Customer Reviews

Raiders' Ransom

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sometimes you just want to read a book that starts off with a bang and then proceeds to run its legs off. A book that's able to work realistic emotions and characters into a narrative, while also advertising high-concept plotting. And if that same book just happens to contain preternaturally intelligent felines, snarky computers, futuristic barbarians, and a world underwater, all the better! Debut novelist Emily Diamand comes out swinging with such a book as that. "Raiders' Ransom" is a post-apocalyptic tale of a future Britain, but it eschews moralizing in favor of a slam-bang setting. Better make sure the edge of your seat is nicely padded. You and your kids are going to find yourselves perched there for the majority of this tale.

Thirteen-year-old Lilly's day was normal to begin with. She took her seacat (Cat) out for some fishing just as she always did. But on returning to her village, Lilly finds her Granny dead, the boats of her village destroyed, and the prime minister's daughter kidnapped. The culprits? Raiders. The year is 2216. Much of England is underwater with Greater Scotland laying claim to all but the last ten counties of England to the south. Like futuristic Vikings, Raiders haunt the coasts, and one of them is Zeph, son of the Angel Isling chief, heir to his power. When Lilly and Cat set off to find the prime minister's daughter and rescue her, they run into Zeph and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. To trade for the daughter, Lilly has taken a "jewel", a rare artificial intelligence system from the days before the world changed. Now everyone is fighting to get their hands on it, and Lilly and Zeph must outwit their enemies and survive their trials, if they want to get what they want. The real question is, do they even know what they want anymore?

The other day I was at a talk about children's literature and the speaker mentioned that what kids remember from book isn't metaphors or even (half the time) the author's name. It's usually characters and plots. It got me to thinking about this book. Diamand splits her point of view between two very different characters. There's Lilly on the one hand, under the distinct impression that she has a quest to fulfill, and there's Zeph on the other, just as certain that his future is as his father's heir. Lilly starts off a pretty upright citizen, but Zeph takes some reforming. He has a heart and a soul, but it's buried under a lot of cruelty taught to him by his pa. To become a man he has to be turned away by his father, and that's painful. You find yourself rooting for both characters, even when they're at odds with one another, because you honestly believe that they'll make the correct choices in the end. Add in one particularly snarky machine (who I hope we'll be seeing a lot more of in future books in the series) and then there are three "people" worth following.

The book avoids a lot of the mistakes post-apocalyptic novels usually make. For this story to work, the plot needs to take place not just in our future but also in our future's future. We have to believe that in the future there will come a time when gaming devices with artificial intelligences can create fantastic interactive games in three-dimensions. After that, the world collapses, the sea levels rise, and humanity is thrown into a new dark ages. Now what I particularly dislike is when an author establishes all this and then sets the book a measly 30 years in the future. What good does that do anyone? I suppose the idea is that if you do it only slightly in the future, kids can gasp and go, "Oh no! We better change our ways!" But "Raiders' Ransom" isn't some preachy tome. It's a swashbuckling adventure narrative and as such it makes sense to set it in 2216.

The future we see here has some similarities to the one in "The Ear, the Eye and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer. Both books involve clever children using a knowledge of the past to defeat a terrible present. Both involve scenes where old-time goods are recovered and reused. This is tastefully done, with the possible exception of a funny moment where a Mr. Saravanan says, "Be careful! . . . Those are Harry Potters. I have half a dozen historians fighting to get their hands on them." Ditto the mentions of Metallica and Manchester United.

And, of course, I like the cat. Cat is just one of a fine series of felines published in 2009 that act like their real-life counterparts. It would not be entirely insane to pair "Raiders' Ransom" with "The Cats of Roxville Station" by Jean Craighead George. In the George book, feral cats act and respond according to their instincts. In the Diamand book, Cat acts like a cat but has a certain intelligence that sets him apart. That intelligence will do you little good if you don't know how to interpret what he does. Example: Apparently when he's twitchy or nervous, that's bad. Best that you do what he indicates. At the same time, you can't read this book thinking that Cat's abilities are all in Lilly's head. At one point she is captured and Cat uses his talents to outwit the guard on duty in a truly inspired manner. It's a good book for cat lovers, really.

I'm calling this a book for the 10 and up crowd, but make no mistake that there are some dark elements at work here. The trial by knife where Lilly is questioned in a violent manner never leads to anything much more than psychological terror, but for the squeamish that might be enough. The fact that the poor little prime minister's daughter spends much of the book scared is a toughie too. Still, I've found that things like that tend to upset adult readers far more than children. Kids have tough emotional hides that we sometimes forget about when it comes to literature. Some concern has come up regarding the chief's concubine. Does her presence in the book make it difficult to read this to middle grade kids? I don't think so. She is always referred to as the man's wife. No overt sexual references are made (though there are plenty to read between the lines). Kids won't get what she is, only adults. But it's worth noting. As for the language, it's fine. Apparently while I'm sure that other words have been lost to the waves of time, there is one moment when Zeph refers to a wife as a "skank". So that word, of all terms, proves its longevity. Ditto futuristic sketchy slang like "find your plums" (you can pretty much figure it out within context).

I wouldn't say that this is a book for everything as it can prove to be a hard novel. But for any kid interested in action/adventure who isn't afraid of a little sci-fi as well, this is well worth seeking out. Fun, well-written, the whole nine yards. Diamand is a woman to keep your eyes pinned on from here on in.

Ages 10 and up.

I loved this book. It sets off at full steam with an action packed beginning, has great dialogue, fabulous settings and an original story and cast of characters which keep you hooked.

I can't think of anything to criticise as it is such an entertaining, well written story.

13 year old orphan Lilly, the 13 year old friend Zeph she meets on the way and her prized sea cat are on an epic tale to rescue the Prime Ministers, 7 year old daughter Alexandra.

I loved the names of futuristic Britain where 'Lunden' (London) and all but 10 counties of England are under water as a result of global warming (but don't worry this is just the setting and not some great moral environmental tale) and Londoners are split into family tribes like the 'Angel Islings', 'Brixt' and 'Chell Sea'. Scotland is the home of all the technology that is left and the remainder of the 10 counties are poor fishermen or farmers like our fisher heroine Lilly.

There is a great deal of humour in this book which keep it light and entertaining rather then bogged down in fighting and plot of delivering the Reavers' Ransom to free Alexandra. The valuable computer in this story seems to be a comedy relative of the head only apparition from 'Red Dwarf' as it provides much humour from it's unforseen circumstances, 147 years since it was last turned on.

Emily Diamond really sets the scene of flooded Britain, she makes you see and hear it. It's been a very long time since I've read such great dialogue from a childrens' book. The book is also cleverly told in different chapters from the view of Lilly and Zeph making it as entertaining for boys as for girls. The heroine also goes disguised as a boy in a for much of this book. There are twists on friendship which makes it more complex than a straightforward romp.

I highly recommend this book for children and there is also much for adults to enjoy in a 'Red Dwarf', 'Harry Potter, post civilisation 'Waterworld' on what is left of dry land kind of way. It's very entertaining and would make a brilliant visually exciting film with intelligent settings and dialogue.

Lets hope someone makes it.

I really believed this book had potential to be awesome. I really enjoyed some parts, but there was enough that bothered me to not give it glowing reviews. Here are a few things that really bothered me.

1. The first 50 pages. I don't know if it was due to the fact that I was super tired this week or felt sick with a head cold when I first picked this book up, but I was so confused in the beginning. It took me some time to realize that the chapters were switching back and forth. Later I finally figured out the pictures behind the chapter number represented either Lilly or Zeph. Duh! I know, but it was not clear for me early on and I lost focus and interest.

For some reason I continued on because I really wanted to like this book. Once I figured out the style, I became interested in the plot line. The whole Raiders vs. English and the future where things are not quite as advanced as we are now really grabbed me again. However......

2. The cat drove me insane. It is a seacat. I kept waiting for something spectacular to occur, but no. So much time was placed on this creature, but it never talked or did anything special(at least in my mind). I kept waiting for it to transform into a monster like a Pokemon or something. Very disappointed in the cat.

However, I did love the action and fighting scenes. I wish there was more early on to grab me earlier in the story. I really liked reading about some of the final scenes. Very cool.

3. Another sequel! Whatever happened to stand alone novels? I know it sells and makes more money. I know the sequel comes out in the UK March 1st. Will I read this sequel? Yes, I probably will because I am that type of person that must know what happens and I need closure.

There you have it. There are many reviews about this book. Some love this book and others don't. I am torn down the path of which side to go with. I flipped back and forth. I will leave it up to you decide about this book.

Set in the 23rd century some 147 years after the Collapse. Most of England is under water. There are factions attempting to control what land area is left. The raiders are nasty pirate types. The fishers are basic folks trying to make a living from the sea. Then there are the tech folks from Greater Scotland. Rather than all trying to get along in a world after the fall of technology, they all plot against each other. The Raiders have been hired to steal the jewel that a fisherfamily has. They luck upon the Prime Minister's daughter and kidnap her. Their plans bring about a war which leads into book #2. This is a good adventure story with a strong female protagonist. She takes stock of a bad situation and attempts to help out a friend who has been forced into the British service. As a teacher, I was dismayed with the brief descriptions of the head Raider's slave concubine. Quite clearly, she is a woman who has been kidnapped and made into the man's whore. While she doesn't play a large part in the book, her role, as described, makes it very, very difficult to justify using this book directly in a middle school classroom. Yes, I do believe that an uncouth Raider-Pirate kind of monster would treat women so dastardly, but concubine/whore is still hard to cover in a classroom. Individual readers should enjoy the book narrated by the fisher girl and the Raider boy....both middle school age characters who have a lot to learn about life and growing up.

(The jewel turns out to be an antique computer gaming system that is very little understood by the bad guys.)

Raiders' Ransom takes place in a world that reverts back to a pre-Industrial Revolution way of life due to the Collapse. This catastrophic event has caused much of England to be underwater, Scotland is now a great power, and to top it all off... there are pirates!

The story centers around Lilly and her very adorable seacat, Cat. Upon her village being attacked by raiders (pirates), she discovers that her life as been turned upside down with the people in her village now believed to be traitorous due to the prime minister's daughter being kidnapped. In order to right the wrong brought upon her and her friends, she set out on a great adventure to rescue the girl.

Told in alternating points of view, Raiders' Ransom is a really fun read. While it took me a while to get the hang of the point of view changes (the chapter pictures represent each character), I really enjoyed learning more about Lilly (aka Lilo) and Zeph. They are a nice foil to each other, and ultimately want only what is best for their respective side. In addition, the characters are very well developed with both acting and sounding realistic which gives the novel an added bonus in my opinion. With amazing characters and a unique premise, this novel is amazing adventure that will thrill and excite young and old readers alike. A fantastic read.

Emily Diamand is a dazzling new arrival on the scene of children's literature. Her début book, "Reavers' Ransom", (aka "Raiders' Ransom", aka "Flood Child") is the highly acclaimed winner of the first Times/Chicken House New Writing Competition and what a stunning work it is! Although pitched for a teenage audience, "Reavers' Ransom" makes a great read for young and old alike. The book is cleverly written, with a lively sense of fun and excitement, tackling a series of tough issues with intelligence, maturity and no small measure of humour. And more than a thing or two to say about cats.

The story's two young teenage protagonists come across as more clear-sighted and level-headed -- as well as far more grown-up, for all of their innocent naivety -- than almost all of the adult characters put together. The adults -- especially those in positions of power -- are, by comparison, largely portrayed as cartoon caricatures, each so engrossed in pursuit of their own personal agendas that they have lost all connection with the world around them, determined to remain entirely oblivious to the damage and the misery they cause, even to their supposed loved ones.

The writing is everywhere well-paced, using the historical present tense in the first person as a narrative device to keep the reader at the fore-front of the action (as well as firmly connected to the two protagonists) and is positively sparkling with inventiveness throughout. My only complaint is that although the story concludes, it in no way resolves. But the world will be clamouring for the follow-up regardless; I hope we will not have to wait too long.

The book cries out for a film version, as well as a sequel (now out: "Flood And Fire") and I have no doubt that Emily Diamand will go far, and fast. And well deserved that will be.

Gold Star Award Winner!

Set in a post-apocalyptic England, Lilly Melkun has a fairly ordinary life. Each day, she and her seacat go out fishing and come back to a home-cooked supper that Granny has made. One day, however, when she returns home, she discovers the village has been ransacked by raiders, the visiting Prime Minister's daughter has been kidnapped, and Granny has been killed.

Angry at the villagers for not retaliating against the raiders, the Prime Minister shows up in the village, presses all able-bodied young men into fighting the war he wants to start, arrests all leaders in authority, and threatens to hang the lot of them if they turn out to be traitors.

When the Prime Minister's sister asks Lilly to come to her house in the village, she discovers that the raiders were after a jewel that the woman has from her husband. Determined to save the day, Lilly cuts off her hair in order to look like a boy, and steals the jewel and the letter explaining to whoever cares what the object is and why she has it.

Trouble finds her quickly, though, when Lilly arrives in London and gets pushed into the mud by the son of the raider who ransacked her village. Followed everywhere by the raider boy, she comes up with a plan involving befriending the boy in order to rescue the Prime Minister's daughter.

What will happen when the boy discovers what she's really up to? Will Lilly save the day and stop a war from killing off everyone she cares about?

RAIDERS' RANSOM is an action-packed adventure filled with humor, suspense, and even a talking head. The characters are endearing and entertaining. The plot is fast-paced and well-developed, with lots of twists and turns. Readers will enjoy the surprises that lie in store for them when they read this story.

Those who like fantasy, adventure, and science fiction will all have a hard time putting this book down - and will hope the author writes a sequel.

Reviewed by: Kira M

It's the 23rd Century and there's much that has changed from our own days. For one thing, a good portion of England is underwater. And what is left of the government rules only 10 sea-oriented counties.

In addition to a loss of technology more advanced than our own, the world has turned into a more dog-eat-dog environment, with crooked politicians --okay that's the same-- real ocean-going pirates, and in some places a church which opposes learning about the old knowledge and science.

This then, is the setting for Lilly's and cat's adventures. Lilly being a girl from a fishing village and cat being her companion, a special sea-going cat who can tell when storms are brewing or when things aren't what they seem.

Talking Points:::

I REALLY enjoyed this book for the Middle-Grades. It's well written, with characters that are intriguing and interesting.

At the center of the excitement are 3 children I'd love to know more about: Lilly, Lexi, and Zeph. One is a politician's ignored daughter, the other simple girl from a fishing village, and the last a pirate king's son.

If you are looking for a good adventure book for Tweeners to Middle-Schoolers, "Raider's Ransom" would be an excellent choice.

HIGHLY recommend this one.

a mini-review

(pam t at BooksforKids-reviews)

At first glance, Lilly Melkun appears an ordinary girl from an ordinary fishing village in the Last Ten Counties of England. But her spunk and trusty seacat set her apart as someone special. When Lilly's village is attacked by raiders and the prime minister's daughter is kidnapped, Lilly takes it upon herself to save the poor girl. She feels it's the least she can do to help since the prime minister blames her village for the disappearance of his daughter and has forced all able bodied men and boys into his militia as punishment, including Lilly's friend Andy. With little left for her at home, Lilly disguises herself as a boy and sets off sailing--but not before "borrowing" a beautiful jewel that happens to talk as a ransom for the prime minister's daughter. But Lilly's heroic act turns out to be more difficult and dangerous than she anticipated. War between the English and the raiders is brewing among other plots, and Lilly finds that she may have to rely on a sticky and surprising friendship with a young raider boy if she's to survive.

Raiders' Ransom is a story that spirits readers away to the hypothetical future of the 23rd century where much of England has been reclaimed by rising water levels. Three imaginative nations that exist on the remaining solid ground with very different lifestyles make for a fantastic backdrop for this unique story. I'm not usually one to go gaga over the classics, but I felt this novel was a synergy of cherished old childhood adventure stories, present day cultural differences, and future possibilities for the state of the world. There's something so endearing about this story with its tricky marauders, cats who seem to like water, and the strangeness of a society largely without technology. The characters as well are wonderfully developed and realistic within their situations. Everything about Raiders' Ransom sets it up to be a tale all readers will love, and Diamand does not disappoint. This futuristic fantasy tale is a creative and thrilling adventure after every reader's heart.

This jewel of a story will appeal to those nostalgic for Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens as well as fans of Sovay by Celia Rees and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I eagerly look forward to a sequel for Raiders' Ransom from this skilled new writer.

Emily Diamand won the first London Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition with this book, beating out more than 2,000 other writers. It's easy to see why. I can't decide which is better, her world building or her characterization, in this story set 200 years in the future, after rising sea levels have changed countries like England forever. Raiders' Ransom is probably best defined as science fiction, but it reads like a fantasy.

In Diamand's future, the British Isles are made up of the Last Ten Counties, a region of southwest England ruled by an oppressive Prime Minister; Greater Scotland to the north; and the warrior tribes (Raiders) who inhabit the marshes along the now-abbreviated southeast coast. In a luddite backlash, technology has been destroyed by the fearful denizens of the southern regions, though Scotland has retained some and is trying to get their hands on more.

Our story has two narrators--fishing girl Lilly, accompanied by the psychic seacat she simply calls Cat, and a raider boy known as Zeph, the son of a ruthless tribal leader. Zeph's father leads his men to Lilly's fishing village to find a lost tech treasure for the secretive Scottish Ambassador and instead kidnaps Prime Minister Randall's seven-year-old daughter, Lexy. Lilly's beloved grandmother is killed in the raid, and when the Prime Minister takes out his wrath on her village, Lilly sets off on a fairly hopeless quest. Disguising herself as a boy (natch), she steals the tech jewel from Lexy's aunt with the goal of ransoming the missing child and saving her friends.

Nothing goes as planned, of course. Zeph and Lilly's paths cross in a dangerous half-drowned London, where trust is offered and then betrayed as the two try to achieve their disparate heart's desires. Both have troubles that can't easily be wrapped up in the course of a single book, but the plot comes to a satisfying stopping point, which pleased me--series or no series, a book's plot should be as round and whole as an orange instead of trailing off like an unfinished sentence.

Diamand's characterization is a real strength in Raiders' Ransom. Lilly and Zeph are imperfect, yet likable. Lilly is initially more empathetic than Zeph, who is being taught by his father to be brutal. But Zeph ultimately makes his own decisions, as does Lilly, both of them not so much rebelling against the adults around them as finding their own ways to be. I was happy to find that many of the author's secondary characters are rounded, as well, some surprisingly so (e.g., Lexy's aunt and Zeph's "stepmother"). One of the oddest characters in the book is the handheld computer or jewel, which seems like a ghost to superstitious southerners, including Lilly.

Here is Lilly's voice:

"Maybe Cat can smell fish? Fish guts curling off the harborside into the water; fish scales decorating the stones like pearls. Scrape, slice, pack: the daily chore of fisherfolk. And Cat's a favorite, with his pretty gray markings and his seaweed eyes. Any one of 'em, man or woman, would give him a tidbit, hoping to steal him away. He makes the most of it, gets a bellyful whenever he can, but it doesn't matter what they do, how much fish they give him; he'll thank 'em, eat it neatly, then come straight back to me."

This series start promises real adventure in a newly envisioned future, one where young heroes must navigate the treacherously high seas surrounding the British Isles as well as the untrustworthy shoals of politically motivated adult behavior. As for a possible environmental message, Diamand launches her plot off a current question about the ocean rising to cover up the world's key port cities. From there, her imagination takes her to a new place: I recommend you visit it in Raiders' Ransom and the books to follow.

Note for Worried Parents: There are a few off-color references and a raider has a concubine, plus the Viking-like raiders are pretty scary, especially when they start throwing knives.