Stowaway

by Pam Withers

Owen’s plan to sail away on an adventure puts him on a collision course with some very dangerous people.

When Owen’s parents leave him on his own for a week, the sixteen-year-old gets bored and hatches a crazy idea: sneak onto the yacht that’s visiting the sleepy Pacific Coast island where he lives and stow away on an adventure! Once on board the vessel, Owen quickly finds out this is anything but innocent fun. The ship is packed with teenagers from Central America, and it looks like Owen has stumbled into a people-smuggling operation.

Complications pile up and as things head from bad to worse, a haunting incident from Owen’s past tightens its grip on him. There’s only one way to break free and make his way home. Owen and the first mate, Arturo — a former street kid — must work together to commandeer the boat and win the trust of those on board. But who’s friend and who’s foe in the shifting tides?

Genres: Adventure, Young Adult, Fiction, Family, Action, Canada

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2018

About the author

Award-winning YA author Pam Withers -- a former outdoor guide, journalist and editor -- has written 21 sports and outdoor adventure books for teens. She has been nominated for three Red Maple Awards and numerous others. Besides her novels, she has written an athlete's biography and Jump-Starting Boys, a book for parents on getting boys to read. Pam lives in Vancouver, Canada, and tours North America extensively.

Reviews

[Kadi P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was right to think that this book was going to be a lot like Ransom. It was quite like it but remove the bodyguard aspect and replace it with a reckless protagonist who has a strange death wish and a penchant for getting himself into dangerous situations instead of out of them.

This story was a great adventure despite the protagonist Owen's recklessness. Owen was extremely interesting and his backstory played such a large part in his decisions that by the time his backstory was finally revealed it all made sense why he acted the way he did.

I wouldn't have been quite as forgiving as the protagonist was to the other character who constantly betrayed him, but that's what made the twist at the end so surprising. And I especially liked that the story didn't stop at the boat, it went much further which was very unexpected.

All in all, a fantastic adventure that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a thrilling middle grade standalone!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review to come.

Thank you to the publisher, Dundurn for sending me an ARC of this book.

[Arlen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had trouble with the cell phone. Yes, the cell phone. The focus was on the cell phone so much, but there was a lot about how it played its role in the story that I found a little far fetched or manipulated. As such, it didn't feel like a real-enough story to me; although, it certainly was based on something that could happen. The other part of the story that was either too obvious or too obscure - I'm not sure which - was the mysterious secret past that the lead character had. The author has some good ideas to incorporate into her story, but I don't think the execution of those pieces were woven in well enough. Maybe in future tales the weaving will be stronger.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. It was an easy read, but took me a few days to get through it. I was curious about the story, but not super into it. The story was centered around two very different boys. The first is Arturo, a street kid who ends up working as a first mate for a people smuggler. The second is Owen, a Canadian teen who is bored with his life and hopes onto Arturo's boat as a stowaway for some adventure!

The underlying theme was important - it's a good intermediate grade introduction to the risks some people feel they must take to escape or save their children from unsafe living situations.  I wanted to know more about the people smuggling, and the ending left me wanting more.

[Pam Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbf84...

[Pyper Hammill]

The book wasn't that great. I just kept reading to see if it would get good. There wasn't really any cliff hangers which i didn't like.

[Izzys_Internet_Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

I found this book to be alright, it wasn't as interesting as I originally thought it would be but the plot kept me wanting more of the story until the end.

[Amy (novelteahappyme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was first stumbled onto author Pam Withers’ writing through her book “First Descent” as part of the Forest of Reading program facilitated by the Ontario Library Association. At that time, I found her work to be excellent at pulling in young readers who loved fast-paced action adventure with relatable characters and memorable plot points.

Her newest release “Stowaway” does not disappoint nor alter my first impressions of her writing. We quickly meet main character Owen as he hatches a plan while his parents are away to sneak onto a yacht that’s docked in his small town and enjoy an adventure. Once on the ship he is faces with the realization that the ship is packed with teens from Central America. Unbeknownst to him, Owen has placed himself in the middle of a people-smuggling operation.

Partnering up with Arturo - a former street kid, Owen must work together with his new found pal to work towards changing the path of the this ship and gaining the trust of those on board in an effort to break free and make his way home. Resolution doesn’t come easy as Owen faces the challenge of determining who on board is truly an alliance and who might be out to put a kink in his plans.

Perfect for middle-grade and YA readers, especially hesitant male readers or those looking for a thrilling realistic fiction book as a step away from the onslaught of fantasy titles, “Stowaway” is a superb action adventure that doesn’t intimate due to it’s succinct 200 page length.

Sincere thanks to Dundurn Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Your books are always a joy to read and a reflection of the great Canadian content out there for readers of all ages.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Owen is looking forward to the week when his parents go away to a convention of marina owners. He plans to find something exciting to do on this island where there are no young people. He and his parents moved here after an incident with his brother, which left his parents fearing that Owen would eventually fall prey to the same negative influences. When a storm comes and strands a boat at the marina for the night, Owen sees an opportunity to make friends with the yacht's first mate, Arturo and stowaway before they leave. Little does he know that Arturo is less than a first mate and more like a slave to the captain who is taking boys escaping from Columbia to Canada for a price. Once Owen discovers them, he becomes a liability to the captain, leading to the possibility that he might not make it back home.
Stowaway is an adventure story with a lesson about taking life for granted. The story alternates perspective from Owen to Arturo. Owen seems ridiculously naive to Arturo's worldliness which works well to contrast the two main characters and challenges the reader to root for at least one of them. A fairly simple and predictable story makes this a short, easy read with little depth or profound ideas.

[Izzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this book for school and honestly it didn’t really do anything for me. I don’t really read middle grade or adventure type books very much so this book being a combo of those two, wasn’t terribly enjoyable to read.
As others have mentioned in reviews, the character building was almost nonexistent.
I also feel like the world has enough stereotypes about South Americans coming illegally into other countries and this book maybe perpetuates that.
I’m kind of confused as to how I felt about that aspect of the book, because the main character, Owen, at first wants to alert the Coast Guard about the people coming over to Canada in the boat he’s decided to stowaway on. Then later on, I guess he becomes friends with them, but still wants to alert the authorities...??? I’m really not sure what was going on with that. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Tbh I’m not sure what happened for most of the book, but long story short, Owen is an idiot.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are searching for a read that gets your adrenaline pumping, look no further than Pam Withers. I do not recommend this book before going to bed or you will either stay up all night reading, or not be able to sleep because of all that adrenaline coursing through your system.
Owen and his parents live on an Island off the coast of British Columbia. It is a solitary life without peers nearby. Eventually we learn how and why this came to be.
When his folks leave him alone for a week, Owen connects to Arturo, a young man who, with his 'uncle' have sheltered at their marina. When Owen stows away on what he thinks is Arturo and his uncle's friendly boat expecting to get dropped off at the nearest center, is he ever wrong. He finds himself caught up in an international human smuggling syndicate.
Pam Withers takes her readers from one hairbreadth adventure and escape to the next. I like how she alternates the two perspectives of Arturo and Owen in different chapters.

[Cody Phelps · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend Stowaway to people that like illegal suspense. I liked it a lot it was very interesting with a lot of craziness. I liked how they introduced the characters with a lot of detail. They were upfront with a lot of things.So if you like those things about a book i suggest it to you.

Owen is the first character you'll be introduced and his parents. His parents seem to trust him so they bought tickets to leave there house for a week. When they told Owen that they were leaving he started thinking about things to do. He saw that a yacht is coming to a area near him so he decides to leave the house when his parents leave. As him being a regular 16 year old he thought it would be a good idea to sneak upon it.But when he did he didn't know what he was getting into. He came across some smugglers and he knew he messed up as soon as that had happen.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This YA fiction novel was recommended by Cheriee Weichel on her blog, Library Matters (https://dickenslibrary.blogspot.com/2...), and luckily I was able to download an e-copy from my library. It certainly was page-turner, an exciting drama that tells the story of a lonely teenager living on a remote island in British Columbia who stumbles into an illegal immigration operation and finds himself in great danger. Owen's parents have gone out of town and left him in charge of their boat marina service. Bored, Owen hides in a giant yacht, hoping to get a ride to a neighboring island. But he discovers that this boat is being used to smuggle youngsters from Honduras into Canada. Now he's in danger and faced with perilous decisions to get himself and his new friends out of this mess. It was a fast-paced novel and I enjoyed it.

[Dhruva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the book is pretty good I don't see why Owen decides to sneak on the boat( Question for Owen, what's a marina?). Arturo had a really complicated life, I feel sorry for him. Pam Withers failed to make some of the details clearer.

[Khepre · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plot was lacking to me and the overall ending was just not what I liked at all. However, the idea was a nice basis for this book.

[Cool · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good book

[Muadh Abdulla]

ending was way too rushed.

[Atiqah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personally, I find the development of plot a bit lacking. As always, the premise seems good. I was expecting a decent read about the adventures of a rebellious teen who becomes marginally wiser by the end of the book. In addition, I struggle to see the character growth.

There was a potentially bonding moment when the two main characters share their past. I think the author could’ve used pauses and body language to more effectively deliver their history. At the same time, this will allow readers to identify with the characters but that chance wasn’t used well. A lot of scenes in this book felt similarly glazed over.

Bottom line: Stowaway is, in essence, a good adventure but is unrefined. It has the potential to be so much more.

Thanks to Dundurn for providing me with a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and are based on the uncorrected reader’s proof version.

Read full review on Bookmarks & Blue Light

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my full review at https://mmbookshelf.wordpress.com/201...
Owen lives with his parents who manage a marina on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast. They are away for a conference when a storm blows in, bringing a gorgeous yacht to the marina for refuge and supplies. Impulsively Owen decides to stow away for a joyride. When he reveals himself to the captain and his Guatemalan “nephew” Arturo, Owen realizes the yacht is being used for human smuggling. He and Arturo must work together, but can they trust each other? An interesting and informative read, with deadly danger in the form of storms, guns, and more. Alternating first-person voices give both Arturo's and Owen's perspectives, helping young readers better understand the issues, and increasing the narrative tension as we witness each boy struggle with competing motivations. My thanks to Dundurn Press for the advance reading copy provided digitally through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read that had a different premise than what I normally read. The characters were relatable and the plot wasn't unrealistic for the most part.