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Far-Flung Adventures #1
Fergus Crane
A fantasy adventure from the authors of the bestselling Edge Chronicles books
Dear Fergus: Prepare yourself. Wear two pullovers and a scarf… tonight is the night!
In this fast, exciting and inventive tale, set in a mysterious yet familiar world, a strange flying box appears at the window of Fergus Crane’s waterfront home. Fergus is plunged headlong into an exciting adventure when the box is followed by a winged horse which whisks him off to his long-lost uncle, and a mission to rescue his father from the far-off Fire Island.
Dear Fergus: Prepare yourself. Wear two pullovers and a scarf… tonight is the night!
In this fast, exciting and inventive tale, set in a mysterious yet familiar world, a strange flying box appears at the window of Fergus Crane’s waterfront home. Fergus is plunged headlong into an exciting adventure when the box is followed by a winged horse which whisks him off to his long-lost uncle, and a mission to rescue his father from the far-off Fire Island.
231 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2004
27 people are currently reading
2314 people want to read
About the author
Paul Stewart
217 books919 followersPaul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers – from picture books to football stories, fantasy and horror. Together with Chris Riddell he is co-creator of the bestselling Edge Chronicles, which has sold more than three million copies and is available in over twenty languages. They have also collaborated together on lots of other exciting books for children of all ages. The Far-Flung Adventure series includes the Gold Smarties Prize Winner Fergus Crane, and Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper, both Silver Nestle Prize Winners. Then there are the Barnaby Grimes books, two Muddle Earth adventures, and the sci-fi Scavenger and fantasy Wyrmeweald trilogies. For younger readers there is the Blobheads series, while for the very young, Paul has written several picture books, including the Rabbit and Hedgehog series, In the Dark of the Night and, his latest, Wings.
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
October 13, 2019
This was pretty good. Not as good as Corby Flood or Hugo Pepper, but still a fun read.
My 11yo enjoyed it, which is the most important thing, but I feel it lost it's way a little bit in the middle. There was a fair bit of fore-shadowing, which was great, as it had my son recognising that and trying to make guesses as to what was going to happen. This evoked a discussion on the importance of fore-shadowing and how it raised his thinking into where the plot was going. Unfortunately, it just took a little to long to get there. I would have preferred less in the middle and more of the story at the end where all of the culmination of fore-shadowing indicated.
At the end of the day though, Steward writes a lovely tale that is fun reading aloud.
Corby Flood - 5 stars
Hugo Pepper - 4 stars
Fergus Crane - 3 stars
My 11yo enjoyed it, which is the most important thing, but I feel it lost it's way a little bit in the middle. There was a fair bit of fore-shadowing, which was great, as it had my son recognising that and trying to make guesses as to what was going to happen. This evoked a discussion on the importance of fore-shadowing and how it raised his thinking into where the plot was going. Unfortunately, it just took a little to long to get there. I would have preferred less in the middle and more of the story at the end where all of the culmination of fore-shadowing indicated.
At the end of the day though, Steward writes a lovely tale that is fun reading aloud.
Corby Flood - 5 stars
Hugo Pepper - 4 stars
Fergus Crane - 3 stars
May 8, 2015
I really loved this book! I have had it for quite a while now and eventually I read it and don't regret it, but I do regret not reading it sooner as I think that I have now slightly outgrown it! It was super-quick, super-quirky and super-cute read and I recommended it for children aged 5 -11. Oh, and the illustrations are fantastic!
September 9, 2018
4.5 This was such a fun read, full of references to classics such as The treasure Island, full of vivid, although sometimes too stereotypical characters (hence the half star less), the illustrations are superb as expected and the innovative elements keep the pace going and the reader interested. A great and fun book. Some moral dilemma at the end as well, which I didn't expect in this kind of book. Looking forward to other Far-Flung Adventures.
October 17, 2024
Extremely well-written, creative and imaginative with superb illustrations. I have read all of the Far Flung Adventures – this is book one of three. Maybe someday I will read The Edge Chronicles – a series of seven books by the same authors.
