Scarlet Morning, Book 1: Scarlet Morning

Description: "Viola and Wilmur have been waiting for their parents for fifteen boring years in the colorless town of Caveat. Their lives are a drudge of salt, trash, pirate stories, and what-ifs . . . until one very stormy night, when Captain Cadence Chase breaks down their door. They cut a deal with the captain: Chase can take their most prized possession, a mysterious book, but only if she takes them, too. After all, if their parents aren't coming, Viola and Wilmur might as well have a grand adventure to find them. Setting sail into the treacherous and beautiful world beyond Caveat, the two inseparable friends must uncover the facts behind legend -- and the key to saving all of Dickerson's Sea from obliteration -- before the truth tears them apart. Wickedly funny, deeply emotional, and sharply incisive, Scarlet Morning is a tale of love, betrayal, and the extraordinary lengths we'd go to save a world broken beyond repair."--

Brief description:

ND Stevenson is the award-winning, bestselling author and illustrator of Nimona and The Fire Never Goes Out and the cocreator of Lumberjanes and was the showrunner for the award-winning Netflix series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

Review Quotes:

"Engaging, exciting, and enthralling in equal measure. Acclaimed graphic novelist Stevenson shines in his prose debut; his worldbuilding is clever and highly immersive, conveying an atmosphere that's completely novel while also nostalgic. With its pirates, magic, adventure, friendship, and found family, this middle-grade gem comes very close to achieving the impossible--having something for everyone." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Riveting...Stevenson deploys lush, lyrical writing to craft an original pirate adventure." - Publishers Weekly

"Stevenson's foray into prose is a fantastic demonstration of his ability to create immersive worlds and eclectic, engaging casts of characters in which each stands out without crowding the narrative. His mixed-media illustrations add charm and thrill, and the complexity of this soon-to-be classic will keep readers hooked and ready for the duology closer." - Booklist (starred review)

"So begins the adventure of a lifetime...This is a truly fantastic title, offering complicated heroes and villains, intriguing mysteries and backstories, and moments of genuine creepiness that will have readers gripping their seats. Reading this is like finding a pot of gold." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"Suspenseful and exceptional... Laced with horror and humor--including both the clever wordplay and the silly chaos often favored by children--the story perfectly balances the whiplash of a traditional high fantasy pirate adventure set in a terrifying world reshaped by adults." - Shelf Awareness (starred review)