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Polaris
Alone at sea, with only the stars to guide them...
The proud sailing ship Polaris is on a mission to explore new lands, and its crew is eager to bring their discoveries back home. But when half the landing party fails to return from the Amazon jungle, the tensions lead to a bloody mutiny. The remaining adults abandon ship, leaving behind a cabin boy, a botanist's assistant, and a handful of deckhands -- none of them older than twelve. Troubled by whispers of a strange tropical illness and rumors of a wild beast lurking onshore, the young sailors are desperate to steer the vessel to safety. When one of their own already missing and a strange smell drifting up from belowdecks, the novice crew begins to suspect that someone -- or something -- else is onboard. Having steeled themselves for the treacherous journey home, they now have more to fear than the raging waters of the Atlantic...
The proud sailing ship Polaris is on a mission to explore new lands, and its crew is eager to bring their discoveries back home. But when half the landing party fails to return from the Amazon jungle, the tensions lead to a bloody mutiny. The remaining adults abandon ship, leaving behind a cabin boy, a botanist's assistant, and a handful of deckhands -- none of them older than twelve. Troubled by whispers of a strange tropical illness and rumors of a wild beast lurking onshore, the young sailors are desperate to steer the vessel to safety. When one of their own already missing and a strange smell drifting up from belowdecks, the novice crew begins to suspect that someone -- or something -- else is onboard. Having steeled themselves for the treacherous journey home, they now have more to fear than the raging waters of the Atlantic...
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
20 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Michael Northrop
36 books230 followersMichael Northrop is the New York Times bestselling author of 13 books for kids and teens, including the middle-grade adventure series TombQuest and the hit graphic novel Dear Justice League. His first young adult novel, Gentlemen, earned him a Publishers Weekly Flying Start citation, and his second, Trapped, was an Indie Next List selection. His first middle-grade novel, Plunked, was named one of the best children's books of the year by the New York Public Library and was selected for NPR's Backseat Book Club. He is originally from Salisbury, Connecticut, a small town in the foothills of the Berkshire mountains, where he mastered the arts of BB gun shooting, tree climbing, and field goal kicking with only moderate injuries. After graduating from NYU, he worked at Sports Illustrated Kids magazine for 12 years, the last five of those as baseball editor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
June 8, 2020
In Polaris by Michael Northrop: The ship Polaris was sailing to the amazons and was just returning when a mutiny started and all the adults were killed. so the 6 other boys left on the ship had to try to survive.
October 19, 2017
Thank you @kidlitexchange for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
This new middle grade book is full of adventure, curiosity, suspense, mystery and horror. It follows the crew aboard the Polaris who have set off for a scientific exploration in the Amazon. When the captain and his team return from the jungle, it's apparent that their trip didn't go as planned. Half of the men are missing and the survivors are spooked by a strange presence on land. It doesn't take long until a mutiny breaks out, leaving behind a ship full of kids. One is the nephew of the captain, another is the scientist's apprentice and several are deckhands with a few surprises of their own. As they assume their roles and slowly navigate their way home, they start to realize that they aren't quite alone. Someone or something is below deck. They hear strange noises, smell a sweet odor and feel something lurking in the shadows.
Such an entertaining story! I was immediately intrigued and slightly creeped out on numerous occasions. What a great way to introduce readers to sailing and early explorations!! I loved that science played a big role in this story and always appreciate when it's included as a hypothesis to a scary situation. I was incredibly fascinated to learn that the "monster" is indeed based off of a real species. A quick read that's sure to be a hit with many.
This new middle grade book is full of adventure, curiosity, suspense, mystery and horror. It follows the crew aboard the Polaris who have set off for a scientific exploration in the Amazon. When the captain and his team return from the jungle, it's apparent that their trip didn't go as planned. Half of the men are missing and the survivors are spooked by a strange presence on land. It doesn't take long until a mutiny breaks out, leaving behind a ship full of kids. One is the nephew of the captain, another is the scientist's apprentice and several are deckhands with a few surprises of their own. As they assume their roles and slowly navigate their way home, they start to realize that they aren't quite alone. Someone or something is below deck. They hear strange noises, smell a sweet odor and feel something lurking in the shadows.
Such an entertaining story! I was immediately intrigued and slightly creeped out on numerous occasions. What a great way to introduce readers to sailing and early explorations!! I loved that science played a big role in this story and always appreciate when it's included as a hypothesis to a scary situation. I was incredibly fascinated to learn that the "monster" is indeed based off of a real species. A quick read that's sure to be a hit with many.
April 17, 2018
Really cool YA story. Pirates by way of Lovecraft.
December 20, 2020
Polaris takes place entirely on board the Polaris, a ship anchored off the coast of South America during an 1830s scientific expedition. The abandoned teenage characters are the key players in the book; the adults who went ashore to explore the Amazon rainforest are written into the storyline only for the horrifying "discovery" they bring back on board the ship.
And this "discovery" forms the central dilemma of Polaris; the fantasy elements come about as a result of it.
A weakness of the book is its lack of a central perspective.
The storytelling jumps from one crew member to another, and this resulted in an easily corrected problem that left the narrative unintentionally disorienting at times. Owen is left in command after the older crew abandons ship over fear of what they accidentally brought back on board the Polaris, and author Michael Northrop does a poor job developing any of these adult characters into anything other than two-dimensional cutouts. He did a little better job with the cast of frightened teens left on board.
Owen is left in charge by virtue of the older crew leaving, and watching him thrust into a high pressure situation with life and death decisions in his hands is an intriguing part of the plot. Botanist's assistant Henry is torn between his desire to protect his friends and his passion for the things of science when it comes to deciding how to handle what is plaguing the Polaris (the novel is almost like a sea-based version of Alien, with a rarely glimpsed but nonetheless malevolent force wreaking havoc on the ship). Marion and Manny are almost cartoonishly stereotypes of Spanish kids on the run from their native country, while Thacher seems on board to more or less just take up space.
Michael Northrop did display a strong grasp of nautical terminologies, effortlessly working these into the story and adding realism to the fantasy. The scenes when the monster is encountered below decks are suspenseful and are likely to be enjoyed by young adult readers, but they do not fully account for an otherwise uneventful novel. It is an at best average entry into the novels of fantasy adventure books.
Polaris is a good diversionary piece of storytelling, but it is little beyond that.
-Andrew Canfield Denver, Colorado
And this "discovery" forms the central dilemma of Polaris; the fantasy elements come about as a result of it.
A weakness of the book is its lack of a central perspective.
The storytelling jumps from one crew member to another, and this resulted in an easily corrected problem that left the narrative unintentionally disorienting at times. Owen is left in command after the older crew abandons ship over fear of what they accidentally brought back on board the Polaris, and author Michael Northrop does a poor job developing any of these adult characters into anything other than two-dimensional cutouts. He did a little better job with the cast of frightened teens left on board.
Owen is left in charge by virtue of the older crew leaving, and watching him thrust into a high pressure situation with life and death decisions in his hands is an intriguing part of the plot. Botanist's assistant Henry is torn between his desire to protect his friends and his passion for the things of science when it comes to deciding how to handle what is plaguing the Polaris (the novel is almost like a sea-based version of Alien, with a rarely glimpsed but nonetheless malevolent force wreaking havoc on the ship). Marion and Manny are almost cartoonishly stereotypes of Spanish kids on the run from their native country, while Thacher seems on board to more or less just take up space.
Michael Northrop did display a strong grasp of nautical terminologies, effortlessly working these into the story and adding realism to the fantasy. The scenes when the monster is encountered below decks are suspenseful and are likely to be enjoyed by young adult readers, but they do not fully account for an otherwise uneventful novel. It is an at best average entry into the novels of fantasy adventure books.
Polaris is a good diversionary piece of storytelling, but it is little beyond that.
-Andrew Canfield Denver, Colorado
December 3, 2017
Just felt like it took too long to get going. Wanted to skip parts to get to the middle where it picked up. Some of my readers might read far enough to get there.
Maybe it was just me, but felt like multiple narrators/POV in stream of text was confusing at first. It seemed like it was from Owen's POV and then switch to a thought from Henry in the next paragraph. Made me think of Watt Key's Terror at Bottle Creek or Dan Gemeinhart's Scar Island.
Maybe it was just me, but felt like multiple narrators/POV in stream of text was confusing at first. It seemed like it was from Owen's POV and then switch to a thought from Henry in the next paragraph. Made me think of Watt Key's Terror at Bottle Creek or Dan Gemeinhart's Scar Island.
February 1, 2019
The novel Polaris by Michael Northrop published in 2017 is a historical fiction story set in the early eighteen hundreds on a proud family owned ship in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean. After a expedition returned with half the men it started with, and a sickness that infects the whole body and turns the host into a monster. the rest of the crew commit mutiny and abandon the ship leaving the 6 cabin boys to die.this book is a very addicting thriller that always keeps you on the edge of your seats and due to the horror and lack of hope i think the appropriate audience is seventh graders and above.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2020
This is a solid adventure/sci fi story for middle grades. Good for fans of horror or survival stories.
November 10, 2021
3.5 rounded up
A genre-bender: adventure, science fiction, horror. I was most intrigued by the last third when the sci fi horror and paranoia amped up.
A genre-bender: adventure, science fiction, horror. I was most intrigued by the last third when the sci fi horror and paranoia amped up.
August 9, 2024
Book reminds me of The Last of Us on a boat, though.
January 8, 2018
A peaceful science expedition to the Amazon turns deadly when only half of the crew returns from the journey.A mutiny occurs, leaving all of the adults abandoning ship or dead. The six children, that are left, are determined to survive and make every effort to sail the ship home themselves. However, strange noises and smells rise out of the depths of the ship, and the children begin to wonder if they are not alone.
Recommended for grades 4-6. Lexile Level: 780
Reviewed by Christine Hwang, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Recommended for grades 4-6. Lexile Level: 780
Reviewed by Christine Hwang, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
September 13, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this ARC by #MichaelNorthrop!
All opinions are my own.
_*_*_*_*_*
The Polaris is sailing the high seas on a scientific mission and Owen Ward is a cabin boy and nephew of the captain. When the mission goes terribly wrong, half the crew mutinies and the captain is murdered, the adults all abandon the ship leaving a crew comprised entirely of child-sailors aged 12 and under. Now they must attempt to sail to America, but a dark evil creature has taken residence below decks and it is hungry... _*_*_*_*_*
This book is a page-turner! Once the action starts it never lets up; by page 30 the kids are alone on the ship and things start to get interesting. Personalities clash and the kids disagree about the best course of action. Mixing historical fiction, science fiction and horror, this is a book that's sure to keep kids turning pages! My only reason for taking off one star is that I wasn't super attached to any of the characters; it was a very plot-driven book.
All opinions are my own.
_*_*_*_*_*
The Polaris is sailing the high seas on a scientific mission and Owen Ward is a cabin boy and nephew of the captain. When the mission goes terribly wrong, half the crew mutinies and the captain is murdered, the adults all abandon the ship leaving a crew comprised entirely of child-sailors aged 12 and under. Now they must attempt to sail to America, but a dark evil creature has taken residence below decks and it is hungry... _*_*_*_*_*
This book is a page-turner! Once the action starts it never lets up; by page 30 the kids are alone on the ship and things start to get interesting. Personalities clash and the kids disagree about the best course of action. Mixing historical fiction, science fiction and horror, this is a book that's sure to keep kids turning pages! My only reason for taking off one star is that I wasn't super attached to any of the characters; it was a very plot-driven book.
October 22, 2017
I received this book from #kidlitexchange to read and give an honest review. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Polaris by Michael Northrop is a great scary read for middle graders. Six children locked in a cabin and left for dead on a ship quickly put all of their sailing skills to use to save themselves only to find a creature living below the decks of their ship. A thrilling tale of survival and sacrifice teach the children loyalty and friendship. Review also posted to Instagram @jasonnstacie, Library Thing, and my blog https://readsbystacie.com.
November 10, 2021
Audiobook, middle school Battle of the Books list. A good old rollicking adventure at sea set in the 1800's. When some sailors mutiny and then abandon the ship because others are infected with a jungle virus, a crew of children deck hands and cabin boys/girls are left behind to sail the ship home. I thought it was historical fiction until the virus comes into play and it becomes a sci-fi/history mashup. That was a little silly to me, but I think a lot of kids would love it.
December 28, 2017
This nail biter will keep you up reading past your bedtime - it's a roller coaster ride the closer you get to the end, which leaves you breathless and satisfied! A winner!
February 23, 2022
Lots of potential, but it really didn’t work out. Plot is a flat line, and the ending doesn’t even resolve everything.
January 20, 2018
Owen Ward eagerly watches the coast of Brazil from the deck of Polaris. He’s certain the crew distrusts him, perhaps even dislikes him, because he’s the captain’s nephew. This is particularly true of the other boys, since he holds the coveted position of cabin boy, while their duties are mundane and irksome. The launch disappeared a week ago, when eight of the ship’s best sailors transported his uncle, the first mate, the ship’s doctor, and the odd botanist upriver to collect specimens from the exotic flowers and trees.
Henry Neap, the botanist’s apprentice, was deemed too scrawny for an arduous journey. He also searches for the boat’s return; when the botanist chose him for an apprentice, he finally belonged. On the ship, he keeps clear of Owen, who reminds him of the bullies who persecuted him at school. When Henry spots the launch, it’s half-empty and among the missing are the botanist and ship’s doctor. Which means he alone . . . again.
A single trunk is hauled up and given to Obed Macy, a strong boy who rarely comes up from the dark stinky hold. Ordered to stow the trunk, he takes it below and doesn’t return. One of the returning sailors stumbles aboard and, over the next few days, grows clumsier and sicker. Angry whispers spread among the crew until finally, the captain orders the men to gather on deck, but locks all the boys except Obed in his cabin. Soon after shots are fired, and Owen knows that his uncle is dead.
After a time, the ship becomes eerily quiet. The boys force open the door to their prison, but no one is on deck. The crew set the ship on fire and fled in the launch. The boys stop the flames before they ignite the gunpowder, which would blow the ship to smithereens. Henry wonders why the mutineers abandoned Polaris. Owen takes command, knowing it’s up to him to take the ship home. But there are only five others left to help him sail Polaris: Manny and Mario Iglesias, hardworking brothers who share a secret; Aaron Burnett, the exceedingly slow and cautious powder monkey; Thacher Maybin, the new hold rat with the scarred face; and Henry, who is totally useless when it comes to working the sails and doing other ship-related tasks.
Another problem to overcome is the low food supply. Whenever they go below to bring some up, they encounter a strange smell, hear odd sounds, and feel as if something watches them. But if they can work together, they might just get home despite the fact that none of them know much about running a ship. If they make it through the storms. If the leaks don’t get bigger. If whatever lurks below, stays there.
Polaris is a spine-tingling tale of historical science fiction. The intended audience of this Junior Library Guild selection is students in grades three through eight, but even adults will find themselves sitting on the edge of their seats, holding their breath as they turn page after page. Northrop takes factual elements from the 1830s and spins a plausible – yet terrifying and compelling – story that is not for the squeamish or faint of heart.
Henry Neap, the botanist’s apprentice, was deemed too scrawny for an arduous journey. He also searches for the boat’s return; when the botanist chose him for an apprentice, he finally belonged. On the ship, he keeps clear of Owen, who reminds him of the bullies who persecuted him at school. When Henry spots the launch, it’s half-empty and among the missing are the botanist and ship’s doctor. Which means he alone . . . again.
A single trunk is hauled up and given to Obed Macy, a strong boy who rarely comes up from the dark stinky hold. Ordered to stow the trunk, he takes it below and doesn’t return. One of the returning sailors stumbles aboard and, over the next few days, grows clumsier and sicker. Angry whispers spread among the crew until finally, the captain orders the men to gather on deck, but locks all the boys except Obed in his cabin. Soon after shots are fired, and Owen knows that his uncle is dead.
