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Girl The Cat & The Navigator
Set sail aboard the Plucky Leopard for an adventure of myth and marvel among the ice-caps!
Curious, pin-bright Oona Britt dreams of a life of excitement on the wild waves. She has read stories of a mysterious, magical creature called the nardoo which swims through the stars at night, and decides to stow away on her father's ship to track one down.
But her time on the storm-tossed sea is fraught with danger - there's a mutinous crew, a sabotaging ship's cat called Barnacles and a hungry creature of the deep awoken after a long sleep...
Curious, pin-bright Oona Britt dreams of a life of excitement on the wild waves. She has read stories of a mysterious, magical creature called the nardoo which swims through the stars at night, and decides to stow away on her father's ship to track one down.
But her time on the storm-tossed sea is fraught with danger - there's a mutinous crew, a sabotaging ship's cat called Barnacles and a hungry creature of the deep awoken after a long sleep...
320 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2018
21 people are currently reading
1499 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
April 12, 2019
Very similar to its predecessor, The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker; same plot, different characters.
The Girl Who Sailed the Stars is set in The Village of One Thousand Ships, a coastal town crafted from the wood of sunken ships, where dwellings still drip with saltwater and whisper the cries of drowning men. Ten-year-old Oona longs to sail the seas like her father, Captain Britt, a man who wished to have a son and subsequently laments Oona's birth. When Oona is told she's to be married off, she sneaks onto her father's ship, along with his rowdy crew, a kind old navigator (who longs to have a child), and a cat named Barnacles. Perilous adventures and magical encounters ensue.
Illustrated throughout, this whimsical narrative is spread among several characters, not just Oona and her parents, but also her sister, the navigator, Barnacles, a fortune teller, and more. The narrative starts strong but soon stagnates, favoring exposition over urgency and action. Much like The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker, Woods opts to focus on the adult characters in lieu of the child protagonist, which often slows the pacing.
While pacing is problematic, the world and the characters within it glimmer with charm. From its creaking dwellings to seashells that whisper fortunes, its fiddle-playing cat and its mysterious creatures of the sea, The Girl Who Sailed the Stars is wondrous and imaginative.
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*Note: Quote taken from an Advanced Uncorrected Galley.
The Girl Who Sailed the Stars is set in The Village of One Thousand Ships, a coastal town crafted from the wood of sunken ships, where dwellings still drip with saltwater and whisper the cries of drowning men. Ten-year-old Oona longs to sail the seas like her father, Captain Britt, a man who wished to have a son and subsequently laments Oona's birth. When Oona is told she's to be married off, she sneaks onto her father's ship, along with his rowdy crew, a kind old navigator (who longs to have a child), and a cat named Barnacles. Perilous adventures and magical encounters ensue.
Illustrated throughout, this whimsical narrative is spread among several characters, not just Oona and her parents, but also her sister, the navigator, Barnacles, a fortune teller, and more. The narrative starts strong but soon stagnates, favoring exposition over urgency and action. Much like The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker, Woods opts to focus on the adult characters in lieu of the child protagonist, which often slows the pacing.
While pacing is problematic, the world and the characters within it glimmer with charm. From its creaking dwellings to seashells that whisper fortunes, its fiddle-playing cat and its mysterious creatures of the sea, The Girl Who Sailed the Stars is wondrous and imaginative.
Oona stared up at the lonely moon. She knew what she had to do. Forget feeling the North in the tips of her toes. She was going to feel it all around. She wasn't going south, no matter what anyone said. She was going to go north, just like she'd always dreamed.
It was a big decision: four whole months at sea. It would be dangerous and wet. It would be cold and windy. And maybe she would fall overboard and drown. But it would, without a doubt, be an adventure, and she had always wanted to go on one of them.*
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*Note: Quote taken from an Advanced Uncorrected Galley.
July 3, 2022
Loved my reading experience with this and the beautiful illustrations
January 1, 2019
I enjoyed THE BOY, THE BIRD, AND THE COFFIN MAKER, but I loved THE GIRL WHO SAILED THE STARS.
