CRUISE SHIP KID by Emma Swan
Pamela Butchart meets Tom Gates on the high seas—with a diary, doodles, and a mystery to solve!
The cover had me instantly - I’m a sucker for books that break the fourth wall, and anything that promises interactivity and adventure. Plus, the idea of growing up on a cruise ship? That’s pure kid wish-fulfillment gold. I went in expecting hijinks, chaos, and hopefully a crime or two that wouldn’t actually alarm the coast guard.
As I thought...
Silver is a total delight! The voice is strong, funny, and feels so authentically kid - snarky one minute, sincere the next. The diary format makes it feel like Silver is whispering secrets to the reader, and the doodles and quizzes scattered throughout make it irresistibly engaging.
It surprised me by...
Just how cleverly the mystery was constructed! It’s silly on the surface, but there are real clues, red herrings, and deductions tucked in among the jokes and cruise ship trivia. I also loved the way the book subtly tackles themes like loneliness and the awkwardness of trying to make friends when you’re the “weird kid.”
🎵 Featured Song: “We’re Going to Be Friends” – The White Stripes
(For that sweet undercurrent of connection beneath all the chaos.)
🎶 Vibe Album: A Little Bit of Everything for Kids by They Might Be Giants
(Quirky, clever, and constantly changing course - just like Silver.)
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Parry Gripp (silly, high-energy, kid-brain chaos in music form)
Colour Palette: Aqua blue, cruise-ship white, and doodle black
Soundtrack: A mix of steel drums and mystery-solving montages
Season: Summer, obviously - school’s out, ocean’s in
Mood: Mischievous but hopeful
Scent: Saltwater, sunscreen, and a hint of buffet pizza
Kid’s Tarot, Page of Swords
Silver leaps into sleuthing with the same unfiltered gusto as the Page of Swords - bold, inquisitive, and slightly chaotic in the best way. In this deck, a young girl brandishes her sword mid-leap, echoing Silver’s eagerness to prove herself (despite the whole definitely-not-a-detective thing). It’s the perfect match for a book that invites readers to dive in, scribble notes, and solve a mystery at sea with gusto and glitter pens.
📚 Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
📺 The Worst Witch meets Scooby-Doo (if Scooby had been retired and playing shuffleboard)