After a time, the ship becomes eerily quiet. The boys force open the door to their prison, but no one is on deck. The crew set the ship on fire and fled in the launch. The boys stop the flames before they ignite the gunpowder, which would blow the ship to smithereens. Henry wonders why the mutineers abandoned Polaris. Owen takes command, knowing it’s up to him to take the ship home. But there are only five others left to help him sail Polaris: Manny and Mario Iglesias, hardworking brothers who share a secret; Aaron Burnett, the exceedingly slow and cautious powder monkey; Thacher Maybin, the new hold rat with the scarred face; and Henry, who is totally useless when it comes to working the sails and doing other ship-related tasks.
Another problem to overcome is the low food supply. Whenever they go below to bring some up, they encounter a strange smell, hear odd sounds, and feel as if something watches them. But if they can work together, they might just get home despite the fact that none of them know much about running a ship. If they make it through the storms. If the leaks don’t get bigger. If whatever lurks below, stays there.
Polaris is a spine-tingling tale of historical science fiction. The intended audience of this Junior Library Guild selection is students in grades three through eight, but even adults will find themselves sitting on the edge of their seats, holding their breath as they turn page after page. Northrop takes factual elements from the 1830s and spins a plausible – yet terrifying and compelling – story that is not for the squeamish or faint of heart.
March 2, 2018
It’s the 1830s and Owen Ward is a 12-year-old cabin boy on his uncle’s ship, Polaris, that’s on a voyage of scientific exploration. It’s a hard life for Owen and the other young men who do all the hard grunt work on the ship.
Upon arriving off the coast of Brazil, the captain (Owen’s uncle), Dr. Wetherby (the botanist), the first mate and others went inland into the Amazon rain forest. A week later when the launch boat returns, less than half of the men return--not the first mate nor the Dr. The captain quickly orders the doctor’s specimen trunk loaded down below and they immediately set sail.
There are rumors of a strange tropical illness and several men are taken sick. When arguments among the remaining sailors break out over how to treat those that are ill, the six young boys on the crew are locked in the captain’s quarters. A mutiny breaks out and the boys hear bodies thrown overboard--including the captain’s.
The boys break out of the captain’s quarters to find the ship empty and fuses lit that will blow up the boat. Owen leads the charge to put out the fuses and take control of the boat as they watch those who led the mutiny row away in the launch. Who ever heard of men raising a mutiny only to try to destroy the boat they just took over and run away?
Now it’s only six young boys who have to manage an entire sailing ship. It’s an almost impossible task to just raise the two anchors, but they manage. With only six crew, not all of the maintenance on the boat that needs to be done can be done as the ship is slowly falling apart day by day.
Once they’re sailing, the boys journey below deck to retrieve their belongings and gather some food--even though they’re all scared. There have been whispers of something dark and shadowy below deck. Maybe even the ghost of a missing boy. They wonder what was in that specimen crate. Every time they go below, they find their hanging lantern broken. Who or what is breaking it?
They’re too terrified to sail to the nearest Central American port due to fears of pirates and slavers who would steal their ship and sell them into slavery. They’re determined to make it back to the States, but their mission will test their courage, loyalty, and even their sanity.
Kids will love the non-stop action and adventure and escalating tension and fear of the unknown as the terrors they face in the stormy waters is nothing compared to the terror that’s growing below them in the ship’s hold. The author describes the story as “historical science fiction” and the creature in the book is based on the infamous “zombie bug” fungus of the Amazon.
Upon arriving off the coast of Brazil, the captain (Owen’s uncle), Dr. Wetherby (the botanist), the first mate and others went inland into the Amazon rain forest. A week later when the launch boat returns, less than half of the men return--not the first mate nor the Dr. The captain quickly orders the doctor’s specimen trunk loaded down below and they immediately set sail.
There are rumors of a strange tropical illness and several men are taken sick. When arguments among the remaining sailors break out over how to treat those that are ill, the six young boys on the crew are locked in the captain’s quarters. A mutiny breaks out and the boys hear bodies thrown overboard--including the captain’s.
The boys break out of the captain’s quarters to find the ship empty and fuses lit that will blow up the boat. Owen leads the charge to put out the fuses and take control of the boat as they watch those who led the mutiny row away in the launch. Who ever heard of men raising a mutiny only to try to destroy the boat they just took over and run away?
Now it’s only six young boys who have to manage an entire sailing ship. It’s an almost impossible task to just raise the two anchors, but they manage. With only six crew, not all of the maintenance on the boat that needs to be done can be done as the ship is slowly falling apart day by day.
Once they’re sailing, the boys journey below deck to retrieve their belongings and gather some food--even though they’re all scared. There have been whispers of something dark and shadowy below deck. Maybe even the ghost of a missing boy. They wonder what was in that specimen crate. Every time they go below, they find their hanging lantern broken. Who or what is breaking it?
They’re too terrified to sail to the nearest Central American port due to fears of pirates and slavers who would steal their ship and sell them into slavery. They’re determined to make it back to the States, but their mission will test their courage, loyalty, and even their sanity.
Kids will love the non-stop action and adventure and escalating tension and fear of the unknown as the terrors they face in the stormy waters is nothing compared to the terror that’s growing below them in the ship’s hold. The author describes the story as “historical science fiction” and the creature in the book is based on the infamous “zombie bug” fungus of the Amazon.
April 28, 2018
3.5 stars. This review and many more are also available on
Read Till Dawn
.
Hmm. Wow. This is definitely very . . . different from the books I usually read.
For one thing, I usually don't go for books set on ships. I just don't find the pirate/mutiny/ship trouble stories very interesting, so I definitely would not have picked up Polaris on my own. But since Scholastic went to the trouble of sending me a copy, I had the interesting experience of picking up a book outside of my usual reading habits.
