Reviews: (by author)

Fleischman, Sid. The Giant Rat of Sumatra or Pirates Galore. Illus. John Hendrix. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2005 (Re-issue). $15.99

Young Edmund Amos Peters is plucked from the sea by pirates when a storm sinks his whaling ship off the Philippines. Dubbed "Shipwreck" by the crew, he becomes cabin boy aboard The Giant Rat of Sumatra, an aging vessel commanded by the dashing young Californio, Captain Gallows. The year is 1846 and the captain is bound for the port of San Diego where he means to retire from piracy and settle down as the owner of a large rancho. Upon arrival, captain and crew learn that Mexico is embroiled in a war with the United States. Against this backdrop, Captain Gallows, who now prefers to be called Don Alejandro, leads his men ashore to take up the ranching life, seek his lost love, Candalaria, and take vengeance on the merciless hidalgo, Don Simplicio, who once enslaved them both. Shipwreck finds himself entrusted with the captain's pair of priceless emeralds, an unwanted and potentially deadly burden. The new rancho flourishes despite the unwelcome attentions of bandits led by Senorita Wildcat. As hostilities between Mexico and the United States escalate, Shipwreck wonders if he will have to choose between allegiance to his country and his growing friendship with Don Alejandro. Nested amid the colorful scenery of early southern California, Fleischman's dryly humorous portrayals of pirates and townsfolk are skillfully drawn, with action sequences that call to mind the comedic routines of vaudeville. Captain Gallows aka Don Alejandro is a cheerfully roguish hero whose devil-may-care manner masks a sensitive and impassioned heart. Shipwreck, the cabin boy, betrays an innate wisdom and sense of self that many a man twice his age would envy. The Giant Rat of Sumatra is a splendidly wry and exciting conclusion to Fleischman's trilogy about California at the time of the gold rush. Also included in the trilogy are By the Great Horned Spoon! and Bandit's Moon.

Mark Janssen, January 2006

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