The Accidental Stowaway - by Judith Eagle

Book Synopsis

In this rollicking transatlantic romp set in 1910, a plucky girl named Patch accidentally stows away on a glamorous steamship, finding herself in the midst of a mystery.

Twelve-year-old Patch hasn't found a real home yet, despite being passed like a package from one distant relative to the next. When she runs up the gangway of the massive steamship RMS Glorious, she isn't planning to hang around. But it's too late--the ship is setting sail! Patch has become an accidental stowaway. Luckily, she's fearless and resourceful and finds friends on board in both high and low places. But hiding from the stowaway-hunting chief steward becomes harder and harder. And to make matters worse, Patch's new friends urgently need her help: it turns out that some passengers are not what they seem, and there's a mystery that needs solving before they reach New York. Can Patch protect her friends and stop some dastardly criminals? And will she find a home at last, or will the excitement of life on the move keep calling her name? The elegant allure of Titanic-era steamships meets madcap escapades as our intrepid heroine finds adventure on every deck.

Review Quotes

The story has twists and turns galore, as convoluted as the ship's corridors and back stairs, along with dastardly villains and loving relationships. The highly detailed narration conveys the syntax, language, sights, and sounds of the era. Several charming and dramatic full-page illustrations perfectly capture the events and characters. A fascinating, imaginative adventure.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Eagle populates the steamship with quirky, memorable characters and creates a fascinating world in miniature as the girls scurry between decks and class divides. . . . Wonderfully scrappy and bighearted, Patch is a protagonist readers will cheer on.
--Booklist

[A]bustling historical tale. . .. The larger-than-life settingprovidesample opportunity for swashbuckling adventures whose stakes, while never too high, are always exciting.
--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Judith Eagle's career thus far has included stints as a stylist, fashion editor, and features writer. She now spends her mornings writing and her afternoons working in a secondary school library. She lives with her family and her cat, Stockwell, in south London. The Accidental Stowaway is her third novel.

Jo Rioux is the illustrator of The Secret Starling and The Pear Affair by Judith Eagle. She has illustrated young adult novels, chapter books, picture books, and graphic novels. She is the author-illustrator of Cat's Cradle: The Golden Twine and the illustrator of The Daughters of Ys by M. T. Anderson. Jo Rioux lives in Ottawa.