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A review by pamela22
The Night Ship by Jess Kidd
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
What a moving novel. The Batavia shipwreck and its aftermath have long interested me.
Kidd cleverly interweaves a contemporary storyline (1989) with that of the Batavia setting sail. Most of the historical setting is life on board the sailing ship with the last two hours covering the shipwreck and its aftermath.
Both tales have child protagonists as the focal points. And their tales have interconnections that steadily weave closer and closer, with deft touches of magical realism.
I appreciated how Kidd avoided melodrama, making the target more poignant and less sensational. Disturbing but not black.
Kidd cleverly interweaves a contemporary storyline (1989) with that of the Batavia setting sail. Most of the historical setting is life on board the sailing ship with the last two hours covering the shipwreck and its aftermath.
Both tales have child protagonists as the focal points. And their tales have interconnections that steadily weave closer and closer, with deft touches of magical realism.
I appreciated how Kidd avoided melodrama, making the target more poignant and less sensational. Disturbing but not black.