The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons
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. Grades 4-6. --Carolyn Phelan