And I enjoyed it. Polaris is a very interesting blend of sci-fi and historical fiction, full of ship sailing details as well as horrifying scientific advancements. I scoffed at the sci-fi premise when it was first revealed in detail–and I still scoff, since it's utterly ridiculous from a biological standpoint–but it creates a real sense of terror and indeed horror on board the ship. I don't dabble much in horror stories, either, so it was an interesting change to read a book about a slow, creeping, almost unspeakable terror lurking belowdecks in wait.
I honestly would have liked the book even without all of that tension, just because the characters were well-drawn with interesting personalities and backstories. I really loved the way Northrop handled the group dynamics, showing not just stereotypical power struggles between characters but also depicting nuance and maturity as the group dynamics fluctuated with the changing situation belowdecks and navigationally. Some of the plot twists may have been a little obvious and/or stale (I'm pretty sure we all knew that ________ was a girl, didn't we?), but they're done in a clear-eyed way and fit into a larger narrative in a way that is still engaging and pretty well-done.
Honestly, while I enjoyed the ride, I did have a little bit of a hard time suspending my disbelief through to the very last page of the book. Polaris is not my usual cup of tea, so I'm not a real expert on this, but I thought the ending was a bit too soft for the genre it was aiming at. And the pseudo-science nearly drove me crazy by the end. A certain subset of kids are really going to love Polaris, though, and I say–as long as they're okay with a little bit of terror–let them at it. I'm sure they'll enjoy it.
How about you, when was the last time you read a book outside of your usual reading habits? Did it go well?
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Hmm. Wow. This is definitely very . . . different from the books I usually read.
For one thing, I usually don't go for books set on ships. I just don't find the pirate/mutiny/ship trouble stories very interesting, so I definitely would not have picked up Polaris on my own. But since Scholastic went to the trouble of sending me a copy, I had the interesting experience of picking up a book outside of my usual reading habits.
And I enjoyed it. Polaris is a very interesting blend of sci-fi and historical fiction, full of ship sailing details as well as horrifying scientific advancements. I scoffed at the sci-fi premise when it was first revealed in detail–and I still scoff, since it's utterly ridiculous from a biological standpoint–but it creates a real sense of terror and indeed horror on board the ship. I don't dabble much in horror stories, either, so it was an interesting change to read a book about a slow, creeping, almost unspeakable terror lurking belowdecks in wait.
I honestly would have liked the book even without all of that tension, just because the characters were well-drawn with interesting personalities and backstories. I really loved the way Northrop handled the group dynamics, showing not just stereotypical power struggles between characters but also depicting nuance and maturity as the group dynamics fluctuated with the changing situation belowdecks and navigationally. Some of the plot twists may have been a little obvious and/or stale (I'm pretty sure we all knew that ________ was a girl, didn't we?), but they're done in a clear-eyed way and fit into a larger narrative in a way that is still engaging and pretty well-done.
Honestly, while I enjoyed the ride, I did have a little bit of a hard time suspending my disbelief through to the very last page of the book. Polaris is not my usual cup of tea, so I'm not a real expert on this, but I thought the ending was a bit too soft for the genre it was aiming at. And the pseudo-science nearly drove me crazy by the end. A certain subset of kids are really going to love Polaris, though, and I say–as long as they're okay with a little bit of terror–let them at it. I'm sure they'll enjoy it.
How about you, when was the last time you read a book outside of your usual reading habits? Did it go well?
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2017
Originally posted on A to Z Book Reviews.
The ship Polaris is on a scientific mission in the 1830s to explore the Amazon. Most of the ship’s crew sets out on a scientific exploration of the jungle, with many of the 12 year old deckhands anxiously awaiting their return. Half the crew never returns, but those who survive manage to obtain a specimen from the jungle. The crew saw something frightening in the jungle that spooked them all, and there’s a strange sickness spreading on the boat.
After returning back to the ship, deck hand Obed Macy is sent to lock the specimen away deep within the ship. Knowing that something spooky is happening with the specimen, the crew wants it as far away from them as possible. While Obed is securing it far away below deck, the rest of the kids are locked in the captain’s quarters so they don’t see what happens next.
A mutiny takes place. The kids hear the yelling and fighting, and then sounds of the crew abandoning ship. Once the kids free themselves, they find that all the adults have fled the ship and have sailed away using a life boat. With no other boats for the kids to use, they must take control of Polaris and return it back to America.
As they start to sail, Obed still hasn’t shown up and there’s a weird, sweet fungus smell coming from below the deck. The group explores the dark, dank recesses of the ship looking for Obed. They learn quickly that there is something hideous on the ship with them.
The struggle to sail the boat with a skeleton crew of children is made harder because of the monster below deck that’s growing stronger every day. The kids will have to sail safely back to America while also trying to destroy the monster. They will have to come up with a plan sooner or later to destroy the monster before it destroys them.
Northrop has an amazing knack for pacing and suspense, and Polaris has both. Polaris is the perfect mixture of fun, adventure, and horror that will keep readers hooked and spooked all throughout the book. Northrop clearly put a lot of time into researching the nuts and bolts of sailing a large ship like the Polaris, and it adds to the pacing and plot development. I would recommend this book for fans of horror books, including fans of Dan Poblocki and R. L. Stine. (Stine’s recommendation of this book is even on the cover!)
The ship Polaris is on a scientific mission in the 1830s to explore the Amazon. Most of the ship’s crew sets out on a scientific exploration of the jungle, with many of the 12 year old deckhands anxiously awaiting their return. Half the crew never returns, but those who survive manage to obtain a specimen from the jungle. The crew saw something frightening in the jungle that spooked them all, and there’s a strange sickness spreading on the boat.
After returning back to the ship, deck hand Obed Macy is sent to lock the specimen away deep within the ship. Knowing that something spooky is happening with the specimen, the crew wants it as far away from them as possible. While Obed is securing it far away below deck, the rest of the kids are locked in the captain’s quarters so they don’t see what happens next.
A mutiny takes place. The kids hear the yelling and fighting, and then sounds of the crew abandoning ship. Once the kids free themselves, they find that all the adults have fled the ship and have sailed away using a life boat. With no other boats for the kids to use, they must take control of Polaris and return it back to America.
As they start to sail, Obed still hasn’t shown up and there’s a weird, sweet fungus smell coming from below the deck. The group explores the dark, dank recesses of the ship looking for Obed. They learn quickly that there is something hideous on the ship with them.
The struggle to sail the boat with a skeleton crew of children is made harder because of the monster below deck that’s growing stronger every day. The kids will have to sail safely back to America while also trying to destroy the monster. They will have to come up with a plan sooner or later to destroy the monster before it destroys them.
Northrop has an amazing knack for pacing and suspense, and Polaris has both. Polaris is the perfect mixture of fun, adventure, and horror that will keep readers hooked and spooked all throughout the book. Northrop clearly put a lot of time into researching the nuts and bolts of sailing a large ship like the Polaris, and it adds to the pacing and plot development. I would recommend this book for fans of horror books, including fans of Dan Poblocki and R. L. Stine. (Stine’s recommendation of this book is even on the cover!)
December 18, 2017
My name is Henry. The crew of the Polaris mutinied, killed the captain, and then abandoned ship after setting it on fire. The ship boys and I escaped from a locked room and put the fire out. Why would the crew want to destroy the ship after fighting to gain control of it? Owen was the captain's nephew, so he's now giving orders to sail us to the United States. The other boys are willing to let him, for now, but I'm not sure how long it will last. Thacher is stirring up trouble. I haven't told you this yet, but something else has all of us frightened; we're not alone on this ship. We've been hearing eerie sounds, but we're certain something is living in the dark down below. I can now tell you that we were not prepared for what we found, and it's difficult to explain. It's Obed Macy... but it's not.
This book was not the swashbuckling story I'm used to when reading about old sailing ships. It became a "ghost" story. The author blended several different conflicts to create a creepy adventure. The inexperienced sailors needed to survive the voyage across dangerous seas, Owen's control over them was weakening, two crew members were keeping secrets, and the thing below deck terrified them all. The author left images of the creature to my imagination until he slowly let it emerge. This helped develop suspense until it confronted the boys. It could have come from a science fiction novel, and Henry's background in science caused him to look at the creature as a living organism, not necessarily a monster. The conflict between Owen and Thacher was allowed to fester, as Thacher slowly undermined Owen's authority. Owen wasn't sure how to respond, since he didn't want to lose control of the other boys. He tried to work with Thacher and gave him responsibility, but there was no way the author would allow them to resolve the problems peacefully. Overall, if you read this book as an adventure story, you won't like it. If you read it as a ghost story, you will.
This book was not the swashbuckling story I'm used to when reading about old sailing ships. It became a "ghost" story. The author blended several different conflicts to create a creepy adventure. The inexperienced sailors needed to survive the voyage across dangerous seas, Owen's control over them was weakening, two crew members were keeping secrets, and the thing below deck terrified them all. The author left images of the creature to my imagination until he slowly let it emerge. This helped develop suspense until it confronted the boys. It could have come from a science fiction novel, and Henry's background in science caused him to look at the creature as a living organism, not necessarily a monster. The conflict between Owen and Thacher was allowed to fester, as Thacher slowly undermined Owen's authority. Owen wasn't sure how to respond, since he didn't want to lose control of the other boys. He tried to work with Thacher and gave him responsibility, but there was no way the author would allow them to resolve the problems peacefully. Overall, if you read this book as an adventure story, you won't like it. If you read it as a ghost story, you will.
June 12, 2020
Polaris by Michael Northrop is an exhilarating, adventurous book that I instantly adored right away. This book is in my top ten most favourite books because it's hard for me to like a book right away without knowing what the book is about, but when I read the first couple of pages I knew I made the right choice for myself, and couldn't resist myself from finishing the book right away. The plot felt so unusual and cool, and got to the point right away rather than bringing up unnecessary twists, and turns into the storyline. My favourite part throughout the whole book was when Owen cries on the ship, and explains his relationship with his father to Henry because it was easy for me to relate to that in my life. Michael is so excellent with words and filled the book with poetic, and beautiful words. However, the writing felt very unsettled and wasn’t really surprising, therefore the events taking place were not too shocking. The story ended in a way that was expected to happen, for instance the children make it back home in one piece, which I personally think is dull, and boring, and could’ve ended in a more exciting way. I’ve read some reviews, and people weren’t fans of the endings as well, but I felt like it was a very appropriate ending to have for a book like this. Polaris was the best suited title for the book in my opinion because throughout the whole story except the introduction, and the conclusion, all the events happened on the ship, called The Polaris. I strongly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys adventurous, fantasy books. I think it's a great book that anyone will like that isn't really interested in reading, as I was one of those people as well.
