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Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer

Will Summerhouse (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.00 · Rating details · 22 ratings · 15 reviews

Eleven-year-old Orion lives with his stodgy grandfather in eastern Maine, where nothing exciting ever happens. But then a series of strange events draws him into the mystery of a lost explorer, and Orion is swept up in a whirlwind of adventure that takes him to the top of the world. To survive he must outwit a scheming treasure hunter, team up with a gang of flimps, and ta ...more

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Paperback, Award Cover Edition , 286 pages

Published May 19th 2014 by Shake-A-Leg Press

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Apr 16, 2014 Diane rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A gripping adventure fantasy tale for young readers ages 9 and older... Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer is all about exploration and discovery, and even the most reluctant young reader will find this saga promises an energetic, vivid read.

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Feb 09, 2014 Seregil of Rhiminee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Will Summerhouse's Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer is an exciting adventure novel for children and young adults. It's a standalone novel full of suspense, action and adventure, and it also has a few speculative fiction elements in it.

I was positively surprised by Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer, because it was a fantastic, fast-paced and charming adventure novel for younger readers. It's one of the most intriguing and well written adventure novels that have been written for children and young ad ...more

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May 21, 2014 Joanna Marple rated it really liked it · review of another edition

First Lines:

If you read what Mr. Lumpkin wrote in the newspaper about my adventure at the top of the world, you only got half the story. I don’t know why but he left out some of the best parts like how I got chased all over the place, and shot at, and knocked out, and almost eaten.

Synopsis:

Eleven-year old Orion Poe lives on the Maine coast with his crusty grampa. The tale begins the night of an ornery hurricane when Orion saves the life of a wounded storm survivor. After outwitting some stranger First Lines:

If you read what Mr. Lumpkin wrote in the newspaper about my adventure at the top of the world, you only got half the story. I don’t know why but he left out some of the best parts like how I got chased all over the place, and shot at, and knocked out, and almost eaten.

Synopsis:

Eleven-year old Orion Poe lives on the Maine coast with his crusty grampa. The tale begins the night of an ornery hurricane when Orion saves the life of a wounded storm survivor. After outwitting some strangers from a tall ship bent on destroying the man Orion has just saved, an old dispatch box ends up in Orion’s possession, containing a mysterious map of one Sir John Franklin, a nineteenth century Arctic Explorer whose expedition ships disappeared in 1847 in the Canadian Arctic (historical fact). This all sets the scene for Orion finding himself shortly thereafter on a bus from Bangor to Halifax, where he boards the Sea Leopard on a scientific expedition led by Professor Meriweather, an old friend of Grampa’s, to discover what truly happened to the lost explorer Franklin.

The novel’s main ACTION takes place on a remote island within the Arctic Circle, where the explorers discover the hidden community of New London, which has been in existence for about 150 years. The world most definitely has an anachronistic quasi-Victorian alternate history feel, from the language to the names and the structure of the society. It is a world run by a stereotypical bad guy who gets his comeuppance at the end and inhabited by many endearing larger than life characters such as the good Doctor Little, the Flimps (the King of this urchin gang definitely has a temperate Fagin-feel about him), young Rosie, Peerless the spineless betrayer and the courthouse warden etc.

The thirty-six chapters race with action packed adventure. Orion and his co-explorers face some wild challenges – ice caves, bearwolves, imprisonment, starvation, frozen seas, musket fire, underground rivers, sea battles and more. Be warned, there are a fair amount of dead bodies by the end of the story, from both camps. In this heart-pumping adventure, good inevitably triumphs. And Orion continually finds just the resourceful solution to pull him and others out of their confounded conundrums!

Why I like this Book:

This is a story for those that love the classic adventure story of smuggling, pirates, islands, rebellions, undiscovered regions, forts, spies, feuds, nature at its most brutal and lots of fights; the stuff of old-fashioned adventure yarns. The pacing is terrific and the short chapters with gritty titles (The Threepenny Heist, or How I Almost got eaten) and page-turning plot twists render it an excellent middle grade read. I enjoyed the mix of fantasy and historical speculation and felt Summerhouse did a wonderful job of 19th century Londinian vernacular. The hostility of the ice environment and the possibility of an isolated island community make a great setting for a story laced with troubles, enemies, secrets, bravery, cunning and betrayal. Told in the first person, Orion has a very distinct narrative voice, which carries the story with humor, perception and connectivity between the Maine world and the world discovered by the explorers. Occasionally Orion seems to find clever solutions too readily, but because the conflict is ever-present, the stakes always high, and it seems in keeping with his character and the tone of the tale, this didn’t detract from the story for me.

