The Pirates of Crocodile Swamp

March 1, 2009
Gr 4-6-Sandy, 11, and Jack, 9, are growing up under rough circumstances in 1982. Their father is abusive and frequently drunk; their mother is distant and depressed. When their dad accidentally causes the death of their four-year-old brother, things get even worse. One day he picks them up from school and speeds away from their Pennsylvania home, not stopping until they reach the Florida Keys. The boys assume that he beat their mother to death. Jack, who loves TV nature programs, hates his father and wants to escape. He convinces the more practical Sandy that they should gather supplies, find a boat, and flee to Crocodile Swamp, a nature preserve, where their father will never come after them. They steal some of his money, are soon living on a crocodile-infested island, and meet an old Cuban fisherman who just might have once been a pirate. Pirates is an exciting story, with plenty of Arnosky's trademark insight into the delights and dangers of the natural (and human) world. The prose is direct and gripping, the characterization strong, and the story includes just enough of the author's illustrations to enrich the fast-moving tale.Walter Minkel, Austin Public Library, TX

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2009
Grades 5-8 After school one day, Sandy and Jack Casperin are picked up by their alcoholic and abusive father, who takes them on a long drive to the Florida Keys. The boys quickly learn that their dad is fleeing because he believes that he has killed their mother. Sandy and Jack escape and hide in a restricted area called Crocodile Swamp. The swamp is well named, as it is teaming with crocodiles and other animals with big teeth. Fortunately, Jack loves nature shows, so he knows how to avoid the beasts. The boys arent in the swamp long, though, before their father finds them, but they are aided by an old man, who lives a little outside the law, and an attractive young girl; and the storys close is a hopeful resolution. Arnosky presents a well-paced and exciting adventure tale that is given an extra boost by the inclusion of many details about the natural world of the Keys.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)