Matilda Woods’ stories remind me quite a bit of Iva Ibbotson, a favorite author of mine from childhood. They are like fresh fairy tales and parables with magical elements and brave, intelligent protagonists. THE GIRL WHO SAILED THE STARS was a lovely story where everyone gets what they deserve. And really, aren’t those the best stories?
Matilda Woods’ stories remind me quite a bit of Iva Ibbotson, a favorite author of mine from childhood. They are like fresh fairy tales and parables with magical elements and brave, intelligent protagonists. THE GIRL WHO SAILED THE STARS was a lovely story where everyone gets what they deserve. And really, aren’t those the best stories?
August 23, 2020
4.5 stars. I think The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker was slightly better, but still so so good. Matilda Woods is amazing and I'll read anything she writes.
June 14, 2019
Readers will sail the North Seas with Oona after she stows away on her father's ship just before the annual whale hunt. They are going farther north than ever before and discover a new creature thought to only live in legends. Meanwhile, Oona's six older sisters and her mother journey to the South to escape winter. This is an adventure tale filled with magical realism and poetic justice and will be a satisfying read for middle grade students.
Thank you to Philomel Books and Edelweiss for a digital ARC of this new middle grade adventure.
Thank you to Philomel Books and Edelweiss for a digital ARC of this new middle grade adventure.
April 13, 2019
Very similar to its predecessor, The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker; same plot, different characters.
The Girl, the Cat and the Navigator is set in The Village of One Thousand Ships, a coastal town crafted from the wood of sunken ships, where dwellings still drip with saltwater and whisper the cries of drowning men. Ten-year-old Oona longs to sail the seas like her father, Captain Britt, a man who wished to have a son and subsequently laments Oona's birth. When Oona is told she's to be married off, she sneaks onto her father's ship, along with his rowdy crew, a kind old navigator (who longs to have a child), and a cat named Barnacles. Perilous adventures and magical encounters ensue.
Illustrated throughout, this whimsical narrative is spread among several characters, not just Oona and her parents, but also her sister, the navigator, Barnacles, a fortune teller, and more. The narrative starts strong but soon stagnates, favoring exposition over urgency and action. Much like The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker, Woods opts to focus on the adult characters in lieu of the child protagonist, which often slows the pacing.
While pacing is problematic, the world and the characters within it glimmer with charm. From its creaking dwellings to seashells that whisper fortunes, its fiddle-playing cat and its mysterious creatures of the sea, The Girl, the Cat and the Navigator is wondrous and imaginative.
-
*Note: Quote taken from an Advanced Uncorrected Galley.
The Girl, the Cat and the Navigator is set in The Village of One Thousand Ships, a coastal town crafted from the wood of sunken ships, where dwellings still drip with saltwater and whisper the cries of drowning men. Ten-year-old Oona longs to sail the seas like her father, Captain Britt, a man who wished to have a son and subsequently laments Oona's birth. When Oona is told she's to be married off, she sneaks onto her father's ship, along with his rowdy crew, a kind old navigator (who longs to have a child), and a cat named Barnacles. Perilous adventures and magical encounters ensue.
Illustrated throughout, this whimsical narrative is spread among several characters, not just Oona and her parents, but also her sister, the navigator, Barnacles, a fortune teller, and more. The narrative starts strong but soon stagnates, favoring exposition over urgency and action. Much like The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker, Woods opts to focus on the adult characters in lieu of the child protagonist, which often slows the pacing.
While pacing is problematic, the world and the characters within it glimmer with charm. From its creaking dwellings to seashells that whisper fortunes, its fiddle-playing cat and its mysterious creatures of the sea, The Girl, the Cat and the Navigator is wondrous and imaginative.
Oona stared up at the lonely moon. She knew what she had to do. Forget feeling the North in the tips of her toes. She was going to feel it all around. She wasn't going south, no matter what anyone said. She was going to go north, just like she'd always dreamed.
It was a big decision: four whole months at sea. It would be dangerous and wet. It would be cold and windy. And maybe she would fall overboard and drown. But it would, without a doubt, be an adventure, and she had always wanted to go on one of them.*
-
*Note: Quote taken from an Advanced Uncorrected Galley.
December 22, 2019
Finally a middlegrade book as great as Bob🤗🤗 the perfect read for tonight, it doesnt read childish or absurd, its magical, whimsical, beautiful book🤗
April 22, 2021
There's this messy, horrible, illogical, mean-spirited subplot that ostensibly provides the reason for the main character's crucial choice, but that same goad to action could have been provide in all sorts of other ways. In the end, the main thing this subplot provides is evidence of just how nasty Matilda Woods wants to be to characters she has created. The nastiness of the subplot ruined any satisfaction I might have taken in the main plot. It was so terrible I won't read any more of Woods's work. Ugh.
January 27, 2019
*4.5 stars*
A little slow to start for me, but once this tale gets going it is a treat. Just a whimsical as The Boy, The Bird, & The Coffin Maker, which I loved. Oona is as plucky as you’d imagine, & both the kindness & the cruelty of humanity is on display in an approachable way. Loved the imaginative quirks in this universe!
A little slow to start for me, but once this tale gets going it is a treat. Just a whimsical as The Boy, The Bird, & The Coffin Maker, which I loved. Oona is as plucky as you’d imagine, & both the kindness & the cruelty of humanity is on display in an approachable way. Loved the imaginative quirks in this universe!
January 11, 2019
This book is beautiful and whimsical and engaging. I loved the illustrations, and Oona is such a vibrant character. I think so many kids are going to love this book
March 11, 2020
Oona Brit is, as was foretold, bold and brave but unlike the foretelling, not a boy. Being the 7th daughter to Captain Britt, he was devastated and so was all involved. Oona was treated shamefully by nearly everyone. Captain Britt was about to sail on the Leaping Leopard and Oona, keen on proving her worth & winning her father's approval, stowed away on the ship. She's finally gone on the adventure she dreamed of but will she find what she's looking for?
Such a gorgeous cover and truly a memerising tale but... I struggle with all the unlikable, no, hateful adults in this book. Only 2 are lovely and maybe a handful of very minor adult characters are ok though because they are so minor, they don't really count. It was also rather funny though mostly to do with the unlikeables getting their just deserts. Overall, a magical tale but why does her parents have to be so terribly awful!?
Such a gorgeous cover and truly a memerising tale but... I struggle with all the unlikable, no, hateful adults in this book. Only 2 are lovely and maybe a handful of very minor adult characters are ok though because they are so minor, they don't really count. It was also rather funny though mostly to do with the unlikeables getting their just deserts. Overall, a magical tale but why does her parents have to be so terribly awful!?
August 13, 2021
So magical! Loved, loved, loved this.
February 3, 2022
2.5 stars
April 18, 2022
Such a beautiful and heart wreching story. Loved it!
August 15, 2024
My son and I really enjoyed this adventure, especially the main storyline.
July 15, 2021
A story of saving one's self. A girl, a dad, a ship, a cat, and a navigator. What will become of them? It's an adventure for sure.
February 13, 2022
3.5 stars
February 17, 2022
2.5⭐️
I really hated the portrayal of the sisters and mom in this. We don’t need to keep telling young girls that girls we don’t necessarily like need to be seen as ugly. It could’ve used more positive female relationships. I also thought that some of the imagery could’ve been done a little bit better (but I understand I am not the intended audience, as well).
I really hated the portrayal of the sisters and mom in this. We don’t need to keep telling young girls that girls we don’t necessarily like need to be seen as ugly. It could’ve used more positive female relationships. I also thought that some of the imagery could’ve been done a little bit better (but I understand I am not the intended audience, as well).
