolution. Beautifully written.
October 5, 2018
What a fun, enjoyable, well written, emotional, masterpiece of a book. Highly recommended.
Girl scientist + pirates + sharks. I loved every second of it.
Girl scientist + pirates + sharks. I loved every second of it.
January 16, 2019
stayed up till two to finish it, soooooo
July 16, 2022
Loved the colliding stories!
June 12, 2023
I first read this book when I was probably 12 and loved it and now at 18 I can happily say that I still love it and it’s amazing.
December 9, 2025
I've already read this book before, a long time ago, but I found it again. This book is really good and underrated too. Its also kind of sad too, but I would recommend it!
November 1, 2017
Yay girls interested in science! Yay nasty pirates!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
September 2, 2022
3.5 sterren
October 3, 2017
4.5 stars.
I started out a bit uncertain of this book, but the blurb made it sound much too intriguing to give up after just the first two chapters. And I’m very glad I kept with it, since it had a perfect mixture of adventures, pirates, science, inventing, and conflict, both real and emotional.
Although I had most of the plot figured out from early on, I kept reading not only because the writing is beautiful, but because the “how and why” were still not clear, which is always good. I don’t mind a general plot point being easy to see if the motivation behind it/for it isn’t obvious from the start. I still was anxiously awaiting the final reveal to see exactly how everything ended up playing out, both in the past and the present.
The setting didn’t seem to be in a different time period, but rather in a fantasy society and world. The lands talked about all were fictional, with no obvious correlation to any real life places, and the society seems like it’s slightly advanced in terms of tech, but still mainly reliant upon traditional ways of living. It’s like the 1600s and 1700s in terms of shipping trade and piracy, but set in the early 1990s in terms of technology (which we really only glimpse through Fidelia’s inventions, which are pretty advanced for this society).
Fidelia was an excellent role-model and a fun character to get to know. She’s an expert inventor, despite only being 11 years old, and is longing for the recognition from the science community for her valuable inventions. She’s never whiney, always quick-thinking in sticky situations, and one to learn from her mistakes and from watching the actions of others. While the entire story is shaped by her parents’ death at the beginning of the book (not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb!), Fidelia deals with her grief by honoring her parents, rather than whining and crying all the time about it.
The villains in this were also excellent, and were truly ones to be sympathetic towards. Merrick has a heartbreaking backstory, which we gradually learn through flashback chapters sprinkled throughout. It’s one based in romance, and it’s one that I LIKED, that I sympathized with, which is a huge badge of honor for this book, since I rarely care about romance plots at all. Fidelia sympathizes with Merrick’s difficult situation as well, even though she learns less than we do throughout the quest, and it brings in additional, inner conflict. Should she trust him? And why does she sometimes trust him when he’s a criminal?
This novel has it all–adventure, pirates, inventions, a strong role-model, and lots of candy, in addition to lessons about loss, perseverance, and trusting yourself and your actions. Highly recommended, not just for the target age range (middle grade, but I know I would have loved this in 3rd grade… in retrospect it reminded me a bit of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle , one of two favorite reads from that grade), but for anyone who wants a fun adventure with lots of heart.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
I started out a bit uncertain of this book, but the blurb made it sound much too intriguing to give up after just the first two chapters. And I’m very glad I kept with it, since it had a perfect mixture of adventures, pirates, science, inventing, and conflict, both real and emotional.
Although I had most of the plot figured out from early on, I kept reading not only because the writing is beautiful, but because the “how and why” were still not clear, which is always good. I don’t mind a general plot point being easy to see if the motivation behind it/for it isn’t obvious from the start. I still was anxiously awaiting the final reveal to see exactly how everything ended up playing out, both in the past and the present.
The setting didn’t seem to be in a different time period, but rather in a fantasy society and world. The lands talked about all were fictional, with no obvious correlation to any real life places, and the society seems like it’s slightly advanced in terms of tech, but still mainly reliant upon traditional ways of living. It’s like the 1600s and 1700s in terms of shipping trade and piracy, but set in the early 1990s in terms of technology (which we really only glimpse through Fidelia’s inventions, which are pretty advanced for this society).
Fidelia was an excellent role-model and a fun character to get to know. She’s an expert inventor, despite only being 11 years old, and is longing for the recognition from the science community for her valuable inventions. She’s never whiney, always quick-thinking in sticky situations, and one to learn from her mistakes and from watching the actions of others. While the entire story is shaped by her parents’ death at the beginning of the book (not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb!), Fidelia deals with her grief by honoring her parents, rather than whining and crying all the time about it.
The villains in this were also excellent, and were truly ones to be sympathetic towards. Merrick has a heartbreaking backstory, which we gradually learn through flashback chapters sprinkled throughout. It’s one based in romance, and it’s one that I LIKED, that I sympathized with, which is a huge badge of honor for this book, since I rarely care about romance plots at all. Fidelia sympathizes with Merrick’s difficult situation as well, even though she learns less than we do throughout the quest, and it brings in additional, inner conflict. Should she trust him? And why does she sometimes trust him when he’s a criminal?
This novel has it all–adventure, pirates, inventions, a strong role-model, and lots of candy, in addition to lessons about loss, perseverance, and trusting yourself and your actions. Highly recommended, not just for the target age range (middle grade, but I know I would have loved this in 3rd grade… in retrospect it reminded me a bit of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle , one of two favorite reads from that grade), but for anyone who wants a fun adventure with lots of heart.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
July 24, 2019
Absolutely loved this one. I love the ocean, the sea creatures, and the science. I also loved the story, the characters, and the emotions. I can't wait to read it again.
March 30, 2018
I didn't know how much I needed a book about inventor-girls and sharks and sweet shops until I read this. RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA is a book about those moments that change a person forever, about how one goes on after the Most Awful Thing has happened. And yes, it's also about monstrous pirates who aren't all that they seem.
There was literally nothing about this book I didn't like. The characters are fully fleshed out and nuanced, so alive you feel you could reach out and touch them. The language is crisp and lively and inventive. Fidelia Quail is the heroine of my dreams -- clever, brave, frightened, sad, sensitive, adventurous, and shark-obsessed. And the setting is so alive you can almost smell it. Arborley Island is one of those places you wish you could visit in real life, or that you feel you have visited in a past life, because it's so detailed and rich.
Add this to your shelves immediately!
There was literally nothing about this book I didn't like. The characters are fully fleshed out and nuanced, so alive you feel you could reach out and touch them. The language is crisp and lively and inventive. Fidelia Quail is the heroine of my dreams -- clever, brave, frightened, sad, sensitive, adventurous, and shark-obsessed. And the setting is so alive you can almost smell it. Arborley Island is one of those places you wish you could visit in real life, or that you feel you have visited in a past life, because it's so detailed and rich.
Add this to your shelves immediately!
March 31, 2023
I'm losing my shit over this. 9 year old me was so right for being obsessed with this book. It absolutely falls into many middle grade tropes- its main character is a ridiculously smart orphaned preteen, after all- but it's also genuinely very well-written and interesting. The pirates are so good. The flashbacks are so good. The found family is so good. The themes of grief, belonging, guilt and the limits of time are very obvious, but that doesn't take away from their impact as they are developed all around the sea- the perfect representation of life, death, and the unknown. So so good.
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