Egbert (Egg) lives with his vacant father, vapid sister, and villinous brother on an ugly fruit plantation on an island full of pirates. When Egg's father mysteriously decides to take the family on an unexpected journey to Sunrise Island, Egg is thrilled. On Sunrise his family meets a rich man and his beautiful daughter (who Egg immediately falls madly in love with)...and the next thing you know Egg's family is whisked away in a runaway hot air balloon. Anything with pirates AND a runaway hot air balloon has some intrinsic merit, and this book doesn't fail. Egg's view on life has a quirky tinge to it, with a sense of humor, which makes the book enjoyable. Give to 5th/6th graders who like a pirate story with a little romance thrown in.