THE ACCIDENTAL STOWAWAY, by Judith Eagle and Jo Rioux, Walker Books US, July 1, 2025, Hardcover, $18.99, Paperback, $8.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl unintentionally finds herself at the center of a mystery onboard a glamorous steamship in The Accidental Stowaway, by Judith Eagle.
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. —Synopsis provided by Walker Books
Set in 1910, The Accidental Stowaway is a delightful adventure. It’s full of quirky characters — many of whom are not who they say they are — and a magnificent steamship with grandiose fittings and mazes of corridors.
The central character, Patch, is a plucky young heroine who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. But, oh, what fun she is. She’s bright. She’s got street smarts. And she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.
Author Judith Eagle’s prose is full of detail and life. Her tone is welcoming and text accessible. She sets the stakes just high enough to be exciting while never overly dangerous. Add in Jo Rioux’s lively black-and-white illustrations, and you’ve got a recipe for success.
The Accidental Stowaway will appeal to a large cross-section of readers, especially those who love a good mystery.
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