Stowaway - by Pam Withers (Paperback)

About the Book

Owen sneaks aboard a strange yacht for an adventure, only to find himself in the middle of a people-smuggling operation. Can he commandeer the boat and save himself and the others onboard?

Book Synopsis

2020 Red Maple Fiction Award -- Shortlisted - 2021 Chocolate Lily Award -- Winner
"The fast-paced and suspenseful plot will keep readers rooting for Owen, Arturo, and the others." --School Library Journal

Owen's plan to sail away on an adventure puts him on a collision course with some very dangerous people.

When Owen's parents leave him on his own for a week, the sixteen-year-old gets bored and hatches a crazy idea: sneak onto the yacht that's visiting the sleepy Pacific Coast island where he lives and stow away on an adventure! Once on board the vessel, Owen quickly finds this is anything but innocent fun. The ship is packed with teenagers from Central America, and it looks like Owen has stumbled into a people-smuggling operation.

Complications pile up and as things head from bad to worse, a haunting incident from Owen's past tightens its grip on him. There's only one way to break free and make his way home. Owen and the first mate, Arturo -- a former street kid -- must work together to commandeer the boat and win the trust of those on board. But who's friend and who's foe in the shifting tides?

Review Quotes

A simply riveting and original adventure ... Stowaway will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to both school and community library YA fiction collections.-- "Midwest Book Review"

An accomplished and riveting novel, beautifully written and researched by a writer secure in her craft.-- "Irene Watts, BC BookLook"

Not only socially and politically relevant, it is an action-packed page turner as well. Readers will be engaged with Owen and Arturo's stories from the get-go.-- "Susin Nielsen, author of Word Nerd, Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom, and more"

The book should be appealing to young readers who are interested in fast paced action and does manage to shed light on the dark world of illegal immigration.-- "Resource Links"

The fast-paced and suspenseful plot will keep readers rooting for Owen, Arturo, and the others.-- "School Library Journal"

About the Author

Pam Withers is an award-winning author of over a dozen teen adventure novels, including Tracker's Canyon and Andreo's Race, and two nonfiction books. Pam lives in Vancouver.