The Pearl in the Ice

The Pearl in the Ice

By Author / Illustrator

Cathryn Constable

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

9+

Publisher

Chicken House Ltd

ISBN

9781912626519

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-11-2019

Synopsis

A thrilling and beautiful new novel from the best-selling author of The Wolf Princess.Marina's father, a naval captain, has been away for most of her life - certainly since her mother died - and yet Marina feels the pull of an ocean she's never known. When sent to boarding school to learn to be a lady, Marina decides instead to stow away on her father's ship. A perilous voyage awaits - but where are they sailing to and why, and what has it to do with the dark shape in the deep that seems to be following them?Praise for The Wolf Princess:'An engrossing, deeply atmospheric story.' TELEGRAPH'[Constable] knows you have only to give reality a slight push to make it marvellous. A classic winter's tale.' FINANCIAL TIMES'A very special debut with a spellbinding fairytale ambiance. Contemporary but deliciously nostalgic ...' THE BOOKSELLER

Reviews

Hayley

Cathryn Constables's new novel The Pearl in the Ice is a spell-binding, adventurous tale. It takes us on a voyage of discovery from a branch in the garden of her father's house in Hampstead, London, across the dark, cold seas to the very North of Pechorin Island. The main character, Marina, is set to uncover a world of deceit, which her father is part of, and to discover the truth about her mother who disappeared several years previously. Marina's father is a very well-respected naval officer who has been away at sea for most of Marina's life. When her father departs to take command of HMS Neptune, Marina defies him by takes a train to Portsmouth to say goodbye, where she meets the charismatic Mrs Smith. Through a series of events, Marina becomes a stowaway on her father's vessel, the 'Sea Witch', and is drawn to the sea by a strange feeling. She discovers that her father has an important, secret mission concerning the impending war against the Mordavian's, and this novel is deeply embedded with a world of spies and treachery. There are further twists involving a mysterious island, lost crew members, strange sea creature and the enigmatic Mrs Smith, who makes an unexpected reappearance. Although I found the novel a little hard to adjust to in the first couple of chapters, I am so very glad that I persevered with the rest of the book. This is a tale that enthralls the reader with compassion, determination and melancholy entwined together to leave an everlasting impression of a character that shows that you can be whoever you want to be, through willingness and determination. I would recommend this book to upper key stage 2 readers and as a class read for curriculum coverage of the Blue Abyss and Frozen Kingdom. 304 pages / Ages 9+ / Reviewed by Hayley Summerfield, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

 

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