One character in Fergus Crane who I really like is Uncle Theo, an inventor who instead of using a wheelchair, uses a walking chair.
A fascinating tale of fantasy and adventure. The other two Far Flung Adventures (Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper) build upon story elements (characters, setting, history) introduced in Fergus Crane; they are all completely different, finely crafted stories.
I'm not sure why this trilogy doesn't get more attention. Fergus Crane is a fun and delightful adventure, intelligent and clever with a European feel.
Read in 2009, 2016, 2024
Favorite Passages:
"You're not stupid, you're not useless. You're the best in gym class, everyone knows that. Why, you can jump further than any of us. You know you can . . . "
______
"Macadacchio nuts are the secret ingredient to the perfect Florentine," she said. "They're sweet but not too sweet; crunchy, yet they melt on the tongue, like honey mixed with sunlight."
"Where do they come from?" asked Fergus tentatively.
"From a place called Magnet Island," Mrs. Crane told him, "far off in the Emerald Sea."
_______
The view from the attic window, high up above the city, was magnificent - a landscape of rooftops, chimneys and spires, in a patchwork of greys, purples and orangey-browns, all nestling at the foot of the mountains.
Fergus sat there, patiently waiting as the sun set and the sky on the horizon became streaked with ribbons of orange and red. Slowly, the light faded, the stars came out, and between the buildings below him, Fergus could see the network of lamplit avenues and glinting canals which crossed and recrossed one another in a series of bridges and aqueducts. Far beyond, with the low full moon now reflecting on its choppy waves, was the ocean itself, rolling in from behind the horizon and slapping against the barnacled sides of the city's harbor walls.
And as he watched and his eyes grew heavy, it felt almost as though he were sitting at the bow of a great ship, about to slip its moorings and sail off across the moonlit ocean. Fergus leaned forward and breathed in the fresh night air.
He smelled sea salt, and the tang of beached seaweed; thyme from the foothills of the mountains, and the earthy chill of snow from their peaks. And, underlying it all, Fergus noticed as he closed his eyes and took the air deep down into his lungs, was the warm scent of fragrant spices wafting in from afar - cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, clove . . .
"One day, I'll leave the city and travel," Fergus told himself. "Over the mountains. Or across the sea . . ."
"The sea, the sea," the air seemed to whisper, and Fergus found himself thinking of the photograph of his father - dressed up in his uniform. The hat, the sword, the smartly buttoned tunic . . .
______
Buoyed up by the rising currents of warm air, the flying horse tilted its wings and soared up over the mountains. Fergus looked down at the rugged snowscape below him - jagged peaks and deep craters, snowy slopes and frozen lakes, all rushing past in a silvery blur.
Beyond the mountains, the land levelled out into a broad plateau, with fields and meadows and orchards, and narrow, fast-running rivers that cut through the fertile farmland. Beyond this was a forest, a vast dark expanse of angular pine trees, stretching off towards the horizon. And beyond the forest, the land abruptly fell away to a crinkled coastline and Fergus found himself flying far above a sprinkling of yellow islands, dotted like stepping-stones across a sparkling sea.
_______
There were terraced meadows, filled with long grass and pink, yellow, white and blue flowers, and big brown cows, wearing bells on collars around their necks; bells that Fergus could hear softly clanking. There were grape vines and peach trees, and a crystal clear stream that trickled down over dark grey rocks. Still lower they flew, skimming over a little wood, with oaks and ashes, silvery birches and coppery beeches . . .
_______
"Anyway, as I was telling you," Uncle Theo continued, "I remember Marcus saying to me, 'Theo, there has to be more to life than buttons. There's a great big world out there, and you and I are going to explore it, together!'"
_______
Looking down, Fergus saw the curved outline of Horseshoe Island by his left foot, with the words palm trees and coral reef clearly marked. Next to that, Magnet Island, home to the macadacchio trees; then a whole sweep of islands, with names like Starfish, Teapot, Doughnut and Fat Rabbit. They formed the curling tail of the Scorpion Archipelago, and ended in the pointed sting that was Fire Isle.
________
"I was walking along past Montmorency Gardens when I saw the strangest bird you ever did see, high in the sky and circling the clock tower. Big and silver it was."
"Probably a seagull, Miss Gumm," Fergus called back from the front door.
"No, I don't think so," she said. "It didn't look like a seagull. More like a . . . " Miss Gumm gave a timid little laugh. "More like a flying horse."
________
"Hell's haddocks!" howled Red-Beard Spicer, disappearing over the edge.
"By Satan's starfish!" cursed One-Eyed Jack Woodhead, following him.
"Heave, blast you!" Captain Claw screeched, his head back, his mouth grimacing, and every muscle in his body straining.
"Blood and gunpowder!" screeched Lizzie Blood as she, too, abruptly disappeared into the crater.
"Pilchard stew!" cried Short John Gilroy, joining her a moment after.
________
He was standing in a huge vaulted chamber that shimmered with dazzling light. Reds, purples, iridescent blues, luminous yellows and greens all danced and swirled in a hypnotic kaleidoscope of color. The walls and ceiling seemed to be made up of countless intricate crystals, as if the entire cave had been dipped in sugar.
One character in Fergus Crane who I really like is Uncle Theo, an inventor who instead of using a wheelchair, uses a walking chair.
A fascinating tale of fantasy and adventure. The other two Far Flung Adventures (Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper) build upon story elements (characters, setting, history) introduced in Fergus Crane; they are all completely different, finely crafted stories.
I'm not sure why this trilogy doesn't get more attention. Fergus Crane is a fun and delightful adventure, intelligent and clever with a European feel.
Read in 2009, 2016, 2024
Favorite Passages:
"You're not stupid, you're not useless. You're the best in gym class, everyone knows that. Why, you can jump further than any of us. You know you can . . . "
______
"Macadacchio nuts are the secret ingredient to the perfect Florentine," she said. "They're sweet but not too sweet; crunchy, yet they melt on the tongue, like honey mixed with sunlight."
"Where do they come from?" asked Fergus tentatively.
"From a place called Magnet Island," Mrs. Crane told him, "far off in the Emerald Sea."
_______
The view from the attic window, high up above the city, was magnificent - a landscape of rooftops, chimneys and spires, in a patchwork of greys, purples and orangey-browns, all nestling at the foot of the mountains.
Fergus sat there, patiently waiting as the sun set and the sky on the horizon became streaked with ribbons of orange and red. Slowly, the light faded, the stars came out, and between the buildings below him, Fergus could see the network of lamplit avenues and glinting canals which crossed and recrossed one another in a series of bridges and aqueducts. Far beyond, with the low full moon now reflecting on its choppy waves, was the ocean itself, rolling in from behind the horizon and slapping against the barnacled sides of the city's harbor walls.
And as he watched and his eyes grew heavy, it felt almost as though he were sitting at the bow of a great ship, about to slip its moorings and sail off across the moonlit ocean. Fergus leaned forward and breathed in the fresh night air.
He smelled sea salt, and the tang of beached seaweed; thyme from the foothills of the mountains, and the earthy chill of snow from their peaks. And, underlying it all, Fergus noticed as he closed his eyes and took the air deep down into his lungs, was the warm scent of fragrant spices wafting in from afar - cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, clove . . .
"One day, I'll leave the city and travel," Fergus told himself. "Over the mountains. Or across the sea . . ."
"The sea, the sea," the air seemed to whisper, and Fergus found himself thinking of the photograph of his father - dressed up in his uniform. The hat, the sword, the smartly buttoned tunic . . .
______
Buoyed up by the rising currents of warm air, the flying horse tilted its wings and soared up over the mountains. Fergus looked down at the rugged snowscape below him - jagged peaks and deep craters, snowy slopes and frozen lakes, all rushing past in a silvery blur.
Beyond the mountains, the land levelled out into a broad plateau, with fields and meadows and orchards, and narrow, fast-running rivers that cut through the fertile farmland. Beyond this was a forest, a vast dark expanse of angular pine trees, stretching off towards the horizon. And beyond the forest, the land abruptly fell away to a crinkled coastline and Fergus found himself flying far above a sprinkling of yellow islands, dotted like stepping-stones across a sparkling sea.
_______
There were terraced meadows, filled with long grass and pink, yellow, white and blue flowers, and big brown cows, wearing bells on collars around their necks; bells that Fergus could hear softly clanking. There were grape vines and peach trees, and a crystal clear stream that trickled down over dark grey rocks. Still lower they flew, skimming over a little wood, with oaks and ashes, silvery birches and coppery beeches . . .
_______
"Anyway, as I was telling you," Uncle Theo continued, "I remember Marcus saying to me, 'Theo, there has to be more to life than buttons. There's a great big world out there, and you and I are going to explore it, together!'"
_______
Looking down, Fergus saw the curved outline of Horseshoe Island by his left foot, with the words palm trees and coral reef clearly marked. Next to that, Magnet Island, home to the macadacchio trees; then a whole sweep of islands, with names like Starfish, Teapot, Doughnut and Fat Rabbit. They formed the curling tail of the Scorpion Archipelago, and ended in the pointed sting that was Fire Isle.
________
"I was walking along past Montmorency Gardens when I saw the strangest bird you ever did see, high in the sky and circling the clock tower. Big and silver it was."
"Probably a seagull, Miss Gumm," Fergus called back from the front door.
"No, I don't think so," she said. "It didn't look like a seagull. More like a . . . " Miss Gumm gave a timid little laugh. "More like a flying horse."
________
"Hell's haddocks!" howled Red-Beard Spicer, disappearing over the edge.
"By Satan's starfish!" cursed One-Eyed Jack Woodhead, following him.
"Heave, blast you!" Captain Claw screeched, his head back, his mouth grimacing, and every muscle in his body straining.
"Blood and gunpowder!" screeched Lizzie Blood as she, too, abruptly disappeared into the crater.
"Pilchard stew!" cried Short John Gilroy, joining her a moment after.
________
He was standing in a huge vaulted chamber that shimmered with dazzling light. Reds, purples, iridescent blues, luminous yellows and greens all danced and swirled in a hypnotic kaleidoscope of color. The walls and ceiling seemed to be made up of countless intricate crystals, as if the entire cave had been dipped in sugar.
July 17, 2012
How narrow of a category is steampunk? Thought not really set in any time period, it seems to fit with the general idea of steampunk -- a non-technological era infused with fantastic technologies that, in all reality, will never be successfully invented.
It was a fun and quick read, although there were quite a few holes in the story that surprised me. There was no real development of friendship between Fergus and the four other students on the school ship Bettie-Jeanne (and yet they proved to be important to him later in the story). Many of the characters were also rather flat. And, perhaps most frustrating of all, the pivotal moments of the story were rushed -- beginning and ending in the turn of a page.
After reading and enjoying a number of the books in the Edge Chronicles (first in the series:Beyond the Deepwoods), I expected better storytelling out of Stewart. It seems clear he was trying to write for a younger audience, but as some of the great children's authors have shown us (Kate DiCamillo, for one) you don't have to sacrifice character and tension for the sake of brevity when it comes to younger readers.
I believe there are more in the series. May give the second one a chance to see if Stewart improves on this one. We'll see.
Unrelated to the story itself: Chris Riddell's illustrations are, as always, clever and whimsical. They were one of my favorite parts of the Edge Chronicle books and they had great redeeming value in this tale.
It was a fun and quick read, although there were quite a few holes in the story that surprised me. There was no real development of friendship between Fergus and the four other students on the school ship Bettie-Jeanne (and yet they proved to be important to him later in the story). Many of the characters were also rather flat. And, perhaps most frustrating of all, the pivotal moments of the story were rushed -- beginning and ending in the turn of a page.
After reading and enjoying a number of the books in the Edge Chronicles (first in the series:Beyond the Deepwoods), I expected better storytelling out of Stewart. It seems clear he was trying to write for a younger audience, but as some of the great children's authors have shown us (Kate DiCamillo, for one) you don't have to sacrifice character and tension for the sake of brevity when it comes to younger readers.
I believe there are more in the series. May give the second one a chance to see if Stewart improves on this one. We'll see.
Unrelated to the story itself: Chris Riddell's illustrations are, as always, clever and whimsical. They were one of my favorite parts of the Edge Chronicle books and they had great redeeming value in this tale.
Read
October 6, 2022As it went on, I realised I’d already read it when I was younger but forget everything. It’s cute and fun, like most illustrated kid/teen books and the added element of Chris Ridell’s style and a steampunk pirate aesthetic make it definitely up my alley, but this might be the first instance of reading a book and thinking “I’m too old for this”.
The writing and story are very uncomplicated and the relatability factor is evidently aimed at someone still at school, thoughI still enjoyed it. Lots of interesting characters and world details I almost want expanded on more but in this medium it wouldn’t do me much good. Would 100% give to a niece or nephew to read.
The writing and story are very uncomplicated and the relatability factor is evidently aimed at someone still at school, thoughI still enjoyed it. Lots of interesting characters and world details I almost want expanded on more but in this medium it wouldn’t do me much good. Would 100% give to a niece or nephew to read.
May 10, 2021
Fantastic middle grade book with a few pictures to enjoy along the way. Can't wait to read more and find out what happens to the penguins!
August 4, 2021
This is a fabulous story all about Fergus Crane and his adventures. There are lots of cross curricular opportunities with this book. The children loved it.
May 3, 2012
"Fergus Crane" (Far-Flung Adventures 1) by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell replace chapter titles with 25 different fish riding bicycles, and 24 unique boxes around leading capitals that enclose appropriate person, except chapter 17, he dreams of an elephant riding, and the epilogue, where the bicycle has crashed. Reminder of book 1 where mermaid Daisy rode along the beach and inspired play mentions here?
Every trivial detail entertains, distracts. Boxes and metal horses have wings, and fly. Penguins talk and vice-president a company (spoiler: as does parrot Bolivia) that grows 507 full trees in 3 greenhouses. Inventions like walking chairs and beds, self-sorting bookshelves, and imaginative impossiblities are possibilities. Incredible line drawings, caricature portraits, elaborate scenes, intricate maps, illustrate all.
Captain Claw chose the five smallest applicants for their free school aboard ship where students practice tunnelling. The Fateful Voyage Trading Company pays Fergus' mother, an expert maddachio nut Florentine baker, for make-work, and secretly warn of approaching danger via winged box. The voyage to volcanic Fire Isle where Fergus' father Captain Marcus vanished, links the two facts, when we learn that nine years had to elapse for caverns to cool after the eruption, enough to retrieve immensely valuable fire diamonds.
(Spoiler: This is the happiest ending because villains die and heroic families reunite. The last page, Theo asking for Fergus because penguins Finn, Bill, and Jackson are in "grave danger" p224, may introduce sequel, but what about their first rescue from the "Palace of Ice" p122?)
http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/
http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/fa...
http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/fa...
downloads: wallpaper, coloring sheet
extracts MS-Word or free Oracle Open Office
Corby Flood - First 7 pg without illustrations from ch 1
Fergus Crane - 20 pg (Ch1, part ch2) without pictures
Every trivial detail entertains, distracts. Boxes and metal horses have wings, and fly. Penguins talk and vice-president a company (spoiler: as does parrot Bolivia) that grows 507 full trees in 3 greenhouses. Inventions like walking chairs and beds, self-sorting bookshelves, and imaginative impossiblities are possibilities. Incredible line drawings, caricature portraits, elaborate scenes, intricate maps, illustrate all.
Captain Claw chose the five smallest applicants for their free school aboard ship where students practice tunnelling. The Fateful Voyage Trading Company pays Fergus' mother, an expert maddachio nut Florentine baker, for make-work, and secretly warn of approaching danger via winged box. The voyage to volcanic Fire Isle where Fergus' father Captain Marcus vanished, links the two facts, when we learn that nine years had to elapse for caverns to cool after the eruption, enough to retrieve immensely valuable fire diamonds.
(Spoiler: This is the happiest ending because villains die and heroic families reunite. The last page, Theo asking for Fergus because penguins Finn, Bill, and Jackson are in "grave danger" p224, may introduce sequel, but what about their first rescue from the "Palace of Ice" p122?)
http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/
http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/fa...
http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/fa...
downloads: wallpaper, coloring sheet
extracts MS-Word or free Oracle Open Office
Corby Flood - First 7 pg without illustrations from ch 1
Fergus Crane - 20 pg (Ch1, part ch2) without pictures
December 17, 2021
You can't knock a good children's book!
Fergus Crane a young boy who lives with his mother (Lucia Crane). Marcus Crane (Fergus' father went missing aboard a ship when Lucia was pregnant. Fergus has to go to school aboard a pirate ship who do unconventional learning. With a long lost uncle who gets in touch with Fergus, Fergus has to become heroic and rescue his friends. With an unexpected turn of events Fergus' family are reunited as one.
Such a great story
Fergus Crane a young boy who lives with his mother (Lucia Crane). Marcus Crane (Fergus' father went missing aboard a ship when Lucia was pregnant. Fergus has to go to school aboard a pirate ship who do unconventional learning. With a long lost uncle who gets in touch with Fergus, Fergus has to become heroic and rescue his friends. With an unexpected turn of events Fergus' family are reunited as one.
Such a great story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2018
Rating 3.5 This was a really cute book from the famous author and illustrator team. More than any of their other series, the illustrations really were just as important and prevalent as the text. The story is warm and whimsical with marvelous inventions and zany characters. Fergus is poor but his home is full of love. His father was lost at sea many years ago and the boy believes that he has no family but his mother, until he is stunned by the arrival of a letter from an unknown uncle warning him that he is in great danger. Before he can work out what is going on, he finds that his highly unusual school is actual a ship of pirates and that they have made off with his classmates. It falls to Fergus to save his friends and the day. The story is filled with humor, bravery, inventions, wild tales, and friendship. Young readers (pre-middle school) will be in love with this rollicking read. I was so taken and entertained that I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.
November 8, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was a very cute, almost nostalgic fun read! I'd read Hugo Pepper, the third book in this series, a really long time ago and absolutely loved it, and whilst Fergus Crane wasn't quite as good in my opinion, it was still a good book. I love the illustrations, adventurousness and fun that these books have and how you as the reader slowly piece together the plot and how all the elements add up (even if this book wasn't as clever or gripping as Hugo Pepper). Despite being a children's book, this was really well written with a fairly intricate plot so it didn't feel condescending or too 'young' at any point. I think I'll be picking up Corby Flood next!
This was a very cute, almost nostalgic fun read! I'd read Hugo Pepper, the third book in this series, a really long time ago and absolutely loved it, and whilst Fergus Crane wasn't quite as good in my opinion, it was still a good book. I love the illustrations, adventurousness and fun that these books have and how you as the reader slowly piece together the plot and how all the elements add up (even if this book wasn't as clever or gripping as Hugo Pepper). Despite being a children's book, this was really well written with a fairly intricate plot so it didn't feel condescending or too 'young' at any point. I think I'll be picking up Corby Flood next!
August 21, 2017
Cute, but largely insubstantial. Read Beyond the Deepwoods, Larklight, or The Pirates' Mixed-Up Voyage instead for better versions of the same stuff.
October 24, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. My main issues were
1. The adult themes and references, they were just too much. Pirates can be done without it. Especially in children's books. "Glory hole"? Not necessary.
2. Plot holes. How does his mom not realize his school is the same ship his dad sailed away on?
3. (Spoiler)
His dad not remembering anything was kind of sad. It would have been much more of a rewarding ending if he did remember at least the mom.
I did, however, enjoy the illustrations A LOT. They were very well done and added depth to the story.
1. The adult themes and references, they were just too much. Pirates can be done without it. Especially in children's books. "Glory hole"? Not necessary.
2. Plot holes. How does his mom not realize his school is the same ship his dad sailed away on?
3. (Spoiler)
His dad not remembering anything was kind of sad. It would have been much more of a rewarding ending if he did remember at least the mom.
I did, however, enjoy the illustrations A LOT. They were very well done and added depth to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2025
This book is the first in a trilogy titled "Far-Flung Adventures" and is such an amazing fantasy-esque book......featuring pirates, penguins and a mechanical flying horse!
Chris Riddell's illustrations fitted perfectly with the story....illustrations with such beautiful detail, that went especially well with Paul Stewart's descriptions of everything.
This book was funny, intriguing and breathtaking all in one. There were so many likable characters (and some truly detestable villians!)
A book to treasure and remember forever. 🖤☠️
Chris Riddell's illustrations fitted perfectly with the story....illustrations with such beautiful detail, that went especially well with Paul Stewart's descriptions of everything.
This book was funny, intriguing and breathtaking all in one. There were so many likable characters (and some truly detestable villians!)
A book to treasure and remember forever. 🖤☠️
August 30, 2022
What a great story. Full of magical inventions, a long lost dad and pirate adventures too.
I love all the of the little inventions created ....would be brilliant to have some of these around the house!
Fergus' school run by pirates sounded like fun until they turned out to be training the kids to tag along on a dastardly mission.
Brilliant story-line and perfect for bedtime reading under the covers with a torch!
I love all the of the little inventions created ....would be brilliant to have some of these around the house!
Fergus' school run by pirates sounded like fun until they turned out to be training the kids to tag along on a dastardly mission.
Brilliant story-line and perfect for bedtime reading under the covers with a torch!
February 23, 2019
According to my children: this is a very good book because it was a truly far flung adventure. There was a wide range of characters and it was thrilling so we really wanted to know what was going to happen next. Also Fergus's mother was very kind and we were so pleased at the end they get long lost husband was found.
January 13, 2021
Delightfully whimsical, and full of great illustrations this is a tale of adventure and fun taking place in fantasy world. Fergus Crane is a young man attending a school with some very odd teachers. Destiny takes hold when he answers a telegram from a company he's never heard of. Great fun for my 4 and 6 year-old children!
January 26, 2019
Steampunk/fantasy for kids. Fergus is growing up poor with his hardworking single mother, unwittingly falls in with pirate mutineers, saves his friends and finds long-lost family. Lots of good pen & ink illustrations.
April 2, 2020
Reminded me a bit of the Ottoline and the Yellow Cat books.
January 30, 2023
I absolutely loved this series it was an amazing young adult fairytale book series. I recommend it to a lot of young people and they all have seem to love it. Give it a try I love the characters in these series!
May 30, 2023
PENGUINS
Very interesting concept! I loved the world it was set it and the dust jacket of the book having the map was super neat! I binged the second half of this book in one sitting and it felt like it just flew by!
Very interesting concept! I loved the world it was set it and the dust jacket of the book having the map was super neat! I binged the second half of this book in one sitting and it felt like it just flew by!
March 29, 2025
nice little book from my childhood. you can tell that stewart and riddell wanted to do a bit more world building as in the edge chronicles, but i do appreciate the brevity for a slightly younger audience
August 13, 2017
Good kids book.
Fergus goes to school on a boat. The teachers are rather odd and so are the lessons. Strange inventions start showing up. Then the fun really begins.
Fergus goes to school on a boat. The teachers are rather odd and so are the lessons. Strange inventions start showing up. Then the fun really begins.
August 21, 2017
Cute & fun. There's pirates, adventure, sweet treats, and weird mechanical objects.
January 18, 2018
An exciting and adventurous story which is enhanced greatly by Chris Riddell's intricate illustrations. Pirates, steampunk and volcanoes. A quirky read for 8+.
January 28, 2018
Enchanting story about a boy, his mother and their lives without a dad until something happens to change their circumstances.
June 6, 2018
Twee.
So much description that I started skipping huge chunks. Painfully slow.
So much description that I started skipping huge chunks. Painfully slow.
May 18, 2019
So fun and silly and lovely and fun
August 14, 2019
Great fun! And the steampunk aesthetic is right up my street.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews