The Treasure of Barracuda

The "map" to a fabled hoard turns out to be at least as much of a treasure as the piles of gold and gems to which it leads in this rumbustious pirate adventure.Hook-handed Barracuda, himself a pirate feared throughout the Spanish Main, has searched for years for the treasure of his predecessor Phineas Krane--only to find, at the bottom of a deep hole on a remote Caribbean island, a coffer containing...Krane's memoirs. "A book? Years searching for a wretched book?" "They say there are writers who get rich that way," offers a member of the Southern Cross' rough-cut crew. Not just writers but readers too as it turns out, because in teaching themselves to read from the volume, the crew not only discovers the joy and power of general literacy, but also clues to where the rest of the loot lies hidden. Narrated by Sparks, an 11-year-old white foundling crewmember, the quest follows an aimless route from Maracaibo to Barbados and other ports of call. Aside from a couple of abortive scuffles, though, the plot is largely composed of silly squabbles while sailing along from point to point, and the cast is entirely composed of standard-issue pirate types, including a Chinese buccaneer (who is, of course, inscrutable) and one from Mali, who stands out in Sarda's caricatures for his dark skin. The theme in this Spanish-to-English import is golden; the vessel, not particularly well-founded. (glossary) (Adventure. 10-12) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-A yarn about pirates and outlaws, adventures and danger, and a ship named the Southern Cross sailing in the South Seas. Eleven-year-old Sparks, a cabin boy, tells the story of Captain Barracuda, a group of old pirates, and their search for hidden treasure. Two Molars, Boasnovas, John the Whale, Erik the Belgian, One-Legged Jack, and the other pirates travel with Captain Barracuda in search of the treasures hidden by the infamous Phineas Krane. Eventually, they discover that the treasure is, disappointingly for the illiterate pirates, a book. Two Molars is the only one who knows how to read, so their future success depends on his ability to help teach them. Several of the characters, including a Chinese pirate, perpetuate unfortunate stereotypes via the text and the illustrations throughout. The journey is haphazard, with a focus on humorous interactions on board the ship. The theme of the power of literacy is a bit heavy-handed, though teachers are likely to appreciate it. VERDICT There are better middle grade tales that emphasize the importance of reading; an additional purchase only.-Valentine Muyumba, Indiana State University, Terra Haute

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