The Turtle Pirates: Beneath the Sunrise

by Ben Swiercz

Stress worsens 12-year-old Evey’s speech disorder. And yet, the fate of a seemingly supernatural power rests on her ability to talk her way out of a jam. Evey never expected to have an adventure at her grandpa’s Door County, Wisconsin lake house. But when a small crystal—a gift from her deceased grandma—gives her a vision of a shadowy man on a stormy beach, she dives into an old mystery about a peculiar pirate’s “treasure.” Evey teams up with a history professor and her rambling, badminton-obsessed friend, Archer, to dig up evidence that the “treasure” may be a secret far more valuable than money. But the closer Evey moves to the truth, the more confusing her visions—or memories—become. And she is not the only one searching. A rival group of kids stalks her every move. With her crew of allies and a sailboat at the ready, Evey must learn to accept her speech disorder before she can unravel the mystery. "Magical realism, supernatural crystals, family adventure, pirates in Wisconsin, and ice cream! The Turtle Pirates by Ben Swiercz is chockablock with the good stuff of summer, fronted by a wholesome and relatable cast and set in an evocative and memorable place. An exuberant start to an engaging new series reminiscent of the Magic Tree House franchise.” Elizabeth Doyle Carey - Author of The Callahan Cousins and Junior Lifeguards

262 pages, Paperback

Published January 24, 2021

Reviews

[Ashley Houser · Rating 4 out of 5]

When my sister-in-law told me about a new middle grade book that was just published by a friend, I was excited to read it and see what it was about. Having read quite a few long, heavy novels recently, I could use some reprieve with a lighthearted middle grade tale.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Turtle Pirates: Beneath the Sunrise. It is the tale of a young girl spending the summer at her grandpa's house on the lake when she stumbles upon the story of a pirate that used to inhabit the area. Her and her friends go on an adventure to find the secrets the pirate left behind.

Some of the things I really enjoyed:
1. Loved the character development of the girl, Evey, and her friend Archer. Evey has a speech disorder and I found her dialogue endearing. I think it's refreshing when an author creates a character that endures some form of adversity, particularly in the middle grade genre. I found Archer to be hysterical and his rambling put a smile on my face.
2. The undertones of bullying and standing up to bullies were well placed and, again, important messages for middle grade that I felt the author tackled really well.
3. There was a fair bit of education for the younger generation on reading maps, solving problems, the basics of sailing a boat, etc. that were good thought-provokers for those who have never been introduced to those skills.
4. Although I was waiting to learn more about the secrets of the pirate, I appreciated the way the author left the story on a cliffhanger. I guess I'll just have to wait for The Turtle Pirates 2: Blacksmith Mansion!

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

What a great adventure! I fell in love with the heartwarming characters and can not wait for the next book!