A High Wind in Jamaicaby Richard Hughes | |
| Category: |
"Fiction - Adventure" |
|---|---|
| Pages: | 279 |
| Year of Publication: | 1929 |
| Date Added: | 02/23/2021 |
| Date Read: | 09/20/2024 |
| Notes: | Armed Services Edition When an earthquake and hurricane destroy their home in Jamaica, the Thorntons decide to send their five children (along with two neighbor children) to England for school. The ship they sail on is soon overtaken by pirates. Pirate captain Jonsen and his mate Otto only intend to take the cargo and not kill anyone. As it happens, they also end up with all seven children on their ship and don't know what to do with them. For the next several months, the children adjust to life with pirates. One of the boys falls to his death. The oldest girl makes friends with a pirate and lives in his quarters for a time. Emily, who is 10, befriends the captain as she tries to deal with growing up with no guidance. The pirates take a Dutch ship, tie up the captain, and leave him alone while they get drunk. Emily sees the captain about to reach a knife to free himself. She panics, grabs the knife, and kills him. A while later, Jonsen flags down a steamship and turns over the children who are taken back to England. The other children stay quiet, but Emily reveals that Jonsen was a pirate. He and Otto are caught and put on trial, and Emily's testimony convicts them of murder. She forgets all about what she's done and goes on her merry way. |
| My Rating: | 5 |
Reviewed by Roger on 2024-09-20 19:54:50
