Deadweather and Sunrise: The Chronicles of Egg, Book 1 [Hardcover]

Geoff Rodkey (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 29, 2012 | Age Range: 10 and up | Series: The Chronicles of Egg (Book 1)

A stunning middle-grade debut--full of heart, humor, and nonstop action

It's tough to be thirteen, especially when somebody's trying to kill you.

Not that Egg's life was ever easy, growing up on sweaty, pirate-infested Deadweather Island with no company except an incompetent tutor and a pair of unusually violent siblings who hate his guts.

But when Egg's father hustles their family off on a mysterious errand to fabulously wealthy Sunrise Island, then disappears with the siblings in a freak accident, Egg finds himself a long-term guest at the mansion of the glamorous Pembroke family and their beautiful, sharp-tongued daughter Millicent. Finally, life seems perfect.

Until someone tries to throw him off a cliff.

Suddenly, Egg's running for his life in a bewildering world of cutthroat pirates, villainous businessmen, and strange Native legends. The only people who can help him sort out the mystery of why he's been marked for death are Millicent and a one-handed, possibly deranged cabin boy.

Come along for the ride. You'll be glad you did.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Middle Grade Book of the Month, June 2012: Deadweather and Sunrise is an action-packed debut novel of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery--oh, and did I mention there are pirates? Thirteen year old Egbert Masterson--Egg--is a book loving, intelligent 13-year-old with a big heart and a nose for hidden treasure. While Egg’s life has a lot of reason for despair, he takes his lumps in stride and discovers that “…not everyone who lives on a pretty street is a good person, and that in even the rottenest places you might find someone you can trust with your life.” With suitably gruesome pirate bits, endearing characters, surprising twists, and a delightful quirkiness, Deadweather and Sunrise has all the makings of a breakout new middle grade series. --Seira Wilson

Review

“This is a rip-roaring debut… I highly recommend you grab a copy… The best way I can describe it is Lemony Snicket meets Pirates of the Caribbean, with a sprinkling of Tom Sawyer for good measure.”—RICK RIORDAN, New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series.

 

 
From BCCB, Starred Review: 

". . . a high-seas adventure in the grandest tradition, featuring epic maritime battles, elusive hidden treasures, tender romance, and of course, pirates—lots and lots of pirates. The fast-paced swashbuckling will surely satisfy fans of adventure, but it's really Egg's narration that makes this pirate story rise above its counterparts. Wittily observant and self-deprecating, Egg relays the series of absurd events that precede his escape from Deadweather with a fair amount of humor, while his decision to avenge the deaths of his family—despite their mistreatment of him—lends the tale a certain nobility."

From THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE:

 

“What a wonderful hybrid plot: islands, buried treasure, a lad avenging violence against his family, sea voyages, tourist cruises, real pirates, fake pirates for the tourist trade, and leftover pirates, too maimed for sea work. . . . Egg's flat, fatalistic, practical and hilarious narrative tone keeps this wild profusion of plot elements (and island hopping) in balance in this, Book 1, of "The Chronicles of Egg," making a reader look forward to more.”

 

 

From KIRKUS REVIEWS:

 

“Self-deprecating and funny, Egg’s first-person account is compelling, and the dialogue and vivid setting, as well as the full cast of quirky characters, make it easy to get lost in this adventure.”

 

 

From PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:

 

“In this rousing debut novel . . . Egg’s struggle to stay alive takes him from one death-defying scenario to the next with breakneck speed … the overall effect is more comedic than terrifying, as Rodkey combines humor and adventure.”

 

 

From BOOKLIST:

 

“[O]ur hero’s first-person sassiness, smarts, and romantic frustration . . . are absolutely entertaining. Along with some good and gory descriptions (after all, pirates really aren’t that nice), this introduction to the Chronicles of Egg series is pure fun.”

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (May 29, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399257853
• ISBN-13: 978-0399257858
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,078 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Central & South America

More About the Author

Geoff Rodkey is the author of the Chronicles of Egg middle grade comedic adventure series and the Emmy-nominated screenwriter of such hit films as Daddy Day Care, RV, and the Disney Channel's Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas.

Geoff grew up in Freeport, Illinois and began his writing career on his high school newspaper. While in college, Geoff was an editor of both the Harvard Lampoon and the Let's Go travel guide series. His early writing credits include the educational video game Where In the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, the non-educational MTV series Beavis and Butt-head, and Comedy Central's Politically Incorrect.

Geoff's debut novel, Deadweather and Sunrise, is the first book in the Chronicles of Egg trilogy. The final volumes in the series, New Lands and Blue Sea Burning, will be published by Putnam in 2013 and 2014.

Geoff currently lives in New York City with his wife and three sons. They do not have any pets, mostly because the whole experience with the goldfish was just too upsetting.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars i have been raving about this book for months May 30, 2012

By xtine

Format:Hardcover

I read children's books for a living and Deadweather & Sunrise was hands down the best book I read last year. This middle grade adventure has elements of classic children's literature, but with a humor and quirk all its own. It stands out for many reasons, but I think most of all for the voice -- the voice of Egg, the often beat up youngest child of a citrus fruit farmer on the Island of Deadweather, otherwise inhabited solely by pirates. It reminds me of THE 21 BALLOONS and even a little bit of a middle grade Kurt Vonnegut's CAT'S CRADLE, in that it has an exotic, ridiculous island setting with twinkles of oddity and mischief throughout. And the characters are so rich, especially the lively and disgusting and ever-surprising pirates. My favorite character, though, is Guts, a scrapping, one armed cabin boy who is supposed to fight Egg to the death but instead becomes his most loyal friend. This is a wonderfully fun adventure that is perfect for readers of Rick Riordan (who recommends it on his blog, by the way).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Deadweather and Sunrise May 31, 2012

By Jennifer Hogan

Format:Hardcover

This is a terrific book. I finished it in a day, and I can't wait for the next book to come out! I think that Geoff Rodkey's next book is going to be really interesting, especially because he let off at such a suspenseful point. I think that Egg is a really interesting character, not the least because he does miss his family, even if he never liked them much when they were around. It's a really good twist on the story, when Millicent's father (Mr. Pembroke) wants Egg dead (or at least in prison). This is a really fantastic book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Review by an 8-year-old July 13, 2012

By Oliver

Format:Paperback

Deadweather and Sunrise, by Geoff Rodkey, is a good book.

My favorite character is Egg. I like egg because he is the main character.

My favorite scene is when Pembroke and egg are arguing.
I like this scene because if egg gets adopted he cannot marry Millicent but if he is not it won' t be as easy for Pembroke to get the treasure.

When is the next book coming out I really want to read it!

Oliver Wilson, age 8