From School Library Journal
Grade 7-9 A fast-paced and exciting story of survival among the coastal native bands of British Columbia during the late 18th Century. With convincing dialogue and precise, detailed description and narrative, Smith tells the tale of 11-year-old David Spencer, cabin-boy on his father's British Navy vessel. Young Davy has a run-in with an evil sailor, makes friends with a fur seal pup, is kidnapped and made a slave by Indians, and declared by an old tribal shaman to be a ``Spirit Child'' sent by the gods. The boy, aided by the seal pup, makes an exciting water escape from his captors while rescuing a young captive Indian girl at the same time. Smith ends his novel with a scene that may point the way to a sequel: three villainous sailors left behind as captives are plotting how to get back to England to ``gets sic even with Capt. Spencer and that brat of his.'' All of Smith's characters are crisply delineated and well drawn, while his use of period nautical terms and slang helps to create an atmosphere of realism. David A. Lindsey, Lakewood Junior/Senior High School Library, Wash.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
