The Maplin Bird

by K.M. Peyton

An orphaned sister and brother become involved with a wealthy smuggler and his operation on the Essex seacoast in the mid-19th century.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adventure

237 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1964

About the author

Kathleen Wendy Herald Peyton MBE, who wrote primarily as K. M. Peyton, was a British author of fiction for children and young adults

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This early work from K.M Peyton is both a ripping yarn and an upstairs/downstairs type drama. it's probably more of a 3.5, but I rounded up because it was a joy finally to be reading something I wholeheartedly wanted to read (most of my reading lately has been lackluster and dutiful -- in the sense of clearing the to-be-read shelf). The Maplin Bird is very similar in tone and subject to Sea Fever. The latter is probably the better of the two, but Peyton fans won't be disappointed in this one. As always, I loved Victor Ambrus' illustrations. I particularly love this cover, and am happy that my copy (which, pleasingly, came from bookmooch) has a dust jacket.

[Louise Culmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toby and Emily are orphans who run away from the unkind aunt and uncle they live with and in The old fishing smack which is Toby’s only possession make their way to Southend, where Toby hopes to make a living as a fisherman. Emily tries to get work as a domestic servant but has no success due to her lack of experience. Then by chance they get involved in helping rescue people from a shipwreck, which leads to a job for Emily and for both of them being involved with the charming but unreliable Adam Seymour. Set in the late 1860s, this is a very exciting story with good characters and wonderful descriptions of the seaside and of sailing. Beautiful illustrations by Victor Ambrus.

[christine ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
nail-biting sailing story with a dash of upstairs/downstairs drama — I genuinely am a little bit surprised by the depth of some of it but it is really just… sailing and adventure and drama. Had me strangely hooked and I understand Emily and Toby’s fascination with Adam Seymour… impressive characters methinks. Did not understand half of the book I fear due to not knowing anything abt boats. I think I like this author. I did very much like the illustrations.
(I kind of did not clock the time period until the Disraeli mention 😭 I was like what is happeninggg)


Irrelevantly I kept thinking of the line from Eight Cousins where Aunt Jessie is not happy with her boys reading cheap sailor stories 😭😭😭

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars - a great adventure story about siblings who run away from abusive relatives and make a new life for themselves in a small coastal fishing village. My review:

https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...

[Amyem]

The goodreads data is wrong, the author is K. M. Peyton, not Victor Ambrus. Ambrus must have illustrated some copies.

[Aldi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always love me some K.M. Peyton (and continue to be impressed with the wide range of settings/professions she seems competent writing in - either her research is impeccable or her knowledge base incredibly varied), and this was a fun and action-packed story. However, she also remains incapable of ever writing a love interest who is not a total selfish dick (with the notable exception, amusingly enough, of Flambards' Dick).

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad writing, but way too many hanging ends for the story.