  | Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons Author: Mariconda, Barbara | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
After Lucy P. Simmons's parents drown, Lucy must find a way to keep her greedy aunt and uncle from taking her family's house. A mysterious woman who seems to come from the sea, as well as the house itself, come to Lucy's aid.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 6.20 Points: 8.0 Quiz: 156762 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 6-8 Reading Level: 7.40 Points: 11.0 Quiz: 63016 | |
Common Core Standards
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → 3.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → 3.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → 3.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (09/15/12)
Booklist (12/01/12)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (A) (12/12)
Full Text Reviews:
Bulletin for the Center... - 12/01/2012 A pleasant day sailing off the New England coast with her parents turns deadly and leaves Lucy Simmons an orphan under the care of her greedy uncle Victor in 1906. Fortunately, she is able to remain in the old family home, her father’s “ship on shore,” and the enormous mansion seems to be helping Lucy on her quest to ascertain the whereabouts of her aunt, her rightful guardian, and evade the punishments of her uncle; a sparkly cloud of mist surrounds the house sometimes, often hiding Lucy from her uncle’s notice and pointing her toward hidden letters that refer to a family curse. Lucy also finds help in Marni, a kindly local woman who introduces her to the Perkins children, whose father incidentally caused the accident that killed Lucy’s parents. These disjointed storylines come together in a rather spectacular conclusion that has the house transforming into a ship and Lucy finally setting off on her titular voyage to find her aunt, but the confusing and often tedious build up to the final scene is simply not engaging enough to pull readers along. Despite their minimal connection to the main plot, the Perkins children are particularly compelling as runaways from an abusive father, and while Marni claims to be a savior of those in need, her likeness to a portrait of a siren in Lucy’s house indicates that her role may become more nefarious in subsequent installments. Indeed, since the title’s promised voyage only begins with this book’s conclusion, the groundwork for a sequel is well laid, and readers who were intrigued by the unresolved issue of Lucy’s family curse may want to accompany Lucy on her seafaring journey. KQG - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
Booklist - 12/01/2012 Set in New England, in 1906, this historical novel pits a young heroine against an odious villain and his allies. Lucy is orphaned in chapter 1 when a sailboat picnic ends tragically with a rescue attempt in which both her parents drown. She is placed under the guardianship of Uncle Victor, whose chief concern is plundering or inheriting her parents’ estate. Clever Lucy shows plenty of pluck in finding allies and engineering a means of escape from her uncle’s tyrannical and potentially murderous clutches. The novel is a melodrama in that characters act out clearly defined roles with flair (Uncle Victor’s wife flaunts her greed, power, and cruelty by wearing Lucy’s mother’s jewelry) rather than nuance. While supernatural elements are woven into the story, a huge magical event near the end comes as a surprise. The story quickly pivots, takes a new direction, and stops without a satisfying conclusion. Hinting at a sequel, it leaves some unanswered questions and, quite possibly, some unsatisfied readers. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.
