Secrets at Sea, Richard Peck
Secrets at Sea, Richard Peck
List: $14.00 | Sale: $9.80
Club: $7.00

Secrets at Sea

Author: Richard Peck

Narrator: Jayne Entwistle

Unabridged: 3 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/10/2012

Synopsis

Helena is big-sister mouse to three younger siblings, living a snug and well-fed life within the ancient walls of the Cranston family home. When the Cranston humans decide to sail away to England to find a husband for one of their daughters, the Cranston mice stow away in the name of family solidarity.
     And so begins the scamper of their lives as Helena, her siblings, and their humans set sail on a life-changing voyage into the great world of titled humans . . . and titled mice, and surprise endings for all. The masterful Richard Peck brings all of his talents to this tale of two branches of an American family, set on the eve of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. There are plenty of laughs and thrills, and of course there’s a ship’s cat too. Will our Cranston heroes squeak by, or will they go entirely overboard?

About The Author

Richard Peck is the first children’s writer ever to have been awarded a National Humanities Medal. His extensive list of honors includes the Newbery Medal (for A Year Down Yonder), a Newbery Honor (for A Long Way from Chicago), the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the Scott O’Dell Award (for The River Between Us), and the Christopher Medal (for The Teacher’s Funeral). He has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

Goodreads review by babyhippoface on August 09, 2016

It pains me to give a book by Richard Peck only 2 stars. I think he's a wonderful writer. His Grandma Dowdel books are absolutely hilarious. So 2 stars goes against my genuine admiration for Mr. Peck. But I just have to. It was a struggle to get through it. I just was absolutely not interested in th......more

Goodreads review by Roxanne Hsu on November 20, 2011

Who would have thought? Richard Peck: the 21st Century Austen for the 8 to 10 set? But he IS! This little gem of a book has all the good stuff: A cast of talking mice whose actions and living conditions are completely believable and are in tune with children’s fantasy play; a twisting, surprising, an......more

Goodreads review by Mike on January 03, 2019

A delight from start to finish: full of ridiculous jokes, absurd situations and a general air of total impossibility. Just wonderful. 2019 - I picked this up from the library and it took me a chapter or so to realise it was very familiar: I'd read it only 18 months ago. But the book is so delightfull......more

Goodreads review by Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) on September 12, 2017

If The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail was a Boy Mouse's Own Adventure plus Downton Abbey for mice, this volume is definitely for the girl readers. However I wouldn't say they were "just" children's books, as much of the satire and sarcasm would be lost on kids today. It all goes back to the 19th......more

Goodreads review by Beth on November 27, 2011

Absolutely delightful. This new book by Richard Peck, which I have read before, is wonderfully written and illustrated. The language is so descriptive and evocative, you can practically see the little mice's ears twitch and whiskers wiggle. The book takes place right before Queen Victoria's Diamond......more

Quotes

“Rife with snappy asides and clever but never heavy-handed.” — The New York Times

* “Readers will revel in the detailed descriptions of mouse-sized joys, woes, and love connections.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “Is there anything Newbery Medalist Peck cannot do? Apparently not…Whimsical language, sure characterization, unflagging adventure, even romance.” — Kirkus, starred review

* “The rodent world meets Upstairs, Downstairs in this rollicking comedy of manners that begs to be read aloud.” — Horn Book, starred review

“By turns poignant and playful, engaging and exciting, and with a touch of romance, the story will have great appeal for the audience.” — Booklist

“The fast-paced story is peppered with the author’s characteristic sly wit and is pure fun.” — School Library Journal

“Readers who like their animals cute, their history entertaining, and their endings happy will find full satisfaction here.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Mr. Peck, a master at blending memorable characters, humor, history, and page-turning stories, is in top form here.” — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Peck’s eye for family dynamics is excellent.” — Chicago Tribune

Essential Books for Kids & Teens — Common Sense Media

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List