The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons

by Barbara Mariconda

Overview

The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons is a beautifully written middle-grade fantasy adventure that Newbery Medal–winning author Katherine Applegate says is "as magical and mysterious as the sea itself."

Ever since her parents died, Lucy's house has magically awakened. An enchanted flute plays when danger is near. A sparkling mist unlocks drawers of family secrets. A mysterious woman named Marni arrives.

The magic helps Lucy keep her house out of the hands of her greedy Uncle Victor. As Lucy and Marni fight to stop Victor, Lucy makes unexpected friends and discovers the power of courage. But will it be enough to prevail in the face of her evil uncle?

Readers who love novels like Avi's The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle or the American Girl books will love the timeless adventure in The Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062119797
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/02/2012
Series:	Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons , #1
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	968,801
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	950L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

When she isn't writing, Barbara Mariconda spends her time empowering the next generation of authors in classrooms today through her company, Empowering Writers. She has authored scores of books for children and their teachers and is continually inspired by travel around the world. She lives in Connecticut with her faithful shih tzu, Little Man. The Emerald Shore is the final book in the Voyage of Lucy P. Simmons series.

What People are Saying About This

Patricia Reilly Giff

“A thrilling, magical story with a feisty, unforgettable heroine. I couldn’t put this book down.”

Katherine Applegate

“Lucy is an intrepid heroine with a swashbuckling spirit and a sailor’s heart. A grand and adventurous tale, as magical and mysterious as the sea itself.”

Gary D. Schmidt

“Storms and high seas, a mysterious house and a more mysterious ship, a magical sparkling cloud that brings new hope—they are all here. This novel is a hymn to courage, with a tempo that turns the pages, a rhythm that stirs the spirit.”

Kathi Appelt

“In this riveting story, landlubbers and seafarers alike will find a song of loss, courage, loyalty and magic—altogether wonderful!”

Editorial Reviews

Lucy is an intrepid heroine with a swashbuckling spirit and a sailor’s heart. A grand and adventurous tale, as magical and mysterious as the sea itself.” — Katherine Applegate, Newbery award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan

“A thrilling, magical story with a feisty, unforgettable heroine. I couldn’t put this book down.” — Patricia Reilly Giff, author of Newbery Honor book Lily's Crossing and the Polk Street School series

“Storms and high seas, a mysterious house and a more mysterious ship, a magical sparkling cloud that brings new hope—they are all here. This novel is a hymn to courage, with a tempo that turns the pages, a rhythm that stirs the spirit.” — Gary D. Schmidt, National Book Award finalist and author of the Newbery Honor book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

“In this riveting story, landlubbers and seafarers alike will find a song of loss, courage, loyalty and magic—altogether wonderful!” — Kathi Appelt, author of the Newbery Honor Book and National Book Award finalist The Underneath

“Highly dramatic and visually stunning.” — Kirkus Reviews

“The world of ships and sailing comes to life with Mariconda’s rich details.” — Sacramento Book Review

From the Publisher

Storms and high seas, a mysterious house and a more mysterious ship, a magical sparkling cloud that brings new hope—they are all here. This novel is a hymn to courage, with a tempo that turns the pages, a rhythm that stirs the spirit.

Gary D. Schmidt

A thrilling, magical story with a feisty, unforgettable heroine. I couldn’t put this book down.

Patricia Reilly Giff

Lucy is an intrepid heroine with a swashbuckling spirit and a sailor’s heart. A grand and adventurous tale, as magical and mysterious as the sea itself.

Katherine Applegate

In this riveting story, landlubbers and seafarers alike will find a song of loss, courage, loyalty and magic—altogether wonderful!

Kathi Appelt

The world of ships and sailing comes to life with Mariconda’s rich details.

Sacramento Book Review

Magic helps an orphaned heiress fight a rapacious uncle out to steal the family fortune. After her parents drown off the coast of Maine in 1906, Lucy is left in the care of her aunt. Unfortunately, Aunt Prudence is off in Australia tracking down a family curse, and greedy Uncle Victor steps in to control Lucy and the purse strings. Lucy has both her faithful servant and a good dose of magic on her side. She suspects that her uncle is up to no good and snoops through his papers, aided by beautiful magical mists. When her uncle decides to send her to boarding school, another magical creature shows up in the form of the teacher. The only other students at the school are three children desperately trying to avoid their drunken father, known as the Brute. Lucy tries to connect the dots between the teacher, a woman in a painting in her father's study and a mysterious woman seen walking on the shore. Events come to a highly dramatic and visually stunning conclusion. However, Mariconda leaves the reader with unresolved threads. What is the source of the magic? What will happen on the next voyage? Adventurous possibilities await in a necessary second installment. (Historical fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews