Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

By Brian Jacques

Review by Nitin

The opening paragraph grabs the reader’s attention.

·Put reader right into the action

·Make reader imagine the unimaginable (ie. It’s not everyday that a 13 year old girl is accused of murder…)

·Don’t start with “the book I read was…” That’s way too BORING! Hook us into the plot!

Ever thought of being a thirteen year old for life?

The title and author are worked in naturally

·Don’t say, “My book was The Giver” when you can say, “Jonas, a twelve year old boy and the main character of Lois Lowry’s Newbery Award winning novel The Giver, must make decisions that impact his entire society.”

In Brian Jacque’s Castaways of the Flying Dutchman, a boy and his dog will live an eternal life.

The overall idea and plot are discussed, without giving away the ending

·Keep it short and sweet, even if it’s a long book

·Just give the reader the gist of the book. Be clear, make sense, don’t give away the ending

It’s 1620 in Copenhagen, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. A shady Chinese jewel dealer and a rough Dutch ship captain are doing business in a tavern. The jewel dealer makes a proposal. If the captain can pick up a shipment of emeralds from Valparaiso, South America, the Dutch captain, Philip Vanderdecken, will receive an emerald as partial payment before he starts the voyage and will receive two more emeralds after the shipment has been delivered. The offer, was accepted

A mute boy ran away from his cruel stepfather and his stepbrothers. In pursuit by his three stepbrothers, the boy is cornered on a dock and falls into the water.

Meanwhile, Captain Vanderdecken’s ship is preparing to cast off. The mute boy, almost out of consciousness, cold, and numb, manages to barely climb aboard Captain Vanderdecken’s ship, The Flying Dutchman.

The next morning, the crew discovers him. A crew member names him Neb. Neb isn’t treated any better on the ship, than at his stepfather’s house. Neb gets to the point of hating the Flying Dutchman’s crew and captain, although he knows he is safer with the captain than the crew. The ship stops in Esbjerg, Denmark. The crew goes out to the city to enjoy themselves, but they shackle Neb to the table and leave him behind. As Neb is resting, a starved dog that is caked with mud, wanders near the anchored ship. Neb, feels sorry for him and encourages him to come aboard the ship, and gives him something to eat. Neb washes him and decides to keep him aboard the ship, but he will hide him. He names the dog Denmark.

The Flying Dutchman continues its journey as the captain quells mutinies arose for the need for food as the going gets rough near Tierra del Fuego, at the tip of South America. Near the tip of South America, the sea becomes very rough, casting waves on to the ship. Although it is nearly impossible to steer the ship the captain persists. Crewmen start to die because of the bitterly cold weather. Also because of the weather, the ship can not make any progress, because they get pushed back every time they advance. The first mate begs to turn back, but the captain kills him. The captain loses his sanity. A week later, their food and fresh water runs out. Finally the weather calms itself. Captain Vanderdecken angry and tired, curses at the Lord.

An angel appears and condemns Vanderdecken and the crew of the Flying Dutchman, both dead and alive to an enless voyage because of the captain’s arrogance and the fact that he cursed the Lord Somehow, Neb and Denmark fall off the ship. The angel reappears to them and frees them from the curse, but gives them eternal life and the will have to help anyone in need. But the most important gift for them is the gift of speech. The angel gives Neb speech and she also gives Denmark a gift. Denmark and Neb can send thoughts back and forth, like a conversation. Neb and Denmark are washed ashore.

A shepherd finds them and cares for them kindly. When the shepherd dies, an angel appears saying when a bell rings, they will have to leave the place to help someone else in need. The next day a bell rings on a sheep’s collar, and that is their signal to leave.

About 276 years later, in the year 1896 Neb and Denmark arrive in an English village. But Neb changes his name to Ben and Denmark’s name becomes Ned. The village will be wrecked in a week and the residents will be forced to leave by a wealthy, powerful man. His incentive is the limestone that the village sits on. Together, Ben and Denmark must help an old lady find the proof that the old lady owns the village, so that the village can be saved.

Describe one exciting incident in detail

·Again, don’t give away the ending

·Be clear enough so that someone who HAS NOT read the book can follow

One exciting event is when Ben and Ned help an old lady from a rowdy, mean gang of bullies that are about Ben’s age and a little younger. The gang was throwing junk and compost at the old ladies house and windows, calling her names and teasing her. Ben and Ned spot this, and decide to help her out. Ned barks and chases them baring his teeth, in other words pretending to be fierce. He chases them into a compost heap, and they have trouble getting out of the soft smelly mess. The old lady is very grateful.

End the review with your opinion and recommendation

·Who might like this type of book? (Sports fans? People that love to laugh? History buffs? Late night readers that like to be freaked out?

·What did you think? Is it worth reading? If it won an award, is it worth the hype?

This is an awesome book showing the unknown side of Brian Jacques and combining poetry, fantasy and mystery. Every fantasy lover will definitely love this and even if you don’t like fantasy this is still a good book.