This is a barnacle-busting, intense adventure story for children who enjoy the thrill of Jules Vernesque explorative journeys! I look forward to any sequels.
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Aug 05, 2014 Queen Spades rated it it was amazing

Shelves: royally-favored

Note: This was provided in exchange for an honest review.

The story began with Orion Poe taking over as the narrator of his own tale because the previous narrator got some parts of it wrong. It definitely set the stage for the primary target audience of this work which is around middle school to young adult.

First, I loved the external and internal visuals of this work. It matched the ambiance of a big adventure on the water. Since it is hinted there will be more of Orion Poe in the future, I hop ...more

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May 18, 2014 Kristi Bernard rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Orion Poe lives on the edge of Maine. A quiet cove known as West Quoddy Head holds a lighthouse which is his home with his grandfather, Patrick Poe. One stormy night, Orion found that he couldn't sleep so he sat by his window and listened to the storms, that is until he saw a bright light flash. He decided that he would sneak out to see what it was, since he was sure it wasn't lightening. What he saw was a strange looking man with a face filled with freckles and windburned. But, that wasn't all, Orion Poe lives on the edge of Maine. A quiet cove known as West Quoddy Head holds a lighthouse which is his home with his grandfather, Patrick Poe. One stormy night, Orion found that he couldn't sleep so he sat by his window and listened to the storms, that is until he saw a bright light flash. He decided that he would sneak out to see what it was, since he was sure it wasn't lightening. What he saw was a strange looking man with a face filled with freckles and windburned. But, that wasn't all, the stranger had blistered lips and a huge purple nose. The man referred to himself as Collins. He was strange and seemingly paranoid. He kept close to him a white knapsack that held inside it a locked box that he ordered Orion to hide and guard with his life. Someone was after him and they did come on a ship that held a very aggressive man called the Colonel another with goggly eyes and more. After a short hunt, Collins was captured and the ship disappeared.

To get to the bottom of the mystery, Orion and his grandpa go to visit a man who is well versed in explorer history. His name was Meriwhether. What they discover in the locked box is a map that was created by a lost explorer who went to the northern Arctic in 1847 by the name of Sir John Franklin. And this is the beginning of the adventure for Orion. He is invited to go to the top of the world on an expedition to find Franklin. On a ship called the Sea Leopard a captain and crew of twelve along with Meriwether and a shifty tracker from Australia named Jones set sail. The expedition is wrought with a trail of events that will have these explorers abandoning ship, tracking on ice through blizzards, loss of life and a battle with creatures that are a cross between a polar bear and werewolf. Orion will see things that no eleven year old should and that's not all. Orion gets separated from the group and will have to use his wits if he is going to survive. While alone he is faced with starvation, dehydration, frost bite and face to face with creatures he refers to as a bear-wolf. Right when he things his time has come he finds himself rescued by someone he thought he would never meet, Sir John Franklin. What will become of young Poe and will he ever see Meriwhether, the crew or home again?

Author William Summerhouse has created an outstanding page turning adventure that will have boys, girls and parents engrossed. The short chapters burst with excitement and emotion that will have readers feeling every experience the main characters go through. Each character is presented in a lively manner and their back-stories don't slow the pace of the story. Readers will find they are intrigued as the mystery unfolds. Readers will also find that there are fun facts about the explorer John Franklin. The story is not short of typical boy shenanigans as the main character, Orion, depicts. This fun adventure feels a little old fashioned but is definitely action packed and a great present day read. ...more

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May 17, 2014 Pop Bop rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

"Strange and Fantastic"; A Ripping Yarn

"Strange and fantastic" is how Orion describes his adventure, and that seems about right. Think "Treasure Island", with a touch of Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth", and a little bit of "Oliver Twist", and you'll have a snapshot idea of what this book is like.

