Book Review: 'Seven Dead Pirates' by Linda Bailey

✰✰✰½ Lewis Dearborn is a shy young boy. Like many kids, he dreads going to school. When his family inherits a rundown seaside mansion, all his mother can do is make quick plans to sell it. Lewis, on the other hand, is in for the adventure of a lifetime. When Lewis quickly claims the tower room for his bedroom, he learns that it comes complete with ghosts. And not just one or two ghosts, but seven in all!

Seven pirate ghosts can be a little bit overwhelming until you get used to them. While Lewis' days are filled with school bullies and not being able to speak up for himself, Lewis' nights are filled with ghostly parties and fun. It isn't long before the pirate ghosts ask Lewis for help; they wish to return to the Maria Louisa, their long-lost ship. With the help of a peculiar classmate, Abriella, Lewis embarks on a mission to help the pirates out. Will he be able to find the courage to complete the task, or will he chicken out? Only time will tell, but Lewis better hurry up before another group of rowdy ghost pirates take up residence on the Maria Louisa.

The Bottom Line: This ghost story for middle grade readers is an adventurous tale of friendship and acceptance. Author Linda Bailey teaches us that it's perfectly okay to be different. Despite the slow beginning, the tale steadily picks up speed and finishes with an adventurous splash.

Details: Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey. Hardcover published by Tundra Books in 2015. 304 p. ISBN: 9781770498150 NOTE: I received a free advance reading copy from Tundra Books in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.