Pirates of the Caribbean

Ten-year-old Gemma wishes everything could stay the same, but that’s impossible after her mother accepts a new job at Disney Parks in Orlando. Struggling to fit in and make friends, Gemma’s focus is instead drawn to a weathered journal left behind in her mother’s bookshop by a mysterious stranger.

After Gemma discovers a hand-drawn map of Walt Disney World, riddles begin appearing across the page like magic! Even weirder are the problems her mother is facing at work: the animatronics on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride keep moving all on their own in the middle of the night.

With the help of her brother, Torin, Gemma discovers that the map can transport them onto the Pirates attraction. But there’s something wrong—this version of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride has real live pirates! Will Gemma and Torin figure out a way to save the ride, or will they be forever trapped in the pirate stockades? 

When Gemma is given the map, she knows there must be a reason for it. This plucky heroine and her reluctant brother are thrust into the world of the ride, where they must figure out how to get the pirates and other characters back to their proper places. Gemma is determined to save her mother’s job, even if it means facing down the pirates herself. One of her best qualities is her willingness to admit she doesn’t know everything: “She didn’t spend a lot of time feeling sorry about her mistake. It wasn’t her first. It wouldn’t be her last. She not only had to live with her mistake, but she also had to fix it.” 

The pirates and other characters from the attraction are delightful, especially for anyone who’s ridden through the scene before. Readers will love imagining the mayor escaping his bounds while his wife yells at the pirates to leave her husband alone. These funny antics give the story a sense of suspense that’s more humorous than scary, and Pearson throws in a few surprises along the way, including an octopus and a flock of chickens. 

As the first book in the series, this story sets up a fun premise that will engage strong readers. Full-page, black-and-white illustrations appear every four to five pages, though readers who are just beginning chapter books may need an adult’s help to get through it. Pirate-loving kids who aren’t quite ready for longer books may instead enjoy the Puppy Pirates Series by Erin Soderberg and All Paws on Deck by Jessica Young. 

Pirates of the Caribbean is a fun adventure that any pirate-loving reader will enjoy. Gemma and Torin share a sweet, believable sibling bond, and neither one has any idea how to fix the attraction, but that doesn’t stop them from facing the pirates head-on. Their determination and problem-solving carry the story, and their willingness to learn from mistakes gives the book real heart alongside its humor. Overall, this is a fabulously fun start to a series that celebrates imagination, resourcefulness, and the courage it takes to fix what you broke, even when you’re only ten years old. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• One of the pirates grabs Gemma. “Her arms were yanked behind her back and her wrists tied together. The pirate spun her in circles, wrapping the rope around her and restraining her arms.” Gemma is tied to two other “captives.” 
• White hens attack Torin with a loud squawk. “They pecked at his feet and shins. He cried out for help. There were six hens hammering Torin’s ankles and feet. . . One daring hen rose to Torin’s shoulder and drove its beak into the side of Torin’s head.” Torin isn’t injured. 
• An octopus grabs Torin. “The tentacle holding Torin erupted, shook the boy, and pulled him back underwater. . . Again, Torin was lifted out of the water, spitting and coughing, the tentacle holding him tightly. His arms flailing alternately.”  
• To escape the octopus’s tentacles, Torin bites it. “The tentacle loosened slightly. Torin popped out of the monster’s hold.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• One of the characters tells a pirate, “Shut your blowhole, you rancid piece of jerky.” 

Supernatural 

• While holding a magical map, Gemma recites a magical rhyme: “Leave no place / we leave no trace / of where and when we went. / We journey there, / we must play fair, / imagine and pretend.” After reciting the spell, Gemma and Torin are transported into the attraction.  

Spiritual Content  

• None