Customer Reviews

Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bestselling children's author Audrey Penn presents Mystery At Blackbeard's Cove, an exciting full-length novel, intended for young adults yet appealing to readers of all ages. Elements of mystery and adventure combine with suspense as a group of friends travel to a North Carolina, seeking to give a beloved eccentric acquaintance the pirate buriel she so greatly desired. Suddenly trapped in tunnels by a local scoundrel, they must race against time to earn their escape and discover a hidden treasure. A wealth of lore concerning the famous pirate Blackbeard and his hideout intertwine with the captivating present-day adventure. Mystery At Blackbeard's Cove is a treat to be savored at length.

I'm always on the prowl for a good book for my 9-year-old granddaughter to read and was delighted to run across the beautifully illustrated and well-written book, MYSTERY AT BLACKBEARD'S COVE, by Audrey Penn. Having spent part of the summer on the Outer Banks in NC this year, I was intrigued with the history of the area, so I thought it a good idea to share something of the area with my 9-year-old through this exciting kids' book. What I like so much about the book is that the characters are so realistic--Stefanie is the typical whiny, skeptical pre-teen girl, not alwasy likable, who flings herself headlong into all sorts of chilling and spooky adventures just to keep up with the boys, not wanting to miss any of the excitement. However, the mystery that unfolds throughout the book makes this one a real page-turner. The old woman, Mrs.McNemmish, is a beloved elder of the community whom the children love to visit; it is she who keeps the local folklore alive in her storytelling, and it is she who holds the secret to the mystery.
Because this is a book with a strong emphasis on setting, MYSTERY AT BLACKBEARD'S COVE is a refreshing break from the fantasy that's been flooding the market for several years in kids' lit. What a wonderful way to draw children back into an interest in regional history.

What an exciting story about pirates, secret treasure, hidden tunnels, and more!

When four kids get trapped in a dark, seemingly-endless tunnel by an evil scoundrel (and direct descendant of one of Blackbeard's crew), you can't wait to find out what happens next and how it will end! From one compelling twist to the next, it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The characters are interesting and very relatable for kids, and the action is non-stop. I really liked this book!

This book is the best upper elementary/middle grade reads I've picked up so far this year! I apologize up front by the vast number of !!!'s that you're going to find in this review. It was just that great.

This book centers around 4 friends who band together to bury their mentor (can you have a pirate mentor,?? Because, if so, I WANT ONE!) at sea. After kidnapping the body and doing the deed, the read adventure begins as the foursome work together to solve of case of Blackbeard's missing treasure.

There are so many things to love about this book, I don't know where to start so here is a list (in no certain order) of the top 5 things I loved (although I easily could have come up with a list of top ten!)

1. I loved the setting. Having visited the Outer Banks before, I felt like I was right back there. The author made those islands come alive for me again from the dialect to the places names to all the little things that make that part of the US so unique.

2. I loved the main characters! Everyone in the book ceased being just a character for me right out of the gate. Each one was painted with such a wealth of emotion and detail, I just know they had to all be based on a real person.

3. I loved the adventure! This book reminded me so much of those adventures from my youth. Images of Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island and Swiss Family Robinson played in my mind the whole time. Finally, a book for young people that will inspire them to put down the remote, the phone, the controllers and yes, even the book!, and go outside for an adventure. I remembered those books from my youth for the sheer adventure and our publishing world is sadly lacking these kinds of books. This book is one I would recommend for those summer days when kids don't want to leave the house. This will inspire future treasure hunters and maybe even some pirates. This is one I would recommend to teachers everywhere--read-alouds or read- alongs--the whole class will love it.

4. I loved the mystery! There are so many small details that came along like dropping bread crumbs along a trail. I loved following along just to see where the trail would take me. And, it took me place I've never been before! Hard to do when you've read as much as me. Secret tunnels under the ocean, pirate ships, false bottoms of trunks and a tree with a basement--amazing. Could just one person make all that up?

5. I loved the history! Call me a sucker, but anything with a beheaded pirate and missing diamonds is enough to keep me glued to the seat. To know that so much of this is true make it just that much better. For those kids who love the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, this is sure to be a winner. I want to revisit the area just to walk around and soak up all that amazing history.

This is definitely a book I will recommend to all those couch potato kids out there; to all the Pirate lovers; to all of us who years for an old-fashioned adventure story complete with ghosts, skeletons, thunderstorms and surprise endings. Hhm, maybe that doesn't just apply to kids, after all!

This is a great book. It is hilarious at parts, however terrifying in others. It makes you feel as if you are there, in the middle of the action. The book is full of marvelous descriptions and details. It is a great piece of writing.

(Book 1 in the Blackbeard Quartet)

What would you do for a chance at a pirate's treasure? Stephanie, Mark, Billy and Daniel live on Orcacoke Island in North Carolina and enjoy listening to Mrs. McNemmish's tales. Mrs. McNemmish, whose family tree includes the infamous pirate Blackbeard, is fascinated with pirate legends. She dreams of one day sailing on the ghost ship Queen Anne's Revenge with Blackbeard. "Whoever buries me at sea will be as rich as Midas and hold in their hands the wealth of the world. And Mrs. McNemmish keeps her word."

After Mrs. McNemmish dies, the four friends decide to honor her last request. Unfortunately, they didn't think it would be this tricky: they will have to somehow transport the body from the church onto the boat. They also must deal with Zeek Beacon, a mean man who is also after Blackbeard's treasure. Throw in cryptic clues, treasure maps and hidden passages and this is turning out to be quite the adventure. Luckily they have some benevolent ghosts looking out for them, including Blackbeard himself!

Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove is a wonderful adventure story. It's filled with humor and thrills. The villain is fun to dislike and Stephanie, Mark, Billy and Daniel are really neat kids. I kept turning the pages to find out what happens next.

I appreciate all the research that went into this book. It is filled with vivid descriptions and fun facts and trivia about Blackbeard and life as a pirate. I also enjoyed the illustrations. The full-size illustrations add to the excitement and adventure. The smaller illustrations at the beginning of each chapter made me feel as if I were sightseeing on Orcacoke Island.

Audrey Penn is a New York Times Bestselling Author, she has written numerous children's books such as The Kissing Hand and The Whistling Tree. This young adult novel is sure to win over new fans and loyal readers.

Armchair Interviews says highly recommended! After reading this book you may start singing, "Yo ho, a pirate's life is for me!"

The plot of this story is fun - four young teens fulfill a promise, find a secret tunnel, discover treasure and almost die. Unfortunately, the quality of the writing was disappointing.

Some characters were one-dimensional and cartoonish. Some were mentioned by name without introducing who they were or how they related to the main characters. Or they were mentioned once near the beginning of the book and then brought back in near the end of the book without any reminder of who they were.

We just finished reading some of E. L. Konigsburg's books before reading this book. I guess we got spoiled with really good writing, so "Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove" was quite a disappointment.

I think it's the whole "Show vs Tell" thing. Good writers SHOW the reader the story. Audrey Penn TELLS the story in "Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove". She tells it adequately, but certainly not worthy of five stars.

I do not easily give up books and have an extensive personal library that is sometimes used by a small local private school. However, THIS book is getting donated to a thrift store rather than put on the shelf.

I bought this for my son to read to himself, but he was daunted by the length, so I read it to him. It was just too scary and weird for him, and even I found the plot difficult to follow, so we gave up on it.