On Rough Seas

April 28, 2008
Set in 1940 Dover, this first novel plays for high stakes. It begins with the drowning of the 14-year-old protagonist's younger cousin, a tragedy that exacerbates the boy's first conflict: Alec longs to be a seaman while his father wants him to help run the family inn. Hull effectively builds Alec's self-reliance as he juggles his home duties with work as a galley boy aboard the local skiff Britannia.
As the war thickens, he befriends soldiers billeted at the inn and unravels a mystery surrounding their mission. The cast, rather tidily, includes an acerbic first mate and a German Jewish orphan girl, both too broadly rendered. The plotting builds to Dunkirk (Alec stows away in order to participate in the evacuation), where Alec's offshore heroics also seem overly neat. However, readers unfamiliar with the story of Dunkirk will be impressed, and Hull's research is solid. Ages 10–14.

May 1, 2008
Gr 5-7-Fourteen-year-old Alec Curtis is no screwup, but after playing a part in the accidental drowning of his cousin, his father thinks he can't do anything right. So when the chance comes to work as a galley boy on the fishing boat "Britannia"'s day trips, Alec doesn't hesitate to get away. It's 1939 in Dover, England, and the country is on the brink of war. When Alec is not on the seas, he's noticing strange things in his hometown. Soldiers with secret missions. A German girl with a tragic past. And the government is doing something in a castle that's off-limits to civilians. With pluck and determination, Alec gets to the bottom of these mysteries, ultimately aiding in the rescue of 300,000 British soldiers stranded on the shores of Dunkirk. Hull's style is pleasantly reminiscent of children's historical fiction novels of the past. Unfortunately, statements and descriptions are often repeated, unnecessarily padding out the story. A good book but one that could certainly have been pared down."Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2008
The story begins in 1939. Haunted by the drowning of his cousin after their skiff capsized in the English Channel, Alec wants to prove himself by taking a step toward a career at sea. He becomes a part-time galley boy on a local boat, the Britannia, andtries to earn the respect of his captain and his harsh father. War looms over Dover, making personal decisions more complex and momentous. When the Britannia joins the rescue mission to Dunkirk, Alec wont be left behind. A dramatic opening scene plunges readers into the action, and the scenes at Dunkirk are memorable as well. Throughout the story, Hull offers a sensitive portrayal of Alecs seesawing emotions and gradual recognition of what matters to him, culminating in subtle changes that show his newfound maturity in sometimes unexpected yet wholly convincing ways. A well-researched historical novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)