Eleven year old Orion rescues a stranger shipwrecked on the coast near his grandpa's Maine lighthouse. He escapes with the stranger's closely guarded dispatch box just as bad guys arrive to "Strange and Fantastic"; A Ripping Yarn

"Strange and fantastic" is how Orion describes his adventure, and that seems about right. Think "Treasure Island", with a touch of Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth", and a little bit of "Oliver Twist", and you'll have a snapshot idea of what this book is like.

Eleven year old Orion rescues a stranger shipwrecked on the coast near his grandpa's Maine lighthouse. He escapes with the stranger's closely guarded dispatch box just as bad guys arrive to seize the stranger. After reviewing the contents of the box with a professor/adventurer he is off on an expedition to the North Pole. Thrills, chills, chases, battles and peril ensue on a wild roller coaster adventure ride.

Orion is a strong hero. He is smart, loyal, brave, and unflappable in a "Boys Own" style. He is our narrator and Orion has a fresh and engaging voice that very well conveys his excitement and awe as the adventure unfolds. (Very much like Jim Hawkins of "Treasure Island"; indeed, both books open with an I've-been-asked-to-write-this-down scene.) The overall tone is that of Orion "setting the record straight" and confiding in the reader, and that has a very welcoming and congenial feel that I suspect would engage a middle grade reader. And Orion is just deadpan and earnest enough that he can convincingly relate a tale that has some pretty fantastic aspects.

The author has also graced Orion with much better than average descriptive powers, so his ability throughout the narrative to set scenes and add color commentary to the tale adds a great deal to the story. It's not all just action verbs. In the first few pages Orion describes the wild storm that brings the stranger to shore, and the description is truly gripping. To me, the inclusion of that type of writing in a middle grade adventure read is a very valuable and rewarding bonus feature.

As I noted, there is a strong link here to a book like "Treasure Island", starting with the similar openings. This is just a more modern version. It is faster, more filled with events, a little more colloquial in its presentation, less concerned with place, and a bit more fantastic - so everything is more amped up and less plausible than in a classic adventure tale. For the target middle grade readers that did not strike me as a bad feature. (Speaking of the target audience, it took a while for a spirited teen girl to arrive on the scene, and I was happy when she did.)

So, this struck me as a very happy find and a nice choice as a modern recounting of a classic-style adventure. Certainly worth a look if you have a reader who likes high energy and thrilling escapades.

Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book. ...more

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May 31, 2014 Sharon Tyler rated it liked it · review of another edition

Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer is a middle grade adventure novel by Will Summerhouse. Eleven-year-old Orion lives with his stodgy grandfather in eastern Maine. When a series of strange events draws Orion into the mystery of a lost explorer he is swept up in an adventure that takes him to the top of the world. To survive he must survive in the arctic, outwit a scheming treasure hunter, and take on a tyrant with an anger management problem. Can Orion solve the mystery and get back home alive?

Orio Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer is a middle grade adventure novel by Will Summerhouse. Eleven-year-old Orion lives with his stodgy grandfather in eastern Maine. When a series of strange events draws Orion into the mystery of a lost explorer he is swept up in an adventure that takes him to the top of the world. To survive he must survive in the arctic, outwit a scheming treasure hunter, and take on a tyrant with an anger management problem. Can Orion solve the mystery and get back home alive?

Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer is an exciting tale with a balanced mix of survival fiction, mystery, action, and adventure. Orion Poe is a brave and loyal young hero with a pragmatic take on the world. he does not always toss himself into danger, but does a good number of times after weighing the pros and cons of action versus inaction. The story has a bit of a Treasure Island feel to it, so if you have always been a fan of that classic this book might feel like a new take of favorite ideas. Orion comes across a variety of crazy characters and situations. the professor, the ship captain, the shifty treasure hunter, and the crew of the ship they take north are just the start. There is a good deal of Orion finding his way on his own, and proving himself to those that might otherwise consider him too young to be of use. The combination of coming of age, survival, and sheer adventure might capture the attention of readers that might otherwise lose interest in reading. The short chapters might also keep these readers going, giving them satisfaction regularly in having completed a chapter, or two.

I liked that the grand adventure is linked to the real-life explorer John Franklin and there are little bits of knowledge about him and surviving in cold conditions through the book, as well as the historical information included at the end of the story. I rather liked Orion's grandfather, and only wish he had been included in more of the story.

I would suggest Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer for readers around nine and older. I think readers that enjoy action, adventure, mystery, or survival fiction would connect with the story the most. Readers that enjoy coming of age tales and exploration can also find a great deal to like here. I am not a big fan of survival fiction, I am one of those readers that prefers character driven plots more than stories where characters are consistently forced to react to outside forces, but I can think of many readers that will greatly enjoy the book. ...more

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Mar 13, 2014 Tonja Drecker rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved this book! It grabs from the very first page and doesn’t let go until the end. While the first part reminded me more of TREASURE ISLAND (perhaps, the ghostly ship, evil captain and adventure to sea did that), the second half takes on a feeling similar to THE GOLDEN COMPASS.

The main character, a boy named Orion, is plunged into an amazing adventure which leads him all the way to an island in the Arctic, and to an even more exciting adventure as he and his comrades battle their way across t ...more

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Feb 04, 2014 Stephanie Cover2CoverBlog rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade, my-home-library

Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer is a tale of adventure and suspense told from the point of view of Orion himself retelling the miraculous escape from an uncharted island. The second you start reading you are dumped into action with a mysterious man appearing during a severe storm off the coast of Maine. The man leaves something with Orion and tells him to protect it. Orion finds a map to an island that was believed to be the last known place of a man named Franklin, a great explorer who disappe ...more

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Jun 15, 2014 Dottie rated it did not like it

Just couldn't get into it. I wanted to, and I tried to, but just couldn't.

The opening paragraph is the main character explaining what kind of adventure he went on in the past and that he's going to tell the real story of it, but that takes away any sense of danger later because that means clearly he survived just fine.

The author goes into great detail of the mundane day-to-day happenings but I never got a sense of anything exciting happening for much of the first half of the book. The boy goes ...more

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May 10, 2014 Rhonda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer by Will Summerhouse

4 STARS

Is a exciting adventure with surprises around every corner. The story as characters that I liked, admired, who I disliked and ones I hated. Had unknown creatures attacking in the fog. Had boat races and fights aboard ships. It is a fast paced adventure for ages 8 and up.

Orion Poe is a eleven year old. He has courage, curious mind and spirit of adventure. He lives with his grandfather in eastern Maine.
He rescues a man washed ashore. Becaus ...more

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May 17, 2014 Carolina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Oh my goodness!! Where do I even begin? I guess with how I found out about this book. I actually won this book through a Goodreads giveaway! I had planned to read this book much later in the year, but after reading the first chapter, I was hooked!

Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer is sure to grab your attention from the start. Orion Poe is a simple eleven-year-old boy, living a simple eleven-year-old life, until a man and a ship wash up near his grandfather's lighthouse. What follows after this enc ...more

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May 21, 2014 Pam Torres rated it really liked it · review of another edition

See complete review here: soimfifty.blogspot.com

Summerhouse begins his adventure by telling us that the official news story about the adventure left out exciting details. The reader immediately wants to know what really happened. I came to enjoy Orion's voice and appreciated learning historical information along the way. This is a non-stop adventure and I recommend it as a wonderful read-aloud and educational opportunity to address geology, oceanography, climatology and meteorology. Summerhouse ...more

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Sep 09, 2014 Melissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014

What a fun, energetic read for young and old alike. I enjoyed every page! It had action, adventure, mystery and much more. Can't wait to share the book with my kids.

*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via NETGALLEY* ...more

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May 12, 2014 Tosha Holliman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My son read this and loved all of the adventure filled inside. I love when my kids get into books and dont want to put them down!!!!

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About Will Summerhouse

Will Summerhouse

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Will Summerhouse is an award-winning author whose debut novel, Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer, has been praised by critics and readers alike. In addition to earning a string of 5-star reviews, Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer won the 2014 IndieReader Discovery Award and has been nominated for Best Middle Grade Novel of 2014 by Kid Lit Reviews.

Will is currently hard at work on the second book in Th ...more