It has been a very long time since I’ve read modern middle-grade fiction––probably since I was a middle-schooler myself. Which is why it’s very difficult to rate this book.

Because now, all I can see are the flaws. The obvious errors (commas and homophones in particular), the stilted dialogue and clunky description, the one-dimensional characters (literally, Cat’s only defining personality trait is Angst with a capital A) and stereotyped dialects/accents, the unsubtle awkwardness of slightly-Christian pirates and sort-of-pacifist-sort-of-militant monks, an Evil Pirate Villain, and an Even Eviler Villain (who, even back when I first read it, was clearly an 18th century copy of the Emperor from Star Wars). And for a book that clearly prioritizes tight plotting over character development, there were also a number of actions that made no sense and some aggravatingly loose plot threads.

(Whatever happened to Lady Fleur? And what was up with Thorne and the Merchant’s last treaty clause––not to mention the latter’s anticlimactic demise? It also would have been interesting to see more of the Merchant trying to turn Cat to the dark side, as it were, because there were some interesting mind games hinted at there, but since Cat is never actually tempted, it falls a bit flat. Also, does the Merchant have demonic powers? There’s a few hints of the supernatural, like the ship sailing without wind, and perhaps oblique references to demonic rituals, like the book Anne finds, but it never quite goes anywhere. Does Commodore Blake’s outlaw status just go away now that Batson’s packed King George off to Germany? And why, again, is Blake’s wife named Dolphin? And this is a small quibble, but for goodness’ sake, why did Batson set up this great little analogy of a chess game, going to the trouble for Captain Ross to comment on the player hiding their best move behind an apparently foolish risk, and then NOT go on to reincorporate that metaphor into any military strategy?)

And of course, while Batson grounds his book in a very specific historical moment and variety of geographical locations, let’s just say historical accuracy wasn’t much of a concern.

But. See. Here’s the catch. At twelve years old, none of this mattered. Because back then, I loved this book. It wasn’t my all-time favorite at that age (if I remember rightly, that title went to Little Women), but it does have one unique distinction. I read constantly back then, and used to reread books pretty often. I would frequently reread my favorite scenes after finishing a novel, but this is the only book I can ever remember reaching the end of, then turning immediately back to page one and reading the whole thing again. (Side note: I should have realized then that I had an obsession with nautical literature, but for some aggravating reason that took almost ten years to figure out). Also, points for aesthetic––this was the first chapter book I’d ever read with colored pages, and the grey-blue parchment effect, endpapers, chapter headings, and stylized fire dividers between sections are stellar. And to give it its due, there were undeniably some great moments, the writing does noticeably improve towards the end, and there were elements of the story that stuck with me, even after all these years. The style was also pretty cinematic, which I think could help engage more reluctant readers.

So have I simply become too much of a book snob? (I mean, I am, but that’s also slightly beside the point). The question is, am I wrong to judge this book for poor writing because I’m no longer the audience for which it was intended? Am I just out of touch with middle-grade fiction? Or is there better nautical fiction for young readers out there? Who knows.