A review by emileereadsbooks
Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant

adventurous hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

4.75

Thank you Netgalley and Norton Young Readers for the gifted book I read with the library audio.

This book is why I love middle grade so much. Each character has a terribly horrible backstory and the circumstances are grim, but hope is infused into every plot point. There is an orphan twice over, a rich young heiress with a horrible guardian, a love lost recluse, two charming dogs, a one eyed ship's captain, some kind nuns, and many more delightful characters that accompany this adventurous coming of age tale set just after WWI. The balance of hard truths and unbelievable coincidences is struck beautifully and Deryn Oliver's narration added even more texture to this wonderful tale.