The Pirate’s Eye

Description

In this second book in the Stitch Head series, Stitch Head bravely ventures outside the walls of Castle Grotteskew and risks his almost-life to find his beloved creator, Mad Professor Erasmus–who has been kidnapped by pirates!

Stitch Head is left in charge of Castle Grotteskew after his creator, Mad Professor Erasmus, forgets all about him. But when Professor Erasmus is kidnapped by pirates, Stitch Head decides to take a chance and venture outside the castle walls, risking his almost-life to find the professor. Will he, the Creature, and Arabella—a sharp-tongued young girl from Grubbers Nubbin who has befriended Stitch Head—be able to find and rescue the mad professor? Black-and-white gothic-inspired illustrations throughout.

Welcome to Castle Grotteskew, where Mad Professor Erasmus makes creatures out of spare parts and then casts them aside, looking to make bigger and better. Stitch Head, his first creation, has a heart of gold and is always willing to show the other monsters the ropes—and bail them out of trouble! Join Stich Head and the other occupants of the castle in this exciting series, full of adventures of an almost-lifetime!Stitch Head embarks on a journey by sea.

The creations of Mad Professor Erasmus, Stitch Head, “a jigsaw of bits, pieces, and spare parts,” and the Creature spend their days in Castle Grotteskew attempting to subdue the professor’s monsters. When they and their friend Arabella, a pale-skinned girl from the nearby village, stumble upon the long-forgotten playroom where Stitch Head began his almost-life, they find the journal of Captain Flashpowder, who, on the book’s cover, has one icy-blue eye that resembles Stitch Head’s right eye. Could Stitch Head be “part pirate”? He and his friends are inspired to build a ship. After receiving an invitation to accept the Lifetime of Mad Professoring Award, Erasmus decides to leave the castle—forever. Though deeply hurt, Stitch Head realizes he, too, can leave, and the crew takes to the sea. While the book begins with a thrilling chase, the story pivots and slows as Stitch Head worries about his duty toward the professor and grapples with feelings of abandonment and inadequacy and a lack of direction. It is not until almost two-thirds in that the sense of excitement returns. The leisurely pace is saved by humor and short chapters that begin with entertaining excerpts from the journal of Captain Flashpowder as well as morbidly quaint black-and-white illustrations sprinkled throughout.

A little slow moving, but once the sails unfurl, readers are in for a silly adventure. (Fiction. 7-10)
–Kirkus ReviewsGuy Bass is an award-winning author who has written more than 30 books, including the series Dinkin Dings, Spynosaurs, and Skeleton Keys. He lives in London with his wife. Find out more at guybass.com | @GuyBassBooks

Pete Williamson is a self-taught artist and illustrator. He is best known for the award-winning The Raven Mysteries. He has illustrated more than 65 books written by authors including Francesca Simon, Steve Cole, Matt Haig, and Charles Dickens. He lives in Kent, England, with his family.
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