The streets of Sunrise Island are clean and shining the people are clean and there’s this new thing called “tourism” gaining a lot of popularity. When Egbert’s father comes back from the volcano with something secret on his mind, the family hitches a pirate ship to Sunrise Island to have a chat with their lawyer. It’s dirty and violent and overshadowed by a tall, sooty volcano. The island is a beloved rendez-vous for pirates, ruffians, and criminals who celebrate the unwashed life. But, with a newfound enthusiasm for booklearnin’ and a begrudging acceptance of constant bruises, our earnest narrator isn’t ready to confine himself to growing old on Deadweather just yet. Meaning that they cause their little brother as much pain as possible whenever they get the chance. Egbert’s brother and sister (Adonis and Venus… I do not jest) also enjoy a spot o’ violence now and then. Most of the other employees are pirates who have come back from the sea missing large chunks of their anatomy. His father runs the uglyfruit plantation with a keen eye for business and a thumping for anyone not pulling their weight. Here’s what awaited me in the New Lands, where lies the smelly island Deadweather – and other islands with varying stink-levels – sit surrounded by the Blue Sea:Įgbert is the youngest of three siblings, the only children on Deadweather island. Because even though I don’t like to read by no landlubberly rules, it’s sometimes best to start at the beginning. There are three books currently available in the series, but I started at the beginning with Deadweather And Sunrise.

But several stalwart and fervent young readers of the 9-12 persuasion have recommended Geoff Rodkey’s series to me – especially on Pirate Fridays when I make a point to wear stripes and my little spyglass – so I figured it was high time I set off at full sail into The Chronicles Of Egg. Usually I gravitate towards stand-alone books in my reading ventures, because life is too damn short.

Alas and alack! My pile of Pirate Books To Tackle has grown so monstrous that I should have avoided starting a new series on top of everything.

Deadweather and sunrise by geoff rodkey