The Pirate's Eye

Gr 3–6—There are many successful components to this tale: an endearingly uncertain Frankenstein-like protagonist, two entertaining sidekicks, and a vicious but cute monkey-bat. Stitch Head, a creation of a mad professor, has an identity crisis when his master, Professor Erasmus, leaves Castle Grotteskew to pursue fame and fortune. His friends Arabella, a butt-kicking girl from town, and the Creature, a sweet but dumb monster, try to console him. Since Stitch Head comes to believe that he's part pirate, his friends conjure up a ship. They set off for adventure and discover that the Professor has been kidnapped and a rescue mission is in order. The excellent black-and-white illustrations in this easy-to-read chapter book manage to be both adorable and evocative. The fast-paced plot twists will keep readers guessing, and there's plenty of humor that caters to the intended age range. However, the characters are not very well realized. They have the potential to be interesting, but a lack of background information keeps this title from being memorable. Recommended for students looking for a light read.—Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City