November 18, 2017
Thank you @kidlitexchange for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
If you were ever wondering what Mutiny on the Bounty crossed with The Thing would look like, (scaled down, of course to be appropriate for middle graders) you have your answer in Michael Northrop's new thriller, Polaris. The crew of the Polaris has been chartered for a scientific exploration to the Amazon. Right away, something is amiss, when the expedition team returns with only half it’s members. They have also returned with a secret that no-one is allowed to speak about. Mutiny ensues leaving only a handful of kids to navigate the Polaris and deal with what was brought from the jungles of the Amazon and left below deck.
Not only is this a great, exciting read, there are some important moral messages as well. The characters are forced to work together to survive. They must overlook preconceived notions of class and gender, as well as rely on and respect each other’s strengths if they have any hope to live through this ordeal. The children must also grapple with the heavy weight of the moral implications of the decisions they make. In the end, the choices they make on the Polaris could have far reaching repercussions for humanity.
I give Polaris four out five stars. Kids are going to love this book. It's full of action and suspense that will keep kids glued to the pages until the end. Highly recommend!
If you were ever wondering what Mutiny on the Bounty crossed with The Thing would look like, (scaled down, of course to be appropriate for middle graders) you have your answer in Michael Northrop's new thriller, Polaris. The crew of the Polaris has been chartered for a scientific exploration to the Amazon. Right away, something is amiss, when the expedition team returns with only half it’s members. They have also returned with a secret that no-one is allowed to speak about. Mutiny ensues leaving only a handful of kids to navigate the Polaris and deal with what was brought from the jungles of the Amazon and left below deck.
Not only is this a great, exciting read, there are some important moral messages as well. The characters are forced to work together to survive. They must overlook preconceived notions of class and gender, as well as rely on and respect each other’s strengths if they have any hope to live through this ordeal. The children must also grapple with the heavy weight of the moral implications of the decisions they make. In the end, the choices they make on the Polaris could have far reaching repercussions for humanity.
I give Polaris four out five stars. Kids are going to love this book. It's full of action and suspense that will keep kids glued to the pages until the end. Highly recommend!
April 25, 2018
The book Polaris is an adventure book written by Michael Northrop. The story goes is that the crew of the ship Polaris, is on a quest to roam uncharted territories. As time goes on, half of the crew is missing after leaving the Amazon Jungle. At this point they abandon their ship leaving behind a little boy and some deckhands. As they venture out they hear rumors of an illness which has reached their ship. Now they have to travel home in a treacherous weather and with the feeling of someone else onboard. Since this an adventure book, a lot of action is going on during the story. While this may have not been a fault of the book, less focused readers might get side tracked and miss big parts of the story. I know this may sound a little nitpicky but believe me, i’m one of them. Overall I felt this book was the right length but somewhat had problems on it being both too long and short. I felt it was too long because I was sitting there reading the book for a while. On the other hand I felt it was too short because there were not enough pages to read. In addition the extras usually found at the beginning and end of a book felt….. Empty. While there was a map, an author's note, a dedication and all the other usual jazz, it felt empty. I’m not sure if what I saw was not enough but that’s the vibe I got. Overall Polaris is a book I would recommend to anyone who likes the genre and wants some action.
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May 25, 2022I give this book a 3 stars out of 5.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery, adventure, or both of them in 1 book.
**SPOILERS**
Polaris is a ship that is sailing the waters in hopes of discovering new lands. Everything is smooth sailing on this scientific adventure until the mission goes horribly wrong. It's a fight for survival when 3 of the crew mates are murdered, and to their findings, a creature lurking below the decks of Polaris.
I think that this book was very on and off for me. I liked how adventurous the book was and how the plot kept moving. Northrop does a very good job with keeping the readers engaged in the situations on the ship. I really like how death happens in the books because it keeps the reader engaged and wanting to keep reading. Or at least for me anyway. Overall Northrop does a good job with the New York Times Bestseller.
Like I said earlier, the book is very on and off for me. There were some things in the novel that could have been done better. It took a long time to get the book moving.but when it did get going the plot moved forward. There were times where I wanted to just get to the point. I would have liked to see the action occur earlier in the book and that is why I gave it a 3 star rating.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery, adventure, or both of them in 1 book.
**SPOILERS**
Polaris is a ship that is sailing the waters in hopes of discovering new lands. Everything is smooth sailing on this scientific adventure until the mission goes horribly wrong. It's a fight for survival when 3 of the crew mates are murdered, and to their findings, a creature lurking below the decks of Polaris.
I think that this book was very on and off for me. I liked how adventurous the book was and how the plot kept moving. Northrop does a very good job with keeping the readers engaged in the situations on the ship. I really like how death happens in the books because it keeps the reader engaged and wanting to keep reading. Or at least for me anyway. Overall Northrop does a good job with the New York Times Bestseller.
Like I said earlier, the book is very on and off for me. There were some things in the novel that could have been done better. It took a long time to get the book moving.but when it did get going the plot moved forward. There were times where I wanted to just get to the point. I would have liked to see the action occur earlier in the book and that is why I gave it a 3 star rating.
April 14, 2018
This is a unique combination of historical fiction and science fiction. The sailing ship, Polaris, has been hired by a botanist to explore the jungles of South America. An expedition team, headed by the Captain, first mate, and the botanist and the ship's best sailors, is sent into the jungle. After a week, the expedition returns to the ship with only half it's crew, no botanist, injured sailors and a mysterious item, locked in a trunk and sent immediately to the ship's hold.
