Secrets at Sea [Hardcover]

Richard Peck (Author), Kelly Murphy (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 13, 2011 | Age Range: 8 and up | Lexile Measure: 600L (What's this?)

In the beloved tradition of The Borrowers, The Tale of Desperaux, and The Cricket in Times Square, here is an irresistible adventure story of the tiny individuals who secretly live among us humans.

Helena is the oldest of four mouse siblings who live in the walls of the Cranston estate. It is 1887 when the nouveau riche Cranstons decide to take a cruise ship to England in search of a husband for their awkward older daughter. The Cranston mice stow away in the luggage . . . and so begins the time of their lives, as they meet intriguing, cosmopolitan mice onboard and take it upon themselves to help the human Cranston daughters find love. They might just find perfect futures for themselves as well!

Full of laughs, near-misses, and surprise, this is Richard Peck at his best and most playful.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Rife with snappy asides and clever but never heavy-handed.”

(The New York Times )

* “Readers will revel in the detailed descriptions of mouse-sized joys, woes, and love connections.”

(Publishers Weekly, starred review )

* “Is there anything Newbery Medalist Peck cannot do? Apparently not…Whimsical language, sure characterization, unflagging adventure, even romance.”

(Kirkus, starred review )

* “The rodent world meets Upstairs, Downstairs in this rollicking comedy of manners that begs to be read aloud.”

(Horn Book, starred review )

“By turns poignant and playful, engaging and exciting, and with a touch of romance, the story will have great appeal for the audience.”

(Booklist )

“The fast-paced story is peppered with the author’s characteristic sly wit and is pure fun.”

(School Library Journal )

“Readers who like their animals cute, their history entertaining, and their endings happy will find full satisfaction here.”

(Bulletin of the Center for Children���s Books )

“Mr. Peck, a master at blending memorable characters, humor, history, and page-turning stories, is in top form here.”

(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette )

“Peck’s eye for family dynamics is excellent.”

(Chicago Tribune )

Essential Books for Kids & Teens

(Common Sense Media )

About the Author

Richard Peck lives in New York City. His extensive list of honors includes the Newbery Medal, the Edgar Award, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, and the National Humanities Medal. He has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Dial; First Edition edition (October 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803734557
• ISBN-13: 978-0803734555
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Winner, Every Time October 15, 2011

By Portianay VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I am delighted with this book, as I am with every Richard Peck creation. I find it astonishing that he is so able, no matter what genre or age group he chooses for his audience.
Parent, pick up this book for your middle-to-upper-elementary aged daughter. She will be enchanted by this mouse family and their seafaring adventures. It may even pique her interest in things Victorian!
You are one of those rare authors whom I consider a gift to readers, teachers, and librarians, Richard Peck.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stylish, witty and exciting October 21, 2011

By J. Prather TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I picked this up because of the author, and also because of the cover. I took one look at those mice clinging to the ropes on the high seas and thought maybe we would be dealing with mice pirates! Images of Redwall-like buccaneers went through my head as I settled down for a good read. If I had been paying closer attention, I would have noticed that three of those mice were wearing quite stylish dresses. I would then have been better prepared for a story that leans more towards Jane Austen than Pirates of the Caribbean.

Secrets at Sea tells the story of three sisters who up to the events of this novel have lived a rather conservative life with the human Cranston family. Helena is the oldest, then Louise, then Beatrice. It seems that life as a mouse is indeed hard, as their father, mother and three sisters have all passed away. They are left with little brother Lamont, and the Cranston humans who have decided to pick up and sail to London to find a husband for Olive. When the mice decide to accompany their human family, they set off on an adventure that will bring them in contact with a Duchess, a Princess, a Countess or two and a one- eyed ship cat. Some will find romance (both humans and mice), and some will find their destiny, but only if they can avoid getting plopped in the sea.

This is a great read, written in a way that peers right into the heart of every young girl who ever wanted to be a princess, or thought that the Borrowers might in fact live at their house. It seems that humans would be nothing without their mice, and the author has taken great care to create characters that are memorable and distinctive. We admire Helena for her steadfast resolve to keep her family together, Louisa for her ability to charm the human Camilla and for her tendency to run around in circles when she gets nervous, and Beatrice for her humor and pluck. The humans are perfect foils for the sisters, and kids will soon be rooting for dear Olive to finally find love, and for both sisters to succeed despite their sometimes boorish parents.

Told with plenty of humor, wit and charm, Secrets at Sea is another fantastic offering from one of our most beloved children's authors. The Victorian backdrop is perfect for the story, adding an ever so slight historical element. The illustrations are beautiful in their detail, and perfectly complement the tale. Don't miss this one for any young girl grades 3 and up.

17 of 24 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great details on the mice, but too girly for a boy and too marriage-focused for a modern girl November 30, 2011

By Ann Fisher

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I ordered this after reading a great review in the New York Times and looked forward to reading it before passing it on to my grandchildren. I ended up disappointed, though perhaps the review created expectations that were just too high.

The settings--an old house in the U.S., an ocean liner, Buckingham Palace--are superb. The details of mouse life in the Victorian era are wonderfully imagined. The writing bounces along merrily. But ultimately the story left me disappointed. It's one thing that all the humans (and this is really entirely a book about girls and women) are focused on nothing but getting their girls married off to the right men, but why do those fabulous, clever, brave mice have to follow suit?