Peter Raven Under Fire [Hardcover]

Michael Molloy (Author)

Book Description

1800 Peter Raven is the new officer on board HMS Torren, a Royal Navy ship battling with the French, led by general Napoleon Bonaparte. From the outset, the thirteen-year old, finds himself bound to Commodore Beaurnont, an intrepid British spy. When unexpected events at sea, plunge the pair into a dangerous intrigue on shore, they discover an extraordinary plot by France, to create a new empire by taking of the recently formed, United States...Soon it's a race against time to the pirate-filled waters of the Caribbean to save an entire nation, and a spirited American girl who has captured their hearts! Set against the real-life history of the time, Peter Raven Under Fire is the first in a series of the young midshipman's rip-roaring adventures.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–This is a thoroughly researched and exciting tale of war, piracy, and intrigue. In 1800, continuous war has depleted France's treasury, but Napoleon still wants to expand his empire. To this end, he needs money to defeat the superior British Navy and to exploit Louisiana for the greatest gain. In England, midshipman Peter Raven, 13, is assigned to HMS Torren. When powerful, sadistic pirates murder everyone on the ship except Peter and jack-of-all-trades Matthew Book, the protagonist finds himself apprenticed to a British spy, Commodore Beaumont. Together, these three outwit politicians and outfight pirates. Fast paced with multiple plot twists, the story sails from the English Channel to Paris to the Caribbean and back. Molloy's writing is intelligent and engaging, allowing readers to experience one part of the struggle for political and economic control of the Americas. This long book, which promises to be the first in a series, is indeed an epic. It would be best for deeper collections, or where high-seas adventure and historical fiction are popular.–Christina Stenson-Carey, Albany Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. It's Portsmouth, England, 1800, and 13-year-old Peter Raven boards the olphin as a midshipman. In Paris, General Ancre, head of France's secret service, meets with Napoleon and is sent as an envoy to the extremely wealthy, appallingly sadistic, and quite mad Count Vallon on his Caribbean island. In the backwoods of the Hudson Valley, Lucy Cosgrove, a beautiful, rich young American who has just run away from her school in New York, learns that she must put aside her aspirations to attend Princeton, as she is being sent to Europe. These characters and many others converge on Paris, where the plot thickens and roils, complicated by deception. Both Peter and Lucy's stories--along with those of the adults--play out on a very broad stage of international intrigue. Molloy's evident (sometimes too evident) research contributes to the convincing portrayal of the period setting. A long, heroic seafaring adventure. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Chicken House (May 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904442447
• ISBN-13: 978-1904442448
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,173,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 17, 2007

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peter Raven Under Fire (Mass Market Paperback)

Thirteen-year-old midshipman Peter Raven is assigned to active duty aboard the HMS Torren. Boys became men early in England in 1800, and Great Britain is in her seventh year of struggle with France. The French Revolution is over, and Napoleon Bonaparte is in power. He needs money to defeat the English and exploit the Louisiana territory where he plans to install a "King of New Orleans" under French rule, and has chosen one of the privateers that are active in the Caribbean; a vile and quite mad pirate that has promised him the money he needs. These pirates attack any ships that cross their paths, murdering the crews and stealing the cargoes.

When the HMS Torren falls prey to the pirates, Peter and the charismatic Matthew Book manage to separately escape, but everyone else is murdered. Peter becomes apprenticed to a British Spy, and is reunited with Matthew. The three of them strive to outwit the pirates and French government and keep America out of their hands.

This lively book has a multi-level plot and exciting characters. I thought the size of the book might be a bit intimidating for reluctant readers, but it left me wanting more. The action goes from the English Channel to Paris to the Caribbean and back again. It's a seafaring adventure on a grand scale that is impossible to put down. Molloy promises a sequel, and I can't wait...Peter Raven is one of my favorite characters. There is even a bit of romance with the beautiful, rich young American girl, Lucy Cosgrove.

Reviewed by: Grandma Bev

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Political intrigue and social unrest permeate a plot strong in historical background and insights, August 12, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peter Raven Under Fire (Hardcover)

Michael Molloy's Peter Raven Under Fire is set in 1800 and tells of Peter, the new officer on a Navy ship warring with the French forces of Napoleon. Can a 13-year-old bound to a British spy affect the outcome of a war? Political intrigue and social unrest permeate a plot strong in historical background and insights.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peter Raven: flying through imaginations and capturing hearts, November 9, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Peter Raven Under Fire (Hardcover)

An amazingly written book! I loved reading every page of it! The characters were well developed and the story was well put together.
It's a fast read and I definately recommend it.