The Treasure of the Viking Ship

Gr 3–5—After discovering a Viking ship off the coast of Whale Island, The Thea Sisters, a group of five college girls (mice), devise a plan to raise money for its recovery. The sisters find an empty perfume bottle on the ship, believed to have belonged to Princess Asa and they recreate the perfume to sell at the Midwinter Fair. Things go awry when villainous Vissia de Vissen forms a plot to steal the secret perfume formula. This third title in the series offers a challenging vocabulary and a bit of historical accuracy, with its brief discussion of Harald, the last great Viking king, and comments on Viking trade with Persia. Multiple references to other "Thea Stilton" titles (Papercutz) ensure its success as a marketing tool; however, the story goes amiss with its hokey content and stereotypical characters. The "Geronimo Stilton" chapter books (Scholastic) offer a better reading experience with a large font and more age-appropriate dialogue. Still, fans will clamor for this graphic novel adventure.—Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA