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Cissy Sissney #2
The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen
Ever since the magnificent Miss Loucien gave up teaching to join the Bright Lights Theater Company, school days have lacked a certain . . . drama . . . especially for Cissy, who longs for a life in show business, and Kookie, who craves adventure. But when a diphtheria outbreak interrupts the dull routine, Cissy and Kookie are evacuated to the doubtful safety of the Bright Lights’ summer home—a shipwrecked paddle steamer on the flooded Missouri River. Thus begins a wild and unpredictable journey downstream serving up grand performances, aggrieved river gamblers, irate lawmen, and perilous races. And when at long last Cissy steps into the limelight, the stakes are higher than she ever imagined. Renowned storyteller Geraldine McCaughrean weaves a rip-roaring adventure in this funny tale that’s chock-full of humor and heart.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2010
6 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Geraldine McCaughrean
350 books327 followersGeraldine McCaughrean is a British children's novelist. She has written more than 170 books, including Peter Pan in Scarlet (2004), the official sequel to Peter Pan commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the holder of Peter Pan's copyright. Her work has been translated into 44 languages worldwide. She has received the Carnegie Medal twice and the Michael L. Printz Award among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 30, 2019
My 11 yo begged for this to be our next car audiobook, having already listened to it herself twice before.
I have to admit, TGAotSQ took a minute to grow on me. There were too many characters and the events kept flowing into one another too quickly for me to figure out what was going on. I kept having to stop and ask my daughter what had just happened and clarify who each character was, which was a flip from our norm where I'm usually making sure the kids are following. Though, I didn't realize until just now looking the book up on Goodreads to write this review that it's actually part 2 of a series, so perhaps that was part of the issue.
The basic storyline entails three children, escorted by their current schoolteacher and the blacklisted town inventor, leaving their tiny frontier town to escape a diptheria epidemic. Then plan is to temporarily stay with their fiesty former schoolteacher, who has married into a traveling theater company. The troupe is holed up in an abandoned steamboat that has been dry docked by the last flood, but winds up being whisked away by another set of floods. Shenanigans ensue as they travel down the Numchuck River, performing for small towns and escaping trouble in various forms.
The similes and metaphors are noticably audacious (there's even a reference to Coriolanus of ancient Rome in there, which I know would definitely go way over the heads of the majority of the intended audience, but we just happened to have read about the previous week in our history studies).
I also felt like some of the situations were too adult for middle grade readers. I didn't appreciate a scene towards the beginning where the crew encounters a gentleman who wants to join the gang and show pornography. You know that's where it's going... maybe the author could leave it ambiguous? But no. The reader is not only told flat out that it's pictures of naked ladies, but also given a description of an adolescent boy's reaction to them (above the waist). So, there's that.
Also, in a later scene where they are accosted by a sociopathic river pirate , some of the language is really intense. Specifically when the author describes the visceral pleasure the pirate gets out of the fear he's instilling in his victims. I just thought it was a bit much.
However, despite all that, the book DID grow on me over time. I did start to care about the characters and I did laugh at many of the situations and jokes the author threw in. Overall, it was an intelligent, interesting, fun story and now I want to check out the first book.
I have to admit, TGAotSQ took a minute to grow on me. There were too many characters and the events kept flowing into one another too quickly for me to figure out what was going on. I kept having to stop and ask my daughter what had just happened and clarify who each character was, which was a flip from our norm where I'm usually making sure the kids are following. Though, I didn't realize until just now looking the book up on Goodreads to write this review that it's actually part 2 of a series, so perhaps that was part of the issue.
The basic storyline entails three children, escorted by their current schoolteacher and the blacklisted town inventor, leaving their tiny frontier town to escape a diptheria epidemic. Then plan is to temporarily stay with their fiesty former schoolteacher, who has married into a traveling theater company. The troupe is holed up in an abandoned steamboat that has been dry docked by the last flood, but winds up being whisked away by another set of floods. Shenanigans ensue as they travel down the Numchuck River, performing for small towns and escaping trouble in various forms.
The similes and metaphors are noticably audacious (there's even a reference to Coriolanus of ancient Rome in there, which I know would definitely go way over the heads of the majority of the intended audience, but we just happened to have read about the previous week in our history studies).
I also felt like some of the situations were too adult for middle grade readers. I didn't appreciate a scene towards the beginning where the crew encounters a gentleman who wants to join the gang and show pornography. You know that's where it's going... maybe the author could leave it ambiguous? But no. The reader is not only told flat out that it's pictures of naked ladies, but also given a description of an adolescent boy's reaction to them (above the waist). So, there's that.
Also, in a later scene where they are accosted by a sociopathic river pirate , some of the language is really intense. Specifically when the author describes the visceral pleasure the pirate gets out of the fear he's instilling in his victims. I just thought it was a bit much.
However, despite all that, the book DID grow on me over time. I did start to care about the characters and I did laugh at many of the situations and jokes the author threw in. Overall, it was an intelligent, interesting, fun story and now I want to check out the first book.
July 11, 2011
Geraldine McCaughrean is a highly acclaimed YA author. She wrote one the best YA historical adventure novels ever - The Kite Rider. So it makes me sad to say that Sunshine Queen was so dull and disappointing, I didn't even finish it. I was expecting a Huck Finn type adventure with glorious characters reflecting the people and cultures of the mid-west. It had a few quirky characters who did pretty much nothing but talk about their more prosperous past. I gave up when I hit the half-way point. I'm pretty sure most students would do the same.
January 16, 2024
I wanted to read a middle-grade book set in the 1880s-1899s and I found this on my shelf. The book starts in a small town in the south when diphtheria is spreading through the town and families are sending their children to safety. I almost quit about 1/3 of the way because this book is wacky and sometimes hard to follow until you get a rhythm of how the author writes. You have to pay attention while you are reading to catch everything that happens. The writing is amazing and some of the descriptions are so good. I think you need to have more background knowledge than most students have. I could picture this as a quirky movie. I did have to go back and finish this book because I wanted to know what happened to this cast of characters.
December 3, 2019
Made me laugh out loud. Some wonderful language, incredible characters and delightfully outrageous situations.
April 9, 2018
This book was a little too over the top and unbelievable. Definitely, entertaining and funny in spots but a little too much. Stop That Train! as uniquely weird but I did not enjoy this as much. Also, there are many references and vocabulary that I would think are way beyond a middle grade reader.
November 24, 2012
The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen by Geraldine McCaughrean is the sequel to Stop That Train but it can read as a stand alone. Cissy and some of her Olive, Oklahoma classmates are sent to the care of their former school teacher during a diphtheria outbreak.
The cover art depicts a fairly early scene in the book, the arrival of the children to the paddle wheel. It washed ashore in a disused pasture where it has lain unclaimed. The acting troop is hiding out there while they try to figure out how to get one of their actors out of jail on an obscenity charge (for quoting Shakespeare).
Most of the book, though, have adventures along the Missouri river. The humor relies on an ensemble cast of unusual characters, outlandish but still somewhat plausible situations and a wild and oft-times dangerous setting.
The timing of the story is never completely pinned down but there are enough hints to place it with in the last decade of the 19th century. The two biggest clues are the off handed comment that the last time a judge had shown up was 1891 and the fact that Queen Victoria is still the reigning monarch of United Kingdom.
Although The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen starts slow and has a large enough cast to require its own dramatis personae broken up by section, it ends up being a very entertaining turn of the century romp. I am now planning to go back and read Stop That Train.
The cover art depicts a fairly early scene in the book, the arrival of the children to the paddle wheel. It washed ashore in a disused pasture where it has lain unclaimed. The acting troop is hiding out there while they try to figure out how to get one of their actors out of jail on an obscenity charge (for quoting Shakespeare).
Most of the book, though, have adventures along the Missouri river. The humor relies on an ensemble cast of unusual characters, outlandish but still somewhat plausible situations and a wild and oft-times dangerous setting.
The timing of the story is never completely pinned down but there are enough hints to place it with in the last decade of the 19th century. The two biggest clues are the off handed comment that the last time a judge had shown up was 1891 and the fact that Queen Victoria is still the reigning monarch of United Kingdom.
Although The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen starts slow and has a large enough cast to require its own dramatis personae broken up by section, it ends up being a very entertaining turn of the century romp. I am now planning to go back and read Stop That Train.
August 17, 2011
In the 1890s, 12-year-old Cissy enjoys attending school and spending time with her friend Kookie. The highlight of their school days is receiving letters from their former teacher Miss Loucien, who left teaching to join a traveling theater group. When there's a diphtheria outbreak in their town, Cissy and her classmate Tibbie are sent away with their current teacher to find the theater group so that they can stay with them until the outbreak has passed. Happily for Cissy, Kookie tags along with them.
They find the theater group living in an old, abandoned paddle-boat that had washed up onto land from the Missouri River. After some work, the group gets the boat back into the river and their journey really begins!
This is a fun story with a huge cast of likable characters. Despite all of the crazy hardships faced by this group as they float down the river, they always work together and help each other out. This book is a follow-up to Stop the Train, but readers don't need to have read that book to understand what's going on in this one. Those who enjoyed this book might also enjoy another one of McCaughrean's books: The Death-Defying Pepper Roux.
They find the theater group living in an old, abandoned paddle-boat that had washed up onto land from the Missouri River. After some work, the group gets the boat back into the river and their journey really begins!
This is a fun story with a huge cast of likable characters. Despite all of the crazy hardships faced by this group as they float down the river, they always work together and help each other out. This book is a follow-up to Stop the Train, but readers don't need to have read that book to understand what's going on in this one. Those who enjoyed this book might also enjoy another one of McCaughrean's books: The Death-Defying Pepper Roux.
Read
September 7, 2013Fun descriptions and ways of phrasing things. A slapstick, rollicking sort of tale.
Several elements I personally find used as cheap appeal or are almost insulting. I realize many Christians come across as unfeeling, harsh, and hypocritical, but .... the verbally abusive mother in the story keeps a Bible close at hand (does note she doesn't read it) and speaks religiously. Jesus specifically is brought up in a flippant if not disrespectful way. I am a bit tired of the backhanding of Christians in a way that seems to lack real reason or purpose; it would not be looked upon favorably if it were any other group of people.
One use of the d word and one, so far, of the h. Sexual references in several spots, which kids may not get so why add. One performer peddles pics of naked ladies. While he is sent off the boat by the kids, - ok - in light of my human trafficking research this inclusion strikes a cord for me. What the character is doing really is harmful, lets not trivialize it or unnecessarily use it as shock appeal in a children's story.
(Not sure if I finished this story.)
Several elements I personally find used as cheap appeal or are almost insulting. I realize many Christians come across as unfeeling, harsh, and hypocritical, but .... the verbally abusive mother in the story keeps a Bible close at hand (does note she doesn't read it) and speaks religiously. Jesus specifically is brought up in a flippant if not disrespectful way. I am a bit tired of the backhanding of Christians in a way that seems to lack real reason or purpose; it would not be looked upon favorably if it were any other group of people.
One use of the d word and one, so far, of the h. Sexual references in several spots, which kids may not get so why add. One performer peddles pics of naked ladies. While he is sent off the boat by the kids, - ok - in light of my human trafficking research this inclusion strikes a cord for me. What the character is doing really is harmful, lets not trivialize it or unnecessarily use it as shock appeal in a children's story.
(Not sure if I finished this story.)
September 13, 2011
This is a light-hearted sequel to McCaughrean's Stop the Train. Many old and loved characters reappear and new quirky characters also join the story. When a dangerous diptheria epidemic comes to town, Cissy, Kookie, and Tibbie are sent to stay with Miss Loucien and the Bright Lights Theater company. As usual with this crew, all kinds of chaos insues.
The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen carries on the style and feel of Stop the Train. The story is fun, but it lacks the same profound insight into human nature. I enjoyed the read, but missed the depth of McCaughrean's first story of this crowd. Also, I missed some of my favorite characters.
The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen carries on the style and feel of Stop the Train. The story is fun, but it lacks the same profound insight into human nature. I enjoyed the read, but missed the depth of McCaughrean's first story of this crowd. Also, I missed some of my favorite characters.
November 10, 2011
When a diphtheria epidemic breaks out in their home town, three adolescents--Cissy, Kookie, and Tibbie are sent out of town in hopes that they can escape the deadly disease. They join up with the Bright Lights Theater Company, traveling down the river in a dilapidated show boat with hopes of fame and fortune.
This was a fun book with lots of quirky characters. In fact, I struggled at the beginning trying to keep straight all the different characters, a task which would probably have been easier had I read The Train Stops, which precedes this novel. The story drags a bit at the beginning, but once it gets going, moves along nicely.
This was a fun book with lots of quirky characters. In fact, I struggled at the beginning trying to keep straight all the different characters, a task which would probably have been easier had I read The Train Stops, which precedes this novel. The story drags a bit at the beginning, but once it gets going, moves along nicely.
March 30, 2012
In the 1890s three children are sent away from home to escape disease. They go (with their new teacher) to where their former teacher now is- the "Sunshine Queen", a beached riverboat on the Missouri river.
But when the river rises and the Queen begins to move, all aboard are in for a trip!
The read was light, fun, engaging and full of interesting characters and situations. It reads as part of a larger whole, but that is life as we know it and I actually don't know if there is either a book before or after.
Four stars for light read, 3 against books in general (nothing wrong with it, fun, but light and without anything major to recommend it).
But when the river rises and the Queen begins to move, all aboard are in for a trip!
The read was light, fun, engaging and full of interesting characters and situations. It reads as part of a larger whole, but that is life as we know it and I actually don't know if there is either a book before or after.
Four stars for light read, 3 against books in general (nothing wrong with it, fun, but light and without anything major to recommend it).
April 28, 2011
A little slow getting started, but a heap of fun once it got going. A rollicking adventure in 19th century Missouri aboard steamboats and steam trains, with a colorful and spunky traveling theater troupe. McCaughrean's whimsical descriptions routinely make you smile...some of my favorites: "a great tidal wave of Boredom rolled in from the eastern horizon, then broke over the school roofs"; "his only luggage was a sackload of dread"; "a flock of fluffy white clouds were lining up to jump the sun." Good fun.
August 29, 2011
Absolutely hilarious. This one was even better than its predecessor, Stop the Train! I was laughing all over the place. I have no idea how Ms. McCaughrean comes up with such a cast of unique and quirky characters, but they were all fabulous. And the situations these characters find themselves in were suitably over the top and always funny. I would certainly enjoy reading more about these characters.
February 20, 2012
Diptheria hits town and that means the kids need to leave. So Kookie, Cissy and Tibbie leave with their teacher Ms. May and head to meet up with the Bright Lights Theater Company and their previous teacher. They join the company on the Sunshine Queen and set sail down the Missouri River. There is a whole cast of unique characters who round out the group aboard the Sunshine Queen on their adventures on the river. The book does start out a little slow, but it is a gentler read.
March 11, 2013
I listened to about half of this, not going to finish it. It's ok, especially if listened on audio or if a parent or teacher read it aloud and could stop and explain confusing parts. i think the vocabulary and sentence structure would be extremely difficult for many grade schoolers. Also, the plot moved along so quickly it would be hard for many kids to keep up. I'll only recommend it to the more advanced readers.
September 10, 2013
What a delightful surprise this book was! It confirms the adage "don't judge a book by its cover" as the cover did not really inspire me.
The story positively romps along in a Huck Finn style adventure. The characters are larger than life and the plot ducks and dives to the ultimate climax.
Quite an easy read - fun for any junior lover of adventure with a pinch of romance and lots of drama thrown in.
The story positively romps along in a Huck Finn style adventure. The characters are larger than life and the plot ducks and dives to the ultimate climax.
Quite an easy read - fun for any junior lover of adventure with a pinch of romance and lots of drama thrown in.
September 2, 2014
As good as the first one, Stop that Train, by the same author. Cute, funny, well told. Most of our favorite characters are back for more adventures but this time on a river steam boat. Kinda reminded me of Mississippi Jack, y LA Meyer. My biggest complaint was I listened to both on audio book and the first book was a full cast production and this one was with a new reader who would mispronounce some of the characters names. I want consistency. Still 5 stars.
June 9, 2014
I love the way Geraldine McCaughrean turns a phrase and she works her magic here, but the story wasn't her best. It's a river tale, similar to the structure of Huck Finn, with stops along the river as the occasion to move the plot along. Interesting characters. Does a nice job of conveying the time period.
August 27, 2011
Geraldine McCaughrean never disappoints and her range of genres is amazing. She is a storyteller first and foremost using rich language and funny play on words. This is a rollicking, literally, adventure set in the era of paddleboat steamers. Only this group of ragtag thespians could have this much bad luck and come out triumphant.
November 21, 2011
I listened to an audio version of The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a madcap adventure with a large and varied cast of characters on a paddleboat cruising the Mississippi in the 1800s. I had a long drive after a 28-hour travel day that included three plane rides and was kept awake and engaged by the humor and solid storytelling.
June 6, 2014
Mostly this was a three star book, but it did improve in the last quarter. There were some amusing characters (though the main character wasn't terribly appealing), and the adventures were sometimes entertaining. The excessive and over-the-top metaphors, though, became increasingly annoying as the story meandered along.
May 21, 2019
An adventure story that takes you aboard The Queen, a run down paddle boat. The Bright Light theatre company set sail after an outbreak of illness and bad weather. Taking with them children and various performers. Along the way they perform shows, battle pirates, outwit con-artists and free a dead man. Lots of characters and information, some good historical facts and lots of adventure.
September 13, 2011
A fun story about a lot of unusual people and a riverboat. Misspelled notes and letters were annoying to get through and I honestly lost track of most of the secondary male characters but definitely a fun read.
October 14, 2011
1890 Adventures and misadventures of two Oklahoma classmates who travel down the Missouri River with traveling actors on a paddleboat, while diphtheria spreads across the land. Sequel to Stop the train!
September 6, 2011
The highly stylized writing makes it more appropriate for reading aloud.
October 4, 2012
I am disappointed the Full Cast Audio group didn't narrate this book too.
abandoned
March 3, 2012There's a huge list of characters in the front of the book and the text seemed overly descriptive. I admit that I didn't read much of the book so, to be fair, I won't be giving it a rating.
January 29, 2012
SO much fun, and Lorna Raver gives such a warm, avuncular narration.
April 9, 2016
It is nice at the begininng and sad when the girl leaves her hometown. It finished very nicely. I hope that I can read it again.
Want to read
December 15, 2011"Families who enjoy reading aloud together couldn't do much better than this"; "so imaginative a cast and so preposterously and cunningly devised a plot" (from BCCB)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews