The Wanderer

A Review/Teaser by Milo

The story begins with Sophie begging herself a place aboard a sailboat called The Wanderer, a boat with a motley five-man crew: Uncle Dock; Real Name: Jonah. Cause for Nickname: Sailor gave it to him because he always hung around the docks. Also, the Jonah in the Bible brought bad luck to his crew before being eaten by a whale and so it was not a good name for a sailor. Captain of The Wanderer, he is serious but also the only one besides Sophie who seems to be able to tolerate Cody’s constant jokes. Uncle Stew; Real Name: Stuart. Cause for Nickname: Unanimously given to him by everyone who has ever met him because he always stews over every little detail of everything. Brian’s father. Excellent at making lists but terrible at getting anyone to be happy about following them. Uncle Mo; Real Name: Moses. Cause for Nickname: Always got beat up at school because of his name. Started calling himself Mo because “it sounded more butch.” A excellent artist but terrible at being nice to his son, he always calls Cody a knuckle-headed doofus, but defends him when others insult him, then turns around and insults him again. Perhaps he doesn’t want anyone to think he’s a sissy so he covers up by being mean? Maybe he appreciates Cody more than he likes to show. Cousin Brian: A spitting image of his father, right down to the same jerky walk. Same list making ability as his dad, same problems getting people to listen to him. Cody says he’s very boring. Cousin Cody: Strong, muscular, and never serious. Cody has selective deafness and can never seem to hear his father. He does not seem to be able to get any sailing terms right in his head, but just as he is about to be yelled at, he let’s loose a flurry of sailing terms. He is very gentle, and much smarter than he first appears. * * * Several weeks of work, and they finally set sail for England, home of Bompie--Father of Dock, Mo, and Stew--whom they are visiting. They make several stops, proposed by Dock, before they truly set sail. Sophie learns that he is looking for something, something he wants to find very badly. But what is it? * Sophie tells Bompie’s stories, but Brian doesn’t believe that they are really Bompie’s stories. He then reveals a secret about Sophie, explaining that she isn’t entirely who the readers think she is… But if she isn’t… Then who is she? * When they are several weeks into the trip, miles away from help, a huge wave towers over the boat. It comes crashing down, ripping their sails and knocking out the GPS, radar, and several other important gadgets. They are in the middle of a violent storm with no sails and no way to find out where they are… Will they survive? * And if they all survive, and they finally make it to England, there will be a surprise waiting… Not necessarily a good one… But what is it? * * * * Are you confused? Got more questions? Don’t understand what‘s happening? * Read the book to find out!!!!