May 17, 2019
Very cute! RTC
June 3, 2019
A well written story with a likeable protagonist, but I feel that nautical fiction is not for me.
December 28, 2022
It was so good I give a good view about this one
May 28, 2019
Oona Britt is the youngest of seven daughters born in the magical town of Nordlor. The beautiful coastal town of Nordlor is built from wrecked whaling ships. Oona's father enlisted the advice of a soothsayer promising him a "bold and brave son". When Oona was born, she bought her great disappointment and angered her sea captain father who desperately wanted a son. Oona loves the ocean and wants to sail on a ship but, her father believes girls don't belong to them.
Because Oona craves adventure and knowledge, she is teased and considered an outsider from her family. When her family decides the girls will be sent down to the South to be married off, Oona resolves this isn't the life she wanted and decides to sneak aboard her father's ship. Oona realizes he is setting sail for his annual winter whale hunt and she is about to be a part of a great adventure. During her great adventure on the sea, Oona meets the different characters aboard her father's ship, including the ship's sea cat, Barnacles and the navigator named Haroyld. As much as Oona tries to show her father her worth and win his love, he is furious and continuously disappointed in her. Will Oona be able to prove to her father that she is the brave and bold child the soothsayer promised?
I loved this novel. I don't say this lightly because I have maybe a handful of books this year that elicited such emotions while reading. I love everything about this novel, except maybe some of the kooky illustrations that decorated each page. This glorious book teaches children and adults, that we cannot live to please others and being true to oneself if the best path. While reading this novel, I was reminded of Roald Dahl's brilliant masterpieces such as "The Witches", "Mathilda", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and "James and the Giant Peach". It had a bit of dark humor mixed in with a delightful story of bravery and following your heart. Best of all, it teaches young girl they have power to their voices heard and can conquer their dreams on their own. A definite read for any young adventurous soul!
Because Oona craves adventure and knowledge, she is teased and considered an outsider from her family. When her family decides the girls will be sent down to the South to be married off, Oona resolves this isn't the life she wanted and decides to sneak aboard her father's ship. Oona realizes he is setting sail for his annual winter whale hunt and she is about to be a part of a great adventure. During her great adventure on the sea, Oona meets the different characters aboard her father's ship, including the ship's sea cat, Barnacles and the navigator named Haroyld. As much as Oona tries to show her father her worth and win his love, he is furious and continuously disappointed in her. Will Oona be able to prove to her father that she is the brave and bold child the soothsayer promised?
I loved this novel. I don't say this lightly because I have maybe a handful of books this year that elicited such emotions while reading. I love everything about this novel, except maybe some of the kooky illustrations that decorated each page. This glorious book teaches children and adults, that we cannot live to please others and being true to oneself if the best path. While reading this novel, I was reminded of Roald Dahl's brilliant masterpieces such as "The Witches", "Mathilda", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and "James and the Giant Peach". It had a bit of dark humor mixed in with a delightful story of bravery and following your heart. Best of all, it teaches young girl they have power to their voices heard and can conquer their dreams on their own. A definite read for any young adventurous soul!
May 9, 2025
3.5 stars
a fantasy middle grade set in a fictional artic, with magical, even if not particularly original, creatures and setting; that shows its intended age-range quite well, being so all-or-nothing in its depictions.
the writing is fine, if not a bit too blunt, and the pacing does its job; i enjoyed the sketchy and loose illustrations a lot (for the most part). problems do start to appear with the characters, however; as all major (as in, not background) characters are very extreme "good" or "evil". the good ones have none/almost no flaws or disagreeable traits and seem to always be in the right, while the evils are so exaggerated, over the top negative, with no positive personality at all. i will also take issue with the fact all of Oona's siblings and mother are described as ""walruses"" and shown as stupid and fat; really all the 'evil' characters ether adding nothing (outright offensive, as shown above) and could have easily been changed, or felt like a somewhat insensitive exaggeration of serious issues (sailor dad).
