Orig. publ. OUP, 1996 ( )

It was an ok book. Not the best pirate book but it has a good story line. This wasnt the normal type of pirate story most of it took place on land instead of water. That part really bugged me pirates are sea men not land men. Other than that the story was good. ( )

I t is 1776 and Nathan has just been told to leave his exclusive boarding school because his father has died and left he and his sister Maud penniless. Tamo White, wealthy son on an ex-pirate , takes Nathan and Maud back with him to Madagascar, and there they fall foul of a band of pirates themselves have to flee to a native village. Everything settles down after awhile until a sail is spotted on the horizon. It is King Samson a ruthless pirate who needs a new base and wants to settle in their village. What will Nathan, Maud & Tamo do?

This novel is about orphaned Nathan and Maud Gull and their survival and adventures with Tamo White - the pirate's son. Their travels bring them to Madagascar and force them to turn pirate. This book has a higher reading level and would work for kids in grades 5-9.

SLJ starred review!