mystery | unscripted

I’m not sure how many times I have listened to this audiobook in the past ten years but it is one of my favorite stories from eighth grade. I just listened to it again this week and it’s about time I reviewed it!!

I first encountered this book when I was in eighth grade. I liked it so much, I did one of my book report projects on it. For some reason, tales about the high seas intrigued me and I went through this lady pirate phase. Don’t ask. This book doesn’t even contain pirates. I just wanted to read about girls on ships and those books were out there – but the girls in the books I got my hands on were pirates!

I have since gotten over the whole pirate thing but I’ve still kept this piece of junior fiction on my list of favorite stories.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Rating: 5.0 – 5.0

My Thoughts:

Charlotte Doyle is a sweet thirteen-year-old girl traveling from Liverpool, England to her family in America. It’s quite a simple arrangement really. Two other families are supposed to travel on the same voyage, thus keeping her protected and occupied. However, when she boards the ship, the other passengers are nowhere to be seen and she realizes she must make the trip as the only passenger besides captain and crew.

Something’s not right.

Word has it that the captain is not what he seems. But Charlotte finds him the very sole of propriety, class, and dignity – everything she has been brought up to expect and respect in a gentleman. He’s the one man who understands her, can protect her, and provide her with the kind of respectable companionship on this long, lonely voyage. But some of the crew have made it clear that they do not trust or like him.

So what is she supposed to do when everything is turned upside down and she’s caught in the middle of the power struggle?

And what is supposed to do when she’s accused of murder, tried and found guilty?

I have a thing for mysteries, I must say. And for ship stories. Ten years later and it still does the job.

This book counts towards the following challenges: