When we last saw twelve-year-old Kitto in The Dagger Quick, he was afloat in the ocean with his stepmother Sarah and friend Van. All three hoped and prayed that Kitto’s Uncle William and stepbrother Duck would escape from Captain John Morris, a man bent on revenge. Now Kitto lies on a Caribbean Island recovering from a shark attack that resulted in Van’s amputating Kitto’s club foot. All seems lost, but Sarah’s optimism and the assistance of Ontoquas, an escaped Native American slave, keep hope alive.
Kitto’s heart is heavy with all he has learned about his past in recent weeks. He never knew that his father was a former pirate. He never even knew he had an uncle, let alone one who, with his father’s help, had hidden a store of treasure fit for a king on the very island where Kitto now finds himself. The key to his family’s mystery lies in his hands, however, for he possesses a dagger whose history will unlock even more dreadful secrets about his life.
Meanwhile Captain Morris and his employer Henry Morgan have enemies outside the Quick Family. Against Van’s advice, Kitto decides to throw in his luck with yet another group of pirates, led by the eccentric Exquemelin. “X” and his men soon learn that what Kitto lacks in physical agility, he more than makes up for in ingenuity. Together, Kitto and “X” lead their motley crew off the island, into unexpected danger.
Once again Kitto proves himself to be a true hero. The weight of responsibility and a deep sense of moral integrity motivate his actions. Facing adult challenges helps him to appreciate his father, confront his past and put the safety of family and friends ahead of his own. Brian Eames challenges readers with a fast-paced, intricate plot and complex characters. The inclusion of a prologue proves useful for those who read The Dagger Quick when it was released. Those who have not will thoroughly enjoy the first two books of The Dagger Chronicles.
Jennifer Minicus is a mother and teacher currently living in Ridgewood, NJ.
