In early summer 2024, I was busy writing my pirate novel, and I remembered there is an incredible storm scene in The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. Since I was working on a storm scene of my own, I decided it would be beneficial to reread the book for storm scene ideas. Have you read it?
Thirteen year old Charlotte finds herself to be the only female passenger on a merchant ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The book follows her through her fears, uncertainties, friendships and adventures. There is a mutiny, a storm, and eventually, Charlotte is faced with a decision that could alter the course of her life forever.
True Confessions reads like a cross between a diary and a novel. Before her journey, Charlotte’s father instructed her to write everything down in her journal, and he would read it when she arrived safely home in Providence. He thoroughly disapproves of what she wrote, telling her she must have been making it all up. If I remember correctly, he burns her original journal so she has to write it all down again with a preface that states she is willing to swear that everything therein is true. Hence the name, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.
Avi is a master storyteller. He usually writes young adult fiction, so his stories are colorful and fun and they move at a fast pace so there is rarely a boring page. He covers many genres, but his historical fiction is my favorite. If you enjoy True Confessions, you may also like Crispin: Cross of Lead (a medieval mystery), Poppy (the tail of the mouse who saved the forest), Something Upstairs (a colonial ghost story), Night Journeys (another colonial adventure without ghosts), and Who was that Masked Man Anyway? (a WWII era coming-of-age tale). One of the great things about Avi is that he touches so many genres and types of stories that if you don’t like one of his books, you will probably like another.
Have you read any of Avi’s books? Leave me some suggestions in the comments.