As the story unfolds, we find there is mystery, murder, mutiny, betrayal, survival and the mutating creature living in the hull of the ship.
Told from the point of view of the six young people who help run the ship: the cabin-boy, the botanist's assistant, the rat-hold, the powder monkey, and two Spanish ship-boys. Hand this book to thosae who enjoy Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet".
I enjoyed how Michael Northop's took true information to twist into this exciting middle school adventure!
As the story unfolds, we find there is mystery, murder, mutiny, betrayal, survival and the mutating creature living in the hull of the ship.
Told from the point of view of the six young people who help run the ship: the cabin-boy, the botanist's assistant, the rat-hold, the powder monkey, and two Spanish ship-boys. Hand this book to thosae who enjoy Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet".
I enjoyed how Michael Northop's took true information to twist into this exciting middle school adventure!
January 30, 2018
@kidlitexchange #partner 3.5/5 for this #sciencefiction/#historicalfiction mashup by Michael Northrop and published by @scholasticinc. Thanks for the ARC #kidlitexchange network! All opinions are my own.
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It took me awhile to really get into this. After a ship on an expedition loses half of its landing party, there is mutiny. What’s left after that is a bunch of deck hands and other inexperienced sailors, all twelve and under. As the new crew attempts to navigate home, they discover that something from the island has turned whatever is below deck deadly. If they don’t act soon, they may not survive.
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I can definitely see this finding a place with fans of Scar Island (for the survival aspect), Treasure Island (pirates, duh), and Fuzzy Mud (for the scientific mystery). I already have a copy in my library and will be adding it to my book talk rotation. #mglit
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It took me awhile to really get into this. After a ship on an expedition loses half of its landing party, there is mutiny. What’s left after that is a bunch of deck hands and other inexperienced sailors, all twelve and under. As the new crew attempts to navigate home, they discover that something from the island has turned whatever is below deck deadly. If they don’t act soon, they may not survive.
•
I can definitely see this finding a place with fans of Scar Island (for the survival aspect), Treasure Island (pirates, duh), and Fuzzy Mud (for the scientific mystery). I already have a copy in my library and will be adding it to my book talk rotation. #mglit
January 1, 2020
This enjoyable middle-grade/YA horror thriller was quite satisfying. It is set in 1830, on a ship visiting South America for a scientific expedition. Things go horribly wrong, leading to the ships' boys, none older than 12, getting abandoned to sail the ship to port by themselves. Or not quite by themselves.
The weird thing about reading middle-grade/YA fiction when in one's mid-forties is being able to see how effective the writing is while not being intensely affected by it. And the writing here is indeed very effective. If I were in the target audience, I would have been very scared and entirely glued to this book, and loving every minute of it.
(Full disclosure: the author is my brother-in-law.)
The weird thing about reading middle-grade/YA fiction when in one's mid-forties is being able to see how effective the writing is while not being intensely affected by it. And the writing here is indeed very effective. If I were in the target audience, I would have been very scared and entirely glued to this book, and loving every minute of it.
(Full disclosure: the author is my brother-in-law.)
October 22, 2020
This is definitely a slow-burn rather than high adventure, but if you love tall ships and sailing ships like I do, it really captures that "Captain's Courageous" flavor... if there were a monster in the hold waiting to burst onto the deck and devour your friends!
It has a story that really stays with you. Based on the fungus that takes over ant brains and leads them back to the colony to spread its spores, this tale of sci-fi terror makes you feel alone with a threat that won't kill you, but invade your body and transform you slowly into a thing from another world. If you have a little patience, this one really pays off, even if you only read it for the characters aboard a ship whose officers have fled leaving the children as the only crew.
It has a story that really stays with you. Based on the fungus that takes over ant brains and leads them back to the colony to spread its spores, this tale of sci-fi terror makes you feel alone with a threat that won't kill you, but invade your body and transform you slowly into a thing from another world. If you have a little patience, this one really pays off, even if you only read it for the characters aboard a ship whose officers have fled leaving the children as the only crew.
October 30, 2022
The ship, Polaris, is on a science expedition in the 1830’s in the Caribbean when something mysterious and terrible happens to the landing party. Half of them have returned injured, sick and terrified. As the ships boys witness the growing tensions with the crew, they are locked in the captains cabin as a violent mutiny ensues. When all quiets down they break down the door to see the remaining crew have set fire to the ship and are escaping in the only lifeboat to the island. The 6 boys will now have to figure out how to get the Polaris back to the U.S. alone. Oh, and wait…there’s a ghost or some unknown terrifying creature living below decks. Fans of swashbuckling historical fiction will love this suspenseful story.
February 3, 2018
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
This is an interesting blend of science fiction and historical fiction, with the science being natural science rather than technology. The characters have quite an adventure, and as they progress on this harrowing journey, they learn how and how not to work together. And it is quite an adventure, with danger at every turn. My gag reflex kicked in when the author described the creature living in the hold, but kids will love it. The book seemed to drag on a bit with no real progress toward the resolution near the end, but it finally came around and was good.
This is an interesting blend of science fiction and historical fiction, with the science being natural science rather than technology. The characters have quite an adventure, and as they progress on this harrowing journey, they learn how and how not to work together. And it is quite an adventure, with danger at every turn. My gag reflex kicked in when the author described the creature living in the hold, but kids will love it. The book seemed to drag on a bit with no real progress toward the resolution near the end, but it finally came around and was good.
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