Captured on the High Seas is Book #14 in the Adventures in Odyssey Imagination Station series. When I received a free copy of this book from the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review, my kids were overjoyed. The older two in particular (ages 9 and 12) have long enjoyed this series.
I read the book aloud to all three of my kids, and when I stopped after reading through chapter nine one evening, my daughter took the book to her room and finished it herself. She simply couldn’t wait to find out how the story ended.
The plot takes place during the Revolutionary War, in which cousins Patrick and Beth find themselves on an American ship that is about to be taken hostage by the British. The book is full of suspenseful activity, and kept my kids eager to hear more. It addresses issues relating to slave trade, as well as moral questions on human rights and fighting for freedom.
In terms of criticisms, I was mildly disappointed that there wasn’t a more clear faith message within the pages. The story was clean and wholesome, but didn’t really have a direct message about the Christian faith.
Also, as a writer, I found most of the sentences to be overly concise and succinct. Having said this, however, the recommended reading level as noted on the back cover states that the book is intended for ages 7 and up, with a grade level recommendation of 2.3. My 7-year-old really enjoyed the story, but probably would’ve struggled to read it on his own. As a homeschooling mom, I would say that the book would be most enjoyed by kids ages 6-11, and easily read by children 8 and above.
Overall, I highly recommend the entire Imagination Station series as educational, wholesome and family-friendly reading material.
Another Christian book your children might enjoy:
Seekers of the Lost Boy, by Taryn Hayes
