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Seahaven's Orphan Book 1
Living on the docks in Seahaven, in 1905, it isn't safe for a wandering teenager, like Michael. So his father invented him a disguise. Vanish appeared older. Vanish was mysterious. No one would suspect, especially as the nefarious legends surrounding the name of Vanish grew, that under the disguise roamed nothing but a lonely, restless lad. Now his father has gone on to Heaven and left him with no one, Michael had either cast out the nets of his father's fishing boat, or discover if he can make the legend of Vanish work for him.
Living on the docks in Seahaven, in 1905, it isn't safe for a wandering teenager, like Michael. So his father invented him a disguise. Vanish appeared older. Vanish was mysterious. No one would suspect, especially as the nefarious legends surrounding the name of Vanish grew, that under the disguise roamed nothing but a lonely, restless lad. Now his father has gone on to Heaven and left him with no one, Michael had either cast out the nets of his father's fishing boat, or discover if he can make the legend of Vanish work for him.
220 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2021
6 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Bastedo
33 books17 followersI, Victoria Bastedo, acknowledge the Most High God. He is the One Who gave me the gift of writing. The Father, Jesus His son, and the Holy Spirit. God Almighty is the One I serve, and I am thankful for all of His gifts. Amen
I was born in Kansas City, Mo, in the very early sixties. Called the City of Fountains, one of my favorite memories is when my mom took us kids to play in one of the fountains. We climbed on the horses. Stood on the spewing nozzles. Threw in pennies and dived for them again with our eyes closed. But while my siblings tried to invent crazy near-dangerous fountain feats, I played to the side, my mind busy. I was inventing an adventure, with some high fantasy elements. The journey to becoming a writer has been a fun one for me. God blessed me with an active imagination characterized by the glazed-over-fogged look on my face. I'm a Christian, a wife, and a mother of six and now a proud grandmother.
Kirkus said of my book, Mini-Droids and Tea: "Bastedo (The Time Mechanic, 2018, etc.) generously packs this short, delightfully eccentric novel with drama: Penelope’s tea shop just barely makes ends meet, and she’s doggedly pursued by a creepy stalker who won’t take no for an answer. And Colepepper suspects he’s under surveillance, potentially by a business rival, and that his ever popular devices have been “hijacked.” The author’s story is artfully outlandish—somehow both deeply implausible but also entirely authentic. The quirky plot almost reads like a comic fairy tale—even the names of the two protagonists have a cartoonlike character to them. Bastedo achieves a comic lightheartedness that rises above simple frivolity—Penelope in particular is a complex, layered character, both fiercely independent and earnestly vulnerable. The result is a charmingly readable effort, humorous and tender.
A sweet, spirited tale of love rediscovered."
Here's a recent praise quote of my Young Adult Fantasy, Roots Entwine. (Self-Publishing Review):
'Roots Entwine by Victoria Bastedo is an entertaining and heartfelt young adult fantasy adventure. Young adult fantasy adventure novels, when done well, make for exciting reading. But the good ones offer more. Roots Entwine does just that.
The driver of this story is the plot. Bastedo provides enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. As the excitement builds, the reader starts to realize that not everything is as it seems. The major twist at the end leaves hope that the story isn’t over. Could a sequel be in the works?
Roots Entwine is packed with action that will keep the reader’s interest. Young adult readers will cheer for the boy who’d remained hidden for most of his life to finally find his way.'
I was born in Kansas City, Mo, in the very early sixties. Called the City of Fountains, one of my favorite memories is when my mom took us kids to play in one of the fountains. We climbed on the horses. Stood on the spewing nozzles. Threw in pennies and dived for them again with our eyes closed. But while my siblings tried to invent crazy near-dangerous fountain feats, I played to the side, my mind busy. I was inventing an adventure, with some high fantasy elements. The journey to becoming a writer has been a fun one for me. God blessed me with an active imagination characterized by the glazed-over-fogged look on my face. I'm a Christian, a wife, and a mother of six and now a proud grandmother.
Kirkus said of my book, Mini-Droids and Tea: "Bastedo (The Time Mechanic, 2018, etc.) generously packs this short, delightfully eccentric novel with drama: Penelope’s tea shop just barely makes ends meet, and she’s doggedly pursued by a creepy stalker who won’t take no for an answer. And Colepepper suspects he’s under surveillance, potentially by a business rival, and that his ever popular devices have been “hijacked.” The author’s story is artfully outlandish—somehow both deeply implausible but also entirely authentic. The quirky plot almost reads like a comic fairy tale—even the names of the two protagonists have a cartoonlike character to them. Bastedo achieves a comic lightheartedness that rises above simple frivolity—Penelope in particular is a complex, layered character, both fiercely independent and earnestly vulnerable. The result is a charmingly readable effort, humorous and tender.
A sweet, spirited tale of love rediscovered."
Here's a recent praise quote of my Young Adult Fantasy, Roots Entwine. (Self-Publishing Review):
'Roots Entwine by Victoria Bastedo is an entertaining and heartfelt young adult fantasy adventure. Young adult fantasy adventure novels, when done well, make for exciting reading. But the good ones offer more. Roots Entwine does just that.
The driver of this story is the plot. Bastedo provides enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. As the excitement builds, the reader starts to realize that not everything is as it seems. The major twist at the end leaves hope that the story isn’t over. Could a sequel be in the works?
Roots Entwine is packed with action that will keep the reader’s interest. Young adult readers will cheer for the boy who’d remained hidden for most of his life to finally find his way.'
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 23, 2021
“If you let Him, He’ll bring adventure into life you weren’t expecting.” (71% Kindle Edition).
Lowtown in 1905 isn’t safe for young men. They are oftentimes snatched. Michael’s father creates a disguise so Michael won’t vanish. As Vanish, over the years, many crimes are attributed to Michael in this disguise, growing the legend. After his father passes, Michael will either have to take up his father’s occupation of fishing or find something else to support himself. The promise of money paid to help solve a kidnapping is too good for Michael to pass up since he doesn’t want to be a fisherman. As Vanish, he has the perfect disguise to sneak around and solve the mystery.
I don’t often read inspirational, religious, or Christian fiction. I was unsure how the subgenre would present in this historical fiction mystery novel. Bastedo ties in an element of Christian awakening and finding one’s path to God as a form of Coming-of-Age in this young adult novel. The Coming-to-God revelation could have been fleshed out more in the scene that it occurred but it did tie into the plot nicely and makes a lot more sense in the early 1900’s in a small town near the sea. The people, almost all of them Christians, openly talk about God and his influence in their lives. The characters reference God and the Spirit as a positive influence, giving the book a very wholesome feel. It was nice to read a Christian fiction novel without religious controversy, to have religion be more of a theme and influence, than anything else.
I really liked Michael as both Michael and as Vanish. He is a wholesome young character without a lot of teen angst. He, like many young people, doesn’t know what he wants to do or be when he grows up but is thrust into the world to fend for himself after his father dies. Instead of resigning himself to a life he doesn’t want as a fisherman, he instead takes to wandering the streets in his grief, curious about the world and open to other options.
I enjoyed how the mystery played out. It was simple enough to visualize but complex enough to keep the plot moving. This book was nicely paced overall, seemed realistic for 1905, and played out in an interesting way up through the moderate climax and ending.
Like other Bastedo books, this one features a feel-good message and a happy ending.
Lowtown in 1905 isn’t safe for young men. They are oftentimes snatched. Michael’s father creates a disguise so Michael won’t vanish. As Vanish, over the years, many crimes are attributed to Michael in this disguise, growing the legend. After his father passes, Michael will either have to take up his father’s occupation of fishing or find something else to support himself. The promise of money paid to help solve a kidnapping is too good for Michael to pass up since he doesn’t want to be a fisherman. As Vanish, he has the perfect disguise to sneak around and solve the mystery.
I don’t often read inspirational, religious, or Christian fiction. I was unsure how the subgenre would present in this historical fiction mystery novel. Bastedo ties in an element of Christian awakening and finding one’s path to God as a form of Coming-of-Age in this young adult novel. The Coming-to-God revelation could have been fleshed out more in the scene that it occurred but it did tie into the plot nicely and makes a lot more sense in the early 1900’s in a small town near the sea. The people, almost all of them Christians, openly talk about God and his influence in their lives. The characters reference God and the Spirit as a positive influence, giving the book a very wholesome feel. It was nice to read a Christian fiction novel without religious controversy, to have religion be more of a theme and influence, than anything else.
I really liked Michael as both Michael and as Vanish. He is a wholesome young character without a lot of teen angst. He, like many young people, doesn’t know what he wants to do or be when he grows up but is thrust into the world to fend for himself after his father dies. Instead of resigning himself to a life he doesn’t want as a fisherman, he instead takes to wandering the streets in his grief, curious about the world and open to other options.
I enjoyed how the mystery played out. It was simple enough to visualize but complex enough to keep the plot moving. This book was nicely paced overall, seemed realistic for 1905, and played out in an interesting way up through the moderate climax and ending.
Like other Bastedo books, this one features a feel-good message and a happy ending.
April 22, 2024
Michael lives near the docks and his father is a fisherman and the docks were no place for a teenager in 1905, so his father created a disguise for him to wear when he roamed the rough area. He became known as Vanish however he also got blamed for a huge number of crimes which all went unsolved but which he had not committed. When his father passed away he could either become a fisherman like him since all he had was their boat and nets or try to use his persona into something else. Can this down and out young penniless teen turn his life around or was he to take the blame for things he'd never done. I really enjoyed the story as Michael is a very lovable character, however i had a problem with the religious aspect and his conversion. Because it appeared as though he changed his life around because he had converted and started to believe and pray but so many people pray and their prayers are never answered so is the God they prayed to a capricious God or what? Too much praying for my liking but I did enjoy the gaslight atmosphere of the era and the setting.
September 27, 2021
A lovely story, interesting characters, "good cops," but sorely in need of a good proofreader, like many new books these days.
June 24, 2024
Entertaining read with lots of nooks and crannies.
I love a good mystery. This one also included the elements of finding Jesus and during a time period I enjoy reading about.
I love a good mystery. This one also included the elements of finding Jesus and during a time period I enjoy reading about.
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August 15, 2024The book is a good clean mystery and the characters are endearing.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews