The premise of the book is great and the author really delivers. Great read. Highly recommended. .

Smart, Rollicking Fun

This is one of those books that needs two or three chapters to warm up and take off, so don't make a snap judgment.

We start with Mike, who's a 12 year old grump. It's the usual trope about a bookish, timid, whinger. Then we get his 8 year old sister, Dani, who's a hyper, undisciplined "handful", which is usually supposed to be funny/charming. Add on Captain Kevin, who's an oblivious full-of-himself showboat and bag of hot air. We're all going on an Amazon River tour boat cruise. Not necessarily very promising.

Well, guess what. Mike finds his spine and sterner stuff early on. Dani turns into a resourceful and reliable second banana, with a very dry sense of humor. Captain Kevin actually becomes a charming conman goof with a good heart and smartz. The plot turns ripping. And everyone gets very, very funny.

Consider a lunatic, psycho Indiana Jones, with a deadpan kid sidekick who has a slightly more deadpan sidekick of his own. Then power the whole thing with jokes, good puns, and wonderful, edgy and clever, banter. Everybody always describes funny kids books as "hilarious"; it may be the most overused description out there, after "cute". But, boy, this book actually deserves that tag.

I can like middle grade adventures that have over the top action, (for example, crashing a plane into a tour boat so the mashed up combo can then fly over the edge of a waterfall qualifies). But I think that stuff is funnest and funniest when the kid heroes take it all in stride, roll with the punches, and then shrug it off with a droll or wry throwaway line.

It helps immensely that all of the characters in the story step up in interest and appeal as the book progresses. Mike, of course, grows from nudnik to mensch. Dani gets a bit more stable, and Captain Kevin transforms from an egotistical buffoon into a likable egotistical buffoon.

So, this was an entertaining hoot. I suspect it will appeal to a wide range of readers since there's everything from zany action for youngsters to pretty sly wordplay for older readers. Anyway, I count as an older reader, and I liked it all.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

interesting read for children, my sister had a great time reading it. The cover is well designed as well.

Shipwreckers is such a wild, outrageous, funny adventure story for all ages. I was drawn to the book because of the title, which may well be the best book title I have ever seen. But I enjoyed it because of the story and characters.

The puns are ridiculous. The characters are so unique and enjoyable. It felt like a trip on Disney's Jungle Cruise with a little Indian Jones thrown into the mix. I really loved everything about it. I hope that Shipwreckers 2 and 3 are a real thing because I would love to keep adventuring with Captain Kevin and the gang.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and Disney Book Group in exchange for this review.

The bad puns are non-stop as are the many times that Captain Kevin does dangerous things that put his two unexpected young companions in harm’s way. Finding treasure is the goal of the reckless ship owner and young Dani is happy to find herself on board with the adventuring seaman. Dani’s older brother Mike would prefer to read about adventure than experience it, but now finds himself on an unwanted quest for temple treasure hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest. Many of my 4th and 5th grade students looking for absurd fun would love this one except for the fact that it goes on and on for more pages than they generally have time for. My readers who enjoy a lengthier tome might be rolling their eyes after a few too many screw ups by the somewhat annoying captain. There is a group in the middle of those two types of readers that will enjoy the constant explosions, attacks by bad guys and frequent bad jokes. Librarians, if your budget is generous, you will have readership for this one and should not have any worries about content, but if things are tight, then maybe find something more universal in appeal.

This book is a hilarious and perilous adventure, filled with action, goofy puns, and a nice helping of heart. When I read the author's bios and saw that they write for kids' TV, it all made so much sense--the book reads like an animated movie. It's full of larger-than-life characters who make you laugh out loud (Captain Kevin Adventureson is incredibly clueless and yet full of himself, but he still manages to be lovable at the same time) and the kind of hold-your-breath swashbuckling adventures that keep you turning the pages. I promise you will never get bored when you read this book. But it doesn't feature all that action at the expense of character development--I especially loved Mike's journey toward understanding that it's okay to take risks sometimes. He's always been cautious and overprotective of his little sister Dani, especially since she got hurt when he was supposed to be watching her (he was only eight at the time). Dani, on the other hand, is a little reckless--she's used to having her big brother around to watch out for her. Both of these kids learn lessons about life and family during their adventure. The emotional story is weaved into the action seamlessly, though, so you're always looking forward to what disaster will befall the group next (there are a lot of them!).

If you're a fan of humorous kids' adventure stories, you can't go wrong with this book!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Rockstar Book Tours and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

Shipwreckers is a fun adventure story that many young readers will like. The story was a bit slow but picked up and the characters felt lifeless yet engaging. I can picture fans of Captain Underpants and RIcky Ricotta liking this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Disney Book Group for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy.

Mike and his little sister Dani get more than they bargained for when they get separated from their parents during an Amazon cruise. Reluctantly putting their trust in Captain Kevin, the two siblings find themselves on a quest for treasure, running for their lives, and battling mummies in an ancient tomb. Add in some crazy puns, an exhilarating plane ride, and an undercover waitress, and you have yourself a recipe for fun!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

This book for ages 8-12 was a lot of fun to read. Captain Kevin Adventureson, the main shipwrecker in the title, is a likable character despite his terrible puns and the fact that he only looks out for number one, himself. Mike and Dani Gonzalez are on a vacation to Brazil with their parents when they go on a boat tour up the Amazon with none other than Captain Kevin. Mike is cautious, loves books and always carries them in his trusty messenger bag. Dani, his little sister is up for anything and wants to have adventures like her heroine from Mike’s books, Bermuda Betty. When Captain Kevin abandons his tour group and sets off in his boat the Roger Oberholtzer, he has no idea Mike and Dani are on the boat. Thus begins a lot of crazy adventures involving jewels, villains, ancient temples in the jungle, the Bermuda Triangle, and mummies. This story wasn’t a deep one, although all of the characters, even the self-involved Captain Kevin, showed growth but it was a page turner and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the amoral Captain, cautious older brother Mike, and crazy and brave little sister Dani. The ending sets the reader up for another adventure so I think we’ll see more of these three in future installments. A great, fun escape read!

From the silly title to the outrageous characters this book is definitely for the 10-13 year old group. I tried to read it through their lens. I know I have had 5th and 6th graders who would love this book. It's silly, fast paced, and fun. It's a little much for younger children, with some violence and loss of body parts, and a little too silly for older kids. The captain is larger than life, the situations are completely absurd. I would put this on my classroom bookshelf for older elementary students.