The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons

July 15, 2014
Lucy and her family and friends conclude their saga in an Ireland of foggy mists and sparkling rainbows.In The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons (2012), Lucy lost her parents and saw her Maine home transformed into a glorious sailing vessel. She then sailed from Maine to Australia, pirates in close pursuit, as she searched for her aunt in Lucy at Sea (2013). In this exciting finale to the trilogy, Lucy arrives on Clare Island off the western coast of Ireland, hoping at last to find the lost family treasure and end the family curse. She still has her father's magical flute and a magical deck of cards. It is not an easy quest, though, what with a fluttering, fast-talking fairy, a malevolent Grey Man and the same greedy pirates close at hand. Clare Island is, after all, the home of the legendary pirate queen Gracie O'Malley. Lucy reunites with all the folk from the two previous volumes and meets a cailleach, Miss Oonagh, straight from Irish folklore. In spite of all the familiar clues plus a mysterious new one, the treasure remains elusive. Mariconda does a neat job of tying up all the threads, adds a first kiss for Lucy and gives readers a satisfying if slightly dangerous conclusion. A grand and a good finale for Lucy et al. (Historical fantasy. 8-12)

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August 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-For 10 months Lucy and the ship's crew have sought to "outrun the threat of the family curse" on a voyage which has taken them from around the world. They wind up on the shores of Ireland as the third book in the series begins. The crew of the Lucy P. Simmons makes it to the Emerald Isle on the quest to find the treasure to break the curse forever and find Marni's son along the way. Once at their destination, the crew separates, some going to the mainland; the captain, Addie and the orphaned siblings to Addie's village. Lucy and her dog, her aunt Pru, Grady, and the mysterious Marni stay together, meeting interesting people and having adventures at breakneck speed as they seek the clues with, of course, the help of magic. Each character-including argumentative face cards-plays an important role in the quest set in the early 20th century. Evildoers try to intercept them as they follow clues across the rich, diverse Irish landscape. Magic and a magical creature help Lucy along the way to the satisfying conclusion during which all questions about each character are answered. As in the previous books, the pace is fast and action-packed with just a hint of romance for the protagonist. Although Lucy and the other seafarers find family and a home, their new ships-paid for by the found treasure-are sure to bring future voyages and escapades.-Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library

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