By Geraldine McCaughrean (Oxford University Press)
A swashbuckling adventure set in the 1700s.
‘Cold gnawed on him like a rat.
Around him, the dun and grey blankets of the other beds rose and fell like the swell of a bleak, dirty sea.
Nathan had no idea what had woken him – he was still exhausted – and yet some upheaval had washed him up above the waterline of sleep. He was afraid, without knowing why.’
– The opening paragraph of Plundering Paradise
When Nathan and Maud’s father dies they are left penniless and destitute. The only solution comes from a school friend, Tamo White, who suggests they flee with him to his home in Madagascar on board his guardian’s ship. But all is not as it seems…
Fast-paced and exciting, the story covers cultural differences and beliefs, and gives a realistic view of 18th century life, tied in with a tale of loyalty and betrayal, friendship and the darker side of humanity.
Issues include: bullying, racial discrimination and prejudice.
