Young Captain Nemo

Young Captain Nemo #1

by Jason Henderson

Armed with his wits, his friends, and his Nemotech submarine, a twelve-year-old descendant of Jules Verne's famous antihero is determined to help make the ocean a safer place one adventure at a time in Jason Henderson's Young Captain Nemo, first in a new middle-grade series.

Gabriel Nemo is not your typical 12-year-old. A descendant of the famous Captain Nemo, he spent the first years of his life living in obscurity, isolated in his parents' peaceful underwater research lab. But with his older sister off following in their ancestor's footsteps, sinking whalers and running away from vengeful navies, Gabriel decides it's time to forge his own path, and use his Nemotech legacy for good.

Armed only with his wits, his friends, and his Nemotech submarine, Gabriel embarks on a series of daring rescues and exciting undersea battles. But when Gabriel's sister suddenly appears with proof of previously undiscovered sea creatures--giant beasts inhabiting wrecked war planes and ships--Gabriel and his new friends must face their biggest and most dangerous mission ever!

Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Middle Grade, Environment, Childrens

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 2019

About the author

I've been writing for a long time-- comics, games (like Destiny 2), books-- there's always *something.* But lately I've gotten into modern-day YA novels with the Alex Van Helsing series and now middle grade with the new Young Captain Nemo series.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Young Captain Nemo has a fabulous premise .Gabriel Nemo is a decedent of the infamous Caption Nemo, but he isn't following in his footsteps. He wants to make the underwear realm safe for all. His sister however is an apply that hasn't fallen far from the family tree. Gabriel will need to challenge his sister if he is going to change the family persona.

My students, boys and girls, will want to pass this one around. Fast-paced, interesting, creative, Young Captain Nemo is going to be a big hit at my school.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Kidlitexchange Partner: When your multiple-greats grandfather was THE Captain Nemo (remember, son of a deposed Indian Raja) either you become a hashtag richkidofInstagram OR you become a twelve-year-old mad scientist, marine biologist, and swashbuckling submarine badass. Fortunately for this book, Gabriel Nemo chose the latter.

Thanks to Kidlitexchange and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC of Jason Henderson’s YOUNG CAPTAIN NEMO. All opinions are my own.

‘Fractured retelling of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA littered with Easter eggs that will have Jules Verne fans geeking out’ is an accurate description. However, a reader who’s never even heard of The Nautilus will devour this timely STEM / sci-fi adventure story.

Gabriel Nemo was raised in relative seclusion on his parents’ underwater marine technology lab for the first twelve years of his life. We meet him shortly after he was left to live alone in a small town reminiscent of Malibu, to be in ambassador from Nemo Labs to the mere mortals.

Life is pretty boring until one day Gabriel’s small rescue mission (dramatic evacuation of a little boy from a toilet in an on-fire dinner cruise ship) confirms the existence of a cryptid species straight out of the pages of a pulpy 50s sci-fi flick.

These beasts are called “Lodgers” because they use sunken warplanes and submarines like hermit crab shells. And if that wasn’t scary enough, their massive giant squid tentacles, and propensity to “hug“ other ships and submarines, means people pretty much ignore the fact that they seem to be eating the Pacific Garbage Patch.

All Gabriel needs to do is convince the giant beasts he’s their friend, and guide them to NemoLab for protection and research. Oh, and face off with the US Navy, who are intent on destroying the “monsters”.

Piece of seaweed cake.

Caveat:
Gabriel does not get relatable until midway through the book, which is definitely more than we can say for the original Captain Nemo. However, the first act storyline is such a string of shiny objects that while I was trying to decide whether or not I was into this one, I realized I was 150 pages in and it was 1 AM. Oops.

Loved:
Gorgeous descriptions of the phosphorescent deep sea;
Initial perceived theme of self-preservation vs biodiversity resolves itself (great lessons for kids);
Much of this book is set on a giant (sadly, real) island of floating garbage amidst giant squid/hermit crab/biplane monsters that eat trash and submarines. Coolness factor is extreme, even for science kids who find reading boring and for readers who find science boring.
Cast of diverse (and, highly-educated or in the process of becoming that way) characters doing cool things.

Give to:
Fans of Percy Jackson/Rick Riordan and Catherine Jinks’ Evil Genius series; Fans of Jules Verne and kids you hope will become fans of Jules Verne.
Would be a nice companion book with Fred Koehler’s GARBAGE ISLAND.

I’m looking forward to the Nemos’ next adventure!

YOUNG CAPTAIN NEMO launches Mar 12, 2019 from Feiwel & Friends.

Rating: 4.5 garbage-eating giant squid/hermit crab hybrids (that I hope to God don’t actually exist)

——-

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The descendants of the infamous Captain Nemo now get to decide what to do with his inventions, wealth, and tech. Gabriel's sister, Nerissa, has decided to follow in her ancestor's footsteps and take out those who hunt endangered species or violate environmental policies. Gabriel's parents choose to do research at their headquarters on the ocean floor. Gabriel goes to school in California (at the insistence of his parents) and in his free time goes on clandestine rescue missions with two friends in his secret sub. When Nerissa asks Gabriel for his help in saving a newly discovered ocean creature from being destroyed by the US Navy, he quickly cooks up a way to go and see what can be done with his crew. But what if they've bitten off more than they can chew? These creatures are huge, they have strange abilities, potentially deadly abilities, and they don't know that Gabriel and his crew are trying to help.

This is a smart underwater adventure with fun tech, some memorable characters, and plenty of allusions to Verne's work. I really, REALLY like that there are just as many allusions to The Mysterious Island as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Few people realize that Verne continued Nemo's story and told some of his backstory in The Mysterious Island. It is my personal favorite Verne story, so I was extra excited when Henderson started referencing it. The problem that Gabriel and his friends face is approached well. They realistically face issues in trying to study how to help a huge, deadly sea creature before the Navy destroys it. They make good observations, connect some dots, and are able to develop a solid theory of how to help the creatures. Along the way, readers also get to learn about the Great Garbage Patch and the need to clean up our oceans, but it never comes off as preachy. I liked that Henderson chose to have Nemo's descendants all take slightly different positions on what they should be doing with their legacy. It felt very realistic for a family. I also really like the reactions of Gabriel's friends to their adventure, and their choices about secrets and their parents. Overall, a fantastic scifi adventure that is a great ode to Verne's work and may get readers diving into The Mysterious Island.

Notes on content: No language issues that I remember. No sexual content. There are several perilous situations faced, but no serious injuries.

[Kate Waggoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network and the publisher for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

Twelve-year-old Gabriel Nemo is a descendent of the famous Captain Nemo. Gabriel's parents are both researchers who live and work at Nemolabs (located in a secret location on the ocean floor). His sister, Nerissa, has chosen to follow the path more similar to the original Captain Nemo, who terrorized the seas, and is a wanted woman as she takes on ships illegally whaling, among other things. During a mission, Nerissa discovers a strange sea creature that has inhabited an old sunken WWII plane. She enlists the help of Gabriel and, begrudgingly, his crew to find out what the strange creatures are. Gabriel and his crew discover the location of the lodgers (the strange creatures) and go on an adventure to save them from being destroyed by the U.S. Navy.

Young Captain Nemo is a fantastic nautical adventure for middle grade readers. This book is fast-paced, fun, and an epic adventure. The characters are unique and easy to connect to. As a teacher I enjoy the different levels of conflict presented throughout the novel. Gabriel struggles with living up to the Nemo name (specifically whether he wants to follow the path of his parents or the path of Nerissa which is more similar to that of the original Captain Nemo). He also has an internal struggle in regards to his crew and his life on land. Then, of course, there is the over arcing external conflict of the lodgers. The concept of large, hermit crablike creatures inhabiting old sunken wrecks is intriguing. The story line is captivating from page one. I truly enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to add it to my classroom library.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

@kidlitexchange #partner Thank you to the #kidlitexchange network, @macmillankidsbooks and author #jasonhenderson for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Gabriel Nemo, a descendant of the original Captain Nemo, is captain of his own submarine, Obscure. Gabe attends a STEM school in Santa Marta, California, while his parents remain at Nemotech headquarters somewhere on the ocean floor. With the help of two classmates, Gabe dodges school activities to attend to missions and sea-based rescues.

When his sister, Nerissa, tells him of a strange sea creature that is inhabiting the shells of sunken aircraft, ships, and submarines, Gabe and his friends are off on the adventure of a lifetime.

This book was full of page-turning adventure, Easter eggs, and conservation lessons. I know some children who will eat up the story and be hungry for more. Good thing, too, as it seems as if the author is planning for sequels. The book would pair well with non-fiction texts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and marine biology.

I’ll definitely be adding a copy to my classroom library.

[Shane Snoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I'm a friend of the author and got an ARC. That said, I really loved this book. I'm not the target audience, per se, but the 5th grade version of me would have gone bananas for YCN. And even now as a middle-aged me I can say that it's an honest-to-goodness page-turner with gripping action sequences and a truly fantastic premise, in the best sense of the word. I'm truly looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely fast paced and full of nonstop action, this was definitely a thrill to read! Added in some incredibly poignant insights into pollution (that ties into the story so well!), it really made for a wonderful read. It ends on a bit of cliffhanger, at least, with the promise of new adventure, and honestly, I am so ready. A fun read that kept me turning pages. Definitely recommend if you're looking for some adventure.

[Taylor Steninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my middle grade book club’s choice for the month and I loved it, they loved it! So much adventure and a bit of normal family drama sprinkled in. All of the facts about pollution were a great learning experience as well. My kids were especially grossed out by the great pacific garbage patch! Lovely book!

[Liz Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story: Gabriel Nemo is your typical 7th grader by day, daring undersea rescuer by night...or any other time a call for help comes in. Now, having discovered an entirely new species of giant crustacean that takes on the shell of wrecked boats and planes as its carapace (kind of like a hermit crab, only way, WAY bigger) Gabriel and his crew have a deadline: get the Lodgers away from the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch to safety, or watch while the US Navy blows them all out of the water--literally. Bottoms up!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (pollution, separation from parents, childhood loneliness) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I liked this one a lot! It's refreshing to read a sci-fi story that takes place undersea, rather than in space. Plus, Henderson has included lots of winks to the original Captain Nemo and Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" for anyone savvy enough to find them. Good fun! Best for grades 5-8.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Gabriel Nemo lives alone (but with access to a lawyer in case things need to be signed) near the sea, and has access to a state-of-the-art submarine, the Obscure, that he uses to help ships in need. He has two good friends, Peter and Misty, who help him man the ship. When they sneak away from a school fund raiser to save a ship and have an encounter with a giant animal that has inhabited a sunken WWII era plane, Gabriel knows he is going to have to ask his parents, who are living at the bottom of the sea in a lab, for help. They agree to a "school trip" for his friends, and the trio are soon off. Also in on this adventure is Gabriel's sister Nerissa, who has inherited the Nemo gene for trouble making and has spent the last few years with her own ship, the Nebula, ramming illegal whaling boats, so she is wanted by the government. After some research on one of the creatures that they are able to capture, Gabriel finds that the creatures they saw were "Lodgers", giant, crab-like creatures that feed on plastic pellets in a garbage zone and use abandoned ships for their shells. They can apparently communicate with each other, and when Gabriel tries to recreate the sounds, it calls the creatures to the lab, which they try to destroy in order to save their fellow creature. Nerissa knows that the navy is trying to kill the creatures, but if they try to blow them up, the resultant explosion will be horrific, since their eating habits make them basically mobile oil fields! After an epic battle that involves tremendous planning and skill, crisis is averted, but there are further wrinkles-- Misty is tired of lying to her parents, even though she loves the adventure. Luckily, the Nemos have some resources, and off to start a legitimate school that Gabriel, Misty, and Peter can attend while they have further adventures!
Strengths: I love that this just jumped right into the action and explained all of the backstory in small snippets interspersed with giant, flying sea creatures in WWII planes. Perfect, AND everyone's parents are alive! I was completely in awe of the scenes in the water, both sailing and diving. Wow. I don't know if they were accurate, but they certainly seemed so to me. The details from Verne's Nemo story are threaded throughout in a way that made me want to go back and read the original (okay, a translation!), which is a great thing for young readers up for the challenge. The characters are all great-- I loved that Peter didn't want to get wet (he can't swim!), Misty didn't want to lie to her parents, especially if there were a chance she might end up dead on the ocean floor, and that Gabriel, as much as he loves his adventures, misses his parents. All treated lightly, but effective just the same. Nerissa is an interesting study in opposites-- she's a criminal, but for all the right reasons! The details about the ecology of the ocean are great as well, and might lead to further research. Brilliant all the way around.
Weaknesses: I need more details about the properties of Nemo glass, how that much mother of pearl is harvested for use in the ships, and how the lab is powered! Perhaps that information will be woven into the next book.
What I really think: I was really looking forward to this, and had read a couple really awful books before I picked it up, so I found myself sighing in happiness, relief, and satisfaction while I read this. I had to stop in the middle to do real life things like laundry, cooking, and cleaning, and I was NOT happy until I got back to the book. Isn't that how we want students to feel about what they read?

[Emily M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a random pick-off-the-new-books-shelf at the library find, and it was fine. I'm always up for smart kids having adventures with cool technology, and I love children's books that refer back to the classics. I really did enjoy it, but I felt like the author struggled a bit with the tone and rules of the universe he created. If you're going to have twelve year olds manning submarines and finding fantastic new ocean creatures and outwitting the US Navy, then own it! Having the side kick have a crisis of conscience midway through the book that her parents didn't know she was risking her life, and they really needed to go back and tell their parents what was going on, totally pulled me out of the world of the book. If we're going to obey the normal rules about kids always telling parents where they're going, why are we not obeying the normal rules that sea creatures don't inhabit wrecked airplanes and jump through the air and attack small sea craft? I suspect that the author came up with this fun, crazy idea, and some editor or reader told him he had to address the fact that middle schoolers were exploring the depths of the Pacific without parental supervision. (This pull between adventure and responsibility is actually something I'm dealing with in the novel I'm writing right now, and this book convinced me not to take the path Henderson did.)

With my qualms noted, I handed this to my 12 year old, who just happened to have reread 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea the day before. He buzzed through it in an afternoon and enjoyed it especially for the literary references--even asked me if there was going to be a sequel. As we sat and talked about it, I asked him what he thought of the tone. He said that he thought a book like Omega City handled the kids-having-dangerous-adventures a little more enjoyably, but he wasn't pulled out of the atmosphere of the book as much as I was. So I might be overthinking the whole thing.

Other pros:
--the topic of environmental responsibility could have been heavy handed here, but it wasn't.
--while the Nemo family's situation is still a bit unclear to me (why won't the parents come to land?), their affection and respect for each other was nice
--no profanity or smut--this truly was a clean middle grade novel

[Julieann Wielga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Captain Nemo is written by Jason Henderson who lives in Denver and is a friend of reading volunteer. There is now a sequel to the first book.

Captain Nemo is a ficticious character created by Julie Verne in 20,000 leagues under the sea. Gabriel Nemo and his family are descendents. They continue to live a life in the sea, except their job is protect whales and rescue flailing ships.

Gabriel has two crew members on his ship the Obscure, Peter who is the helmsman and does not know how to swim and Misty who loves the sea and photography. These two 12 year olds must outwit their parents and the school administration to go on their rescue missions.

The battle of the book is against new animals called Lodgers that are something like gigantic cuttle fish and hermit crabs, in that these tentacled beasts "wear" scuttled planes and boats which have sunk into the sea. These new beasts have "buds" on thier tentacles that burn through flesh and metal. They seem to be nourished by petrochemicals that leak out of flows in the bottom of the ocean. For this reason they can also survive in the plastic garbage that is collecting in the ocean, because their digestive systems can return the plastic to the food that they need.

The last battle is one pitted against the Navy where the Navy wants to torpedo these frightening crustracians and where Gabriel, his crew, and his sister Narissa, want to transport the entire colony to a safe deep trench far away from humans.

I will be curious if this book has enough drive to connect with the 4,5 and 6th graders to which it is targeted. It has a lot of positives, great weird ocean animals, strong boy and good characters, nonstop action, interesting family relatioins, and the characters all love science and math.

[Yapha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was non-stop action!! Gabriel Nemo is a descendant of the famous Captain Nemo, and his family still works to protect the oceans of the world. His parents stay in their underwater research lab and never come to land. His older sister is a fugitive, attacking whaling ships and other vessels harming the ocean and her inhabitants. Gabriel is living alone for the first time, in a small, California coastal town, trying to have a somewhat normal middle school experience. Except for the fact that he and his two best friends often sneak out in Gabriel's state of the art submarine to perform rescues and other heroic acts. When strange ocean creatures start appearing and attacking ships, Gabriel and his sister set out to learn what they can and save the creatures before the US Navy attacks. So much great marine science is woven into the fast paced action sequences! Highly recommended for grades 4 & up. I can not wait for the next in the series!!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabe Nemo, a 12-year-old descendant of Captain Nemo of Jules Verne fame, uses his submarine for search and rescue missions along with his close friends Peter and Misty. When his outlaw sister Nerissa convinces him to save giant crustacean type animals that are using abandoned planes, subs, and boats as their hermit crab type homes, he unwittingly stirs up family and friend issues. The science topics that are woven through the story include the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch, black smokers, marine animal communication, symbiotic relationships, algae-based food, and petroleum-eating organisms. Issues such as Gabe's isolation from his parents, loneliness, Misty's unwillingness to lie to her parents, and other family issues make this title appealing. The plot is fast-moving, the characters are well drawn, and the title stands alone even though this title is the first in a new series for middle graders.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable action adventure series focused on the ocean. Gabriel Nemo wasn’t just homeschooled he was homeschooled under the sea, now he’s been sent ashore by his brilliant scientist parents to help bridge the chasm between the Nemo legacy of fighting to save the seas and the mostly indifferent terrestrial world. Gabriel has managed to make two close friends who accompany him on nautical rescue missions, acting as the crew of his submarine. When the U.S. navy is mounting a mission against some dangerous, immense new sea creatures that take on sunken planes and ships as their shell-like armor, Nemo knows he, his friends and his family, must mitigate the conflict. Imagine Percy Jackson in the sea, with slightly more approachable parents.

[Marcia Zorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most exciting adventure for middle school readers I've read in a long time. I love that the main character is the great-great-great grandson of famed Captain Nemo, and the undersea action is spectacular! Highly creative author Jason Henderson published previously _Vampire Rising_ , which was named to our Texas Lone Star List for grades 6-7-8 and featured the great-great-great- grandson of vampire-hunter Dr. Van Helsing from _Dracula_. This is a popular trilogy at my school, and I know that my students will also love _Young Captain Nemo_!

[Steve Harbula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid middle grade book. Light on nuance, figurative language, and complex characterization; heavy on action! The plot moves along briskly, and the advanced science and technology seems like it would still be accessible to younger readers. The main character, his crew, and family are all likable. And the book makes statements about nature, family, and friendship without being too preachy or heavy-handed. A fun read, and looking forward to seeing where the young captain’s story goes!

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun MG book featuring the descendants of the original Captain Nemo. Gabriel lives on land, but carries out rescue missions and other ocean related projects while his parents still live in their underwater home/research facility. Gabriel's sister comes across a new, unknown species that could potentially be very dangerous. They decide to learn more about them when they discover that the new creatures are in danger of being hunted by the US Navy.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a planned series by Jason Henderson, and, yes, you will have to suspend your disbelief A LOT, but this is a fast-paced, high action, thriller. I can imagine multiple kids who will enjoy this book. It has sea monsters and a standoff with the Navy! Recommended.

Read more at Bookish Adventures.

[Libby Ames · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pulled this one off the school library shelf to see if I could promote something new. It is definitely a great action/science fiction/fantasy novel for the intended audience of tweens and young teens. The story is high action and highly unbelievable--but holds the traditional Jules Verne vibe really well. Definitely one to add to my booktalk list.

[Sara-Zoe Patterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is some terrible lazy writing. If this had been a graphic novel in better hands, it could have worked. But the author used a tell vs show model with descriptions that took bad shortcuts that kids won’t get.

[T.J. Burns]

I received a copy of this book from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.