though there are some climactic moments in the book, due to over present exaggeration there is almost no tension and the emotional moments feel flat. i also did not particularly enjoy the ending. it felt too everything works out perfect in the end: all the 'good & perfect' characters get a fairy tail ending, while the 'evil and horrible' characters get revenge -- it all just feels so exaggerated and immature in the places it matters most.
the plot's adventure aspects are fun, in large part due to the light worldbuilding. the seashell whisperer, the town made of drowned ships that are still drowned, the Nardoos, talking - fiddle playing cats! it is all very fantastical and fun, the setting of north is nice, and the daily ship life, though almost certainly kidded down, is enjoyable to read about. none of it is experimental or groundbreaking in anyway, but not every book should be that; for what this book is, what is present here is easily enough for at least one read.
did i enjoy it? -yes
would i read it again? -probably not
would i have read it knowing what i do after? -yes
a fantasy middle grade set in a fictional artic, with magical, even if not particularly original, creatures and setting; that shows its intended age-range quite well, being so all-or-nothing in its depictions.
the writing is fine, if not a bit too blunt, and the pacing does its job; i enjoyed the sketchy and loose illustrations a lot (for the most part). problems do start to appear with the characters, however; as all major (as in, not background) characters are very extreme "good" or "evil". the good ones have none/almost no flaws or disagreeable traits and seem to always be in the right, while the evils are so exaggerated, over the top negative, with no positive personality at all. i will also take issue with the fact all of Oona's siblings and mother are described as ""walruses"" and shown as stupid and fat; really all the 'evil' characters ether adding nothing (outright offensive, as shown above) and could have easily been changed, or felt like a somewhat insensitive exaggeration of serious issues (sailor dad).
though there are some climactic moments in the book, due to over present exaggeration there is almost no tension and the emotional moments feel flat. i also did not particularly enjoy the ending. it felt too everything works out perfect in the end: all the 'good & perfect' characters get a fairy tail ending, while the 'evil and horrible' characters get revenge -- it all just feels so exaggerated and immature in the places it matters most.
the plot's adventure aspects are fun, in large part due to the light worldbuilding. the seashell whisperer, the town made of drowned ships that are still drowned, the Nardoos, talking - fiddle playing cats! it is all very fantastical and fun, the setting of north is nice, and the daily ship life, though almost certainly kidded down, is enjoyable to read about. none of it is experimental or groundbreaking in anyway, but not every book should be that; for what this book is, what is present here is easily enough for at least one read.
did i enjoy it? -yes
would i read it again? -probably not
would i have read it knowing what i do after? -yes
September 14, 2020
This book is about a girl, Oona, who lives with her other sisters who aren’t like her at all. She is disliked by her parents, especially by her father because he was told that she was going to be a boy, which he wanted so that the boy could grow up to be the captain of his ship. They live in a village in the North where all of the buildings are made out of ships that have sailed in the sea. The buildings and houses move like the ships (they sway and gusts of wind blow through), and if the ship was caught in a storm, the ship would replay how it was treated at the exact time every day. The girl’s father is the Captain of the biggest ship in the village and Oona wishes that one day she could go onto it although she isn’t allowed because she is a girl. Her other sisters would much rather stay at home and wait to get married off to princes in the South. Every ship has a cat to bring the ship good luck. One day, her parents break the news that they all are going to move to the south, apart from the father, who will be setting sail on his boat. Oona is faced with a difficult situation, but ends up taking a risk and following her heart.
I would recommend this book to others because it is a really interesting book full of mysteries and adventures. It has a really unique storyline which is really interesting to read about. I think that the message of this book is to do what you want to do, no matter what is in your way. Your life is your life and you get to choose how you live it. I especially liked the navigator because he was the only one in the book who liked Oona for who she was and didn’t care that she was a girl. This was definitely an enjoyable read.
I would recommend this book to others because it is a really interesting book full of mysteries and adventures. It has a really unique storyline which is really interesting to read about. I think that the message of this book is to do what you want to do, no matter what is in your way. Your life is your life and you get to choose how you live it. I especially liked the navigator because he was the only one in the book who liked Oona for who she was and didn’t care that she was a girl. This was definitely an enjoyable read.
November 10, 2018
This is the tale of a girl called Oona Britt, the daughter of aship`s captain who wanted a son and shuns her, who dreams of boarding a ship and exploring the North, and especially wants to discover the mythical nardoo, as she stows away on her father`s boat to avoid being married off, and her adventures on this voyage. I thought Oona was a phenomenal heroine as she is so resilient during her time with her family and on the ship, and I loved her compassion to those around her and her determination and passion too. The other titular characters, Barnacles the ship cat and Haroyld the navigator, are also wonderful, because Barnacles is just utterly brilliant in every way and Haroyld is so kind and clever. Something else I really enjoyed was the writing style, which feels like reading a fairy tale or myth, as well as the humorous asides following secondary characters, such as Oona`s sisters journeying to the South to find husbands or the fortune teller Freydis. The writing is also really effective in creating the world, which is partially realistic and partially fantastical, and in creating vivid settings and a real image of the world in my mind. The ending was perfect, and I can`t wait to go back and read Matilda Woods` debut the Boy, the Bird and the Coffin Maker soon, and discover more of her work in the future. 4.5/5
April 16, 2019
This book reminded me of the girl of ink and stars and brightstorm. The thing these books all have in common is adventure. You follow a young MC with an unloving family and watch them flourish as they chase their dreams and meet a better family along the way.
Like both of these books, The girl, the cat and the navigator follows the same plot. Its samey in its recipe but I still enjoyed it. I loved the sea themes and Oona was a great lead for the story, she was brave, bold and you always wanted her to succeed. Woods also managed to incorporate a greater world with just a few mentions of other characters. It was easy for her to build a world you wanted to explore without bogging you down in too much description. The story was fun and toyed with your imagination. Like other books she spun on a few fairytales which made it easier to follow and fun to read.
My only qualms with the book is some characters had far too much time spent on them when really, for me as a reader, they didn’t add much to the plot or the world. There were chapters that seemed a bit dull and 2D because of this.
It may follow the same formula as others but it has a unique voice and location which will entertain. Beautiful illustrations are scattered throughout and the page borders are exciting.
Perfect adventure for ages 8-13.
Like both of these books, The girl, the cat and the navigator follows the same plot. Its samey in its recipe but I still enjoyed it. I loved the sea themes and Oona was a great lead for the story, she was brave, bold and you always wanted her to succeed. Woods also managed to incorporate a greater world with just a few mentions of other characters. It was easy for her to build a world you wanted to explore without bogging you down in too much description. The story was fun and toyed with your imagination. Like other books she spun on a few fairytales which made it easier to follow and fun to read.
My only qualms with the book is some characters had far too much time spent on them when really, for me as a reader, they didn’t add much to the plot or the world. There were chapters that seemed a bit dull and 2D because of this.
It may follow the same formula as others but it has a unique voice and location which will entertain. Beautiful illustrations are scattered throughout and the page borders are exciting.
Perfect adventure for ages 8-13.
September 29, 2019
This book is set in a mythical and superstitious world, where a town can be built from the wrecks of sunken ships, creating buildings that move as if still afloat in the ocean.
In the village of Nordlor, Captain Britt has 6 daughters. When a fortune-teller predicts his next child will be a son, he is overjoyed, but instead it is another daughter.
Oona is not like her sisters. She loves books and yearns for adventure on the high-seas, captaining her own ship to explore the world and find the magical creature called the nardoo. As her father sets sail to hunt for whales to feed the village, her mother and sisters prepare to travel south to find fortune and husbands. Rather than be married off at the tender age of 10, Oona stows away on her father's ship.
Oona's adventure is both physical and emotional. She wants to believe in magic, 'because a world without magic would be a very dull world indeed.' Wood has created a delightful story populated by magical creatures, pirates, cats who can play the fiddle and wild and stormy seas.
I was absolutely enchanted by The Girl, the Cat and the Navigator. It reminded me of fairytales I read as a child, but with a feisty, independent girl as the heroine. The book is infused with magic and wonder and adventure. Totally irresistible.!
In the village of Nordlor, Captain Britt has 6 daughters. When a fortune-teller predicts his next child will be a son, he is overjoyed, but instead it is another daughter.
Oona is not like her sisters. She loves books and yearns for adventure on the high-seas, captaining her own ship to explore the world and find the magical creature called the nardoo. As her father sets sail to hunt for whales to feed the village, her mother and sisters prepare to travel south to find fortune and husbands. Rather than be married off at the tender age of 10, Oona stows away on her father's ship.
Oona's adventure is both physical and emotional. She wants to believe in magic, 'because a world without magic would be a very dull world indeed.' Wood has created a delightful story populated by magical creatures, pirates, cats who can play the fiddle and wild and stormy seas.
I was absolutely enchanted by The Girl, the Cat and the Navigator. It reminded me of fairytales I read as a child, but with a feisty, independent girl as the heroine. The book is infused with magic and wonder and adventure. Totally irresistible.!
July 24, 2019
This is an engaging and interesting middle-grades fantasy. I'd round this up 3.5 stars because of the lovely illustrations. Every page has fun nautical drawings bordering the text and there are a few full-page illustrations as well. While I enjoyed the story I did find myself wishing I was reading about Haroyld and Matilde instead of Captain Britt. While the resolution to the Britt sisters story was interesting I don't know that it was worth the time given to it. It felt a bit like a few different stories mashed together and Oona and Haroyld's story was by far the most interesting. The edition I read was called The Girl Who Sailed the Stars but I see that there is an alternate title The Girl, the Cat and the Navigator , I think I prefer the latter because that is the story that I like the best from this book.
January 30, 2020
Was really just good! It was a verrrry slow beginning and it was pretty challenging to stay interested. I liked the general outspokenness of Oona and that kept me reading. I liked how she didn’t take anyone’s BS.
The story itself was solid. Mean resentful family was evil to the daughter who was meant to be a son. She is trying to overcome that challenge. I liked the overall plot there. The story really started to unfold half way through. Once that started, there wasn’t a lot of stopping. So once you are able to get through the slow intro, you’re good for the rest of the book!
I liked how she made bonds with unlikely people and I liked that she had a happy ending. I only wish she did more actual stuff. Lead a ship and have people turn to her or something bigger than what just happened.
Overall it was good. I’d recommend it to anyone who was up for a challenge to get through it! I’d say it’s good for 4th grade and up.
The story itself was solid. Mean resentful family was evil to the daughter who was meant to be a son. She is trying to overcome that challenge. I liked the overall plot there. The story really started to unfold half way through. Once that started, there wasn’t a lot of stopping. So once you are able to get through the slow intro, you’re good for the rest of the book!
I liked how she made bonds with unlikely people and I liked that she had a happy ending. I only wish she did more actual stuff. Lead a ship and have people turn to her or something bigger than what just happened.
Overall it was good. I’d recommend it to anyone who was up for a challenge to get through it! I’d say it’s good for 4th grade and up.
March 18, 2023
Magical. A cold northern sea town, whaling ships, and a town built from a thousand wrecked ships. That's not magic, you say? Yes, but that's enough reason to get away. Especially for women and girls who are not allowed to go to school or learn to read. But sometimes, there are misfits who want more out of life, dream of fantastic beasts, and envy life on the sea. But the sea is a dangerous place, especially in the winter in the far north. But women are not allowed to sail either. While this is a right and proper story for children, it is well written, much like Matilda Wood's The Boy, the Bird, and the Coffin Maker, another wondrous story. There's much to enjoy in both books, be ye old, young, man, woman, or other. I recommend it for all ages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews