5+Stars. Deadweather and Sunrise is one crazy series. There is adventure, mystery, murder, slavery, pirates—bad and sometimes not so bad—and page turning excitement. I love this story. Egg turns thirteen soon after the story begins, but the twelve-year-old Egg endures nothing but heart... more

5+Stars. Deadweather and Sunrise is one crazy series. There is adventure, mystery, murder, slavery, pirates—bad and sometimes not so bad—and page turning excitement. I love this story. Egg turns thirteen soon after the story begins, but the twelve-year-old Egg endures nothing but heartache living on Deadweather Island with a family that does not want him, all because he killed mom. The pirates are probably the best thing about this story. They are a ruthless bunch, always out for what they can get for themselves. Each of the three gangs are different and there is a hierarchy involved. The biggest surprise is the meanest, scariest, kill-first-and-ask-questions-later kind of pirate, Burn Healy. Each character in Deadweather and Sunrise is so well developed the reader can easily visualize them and see the places they go. The description of each background, minor players, and even the weather is visible to the reader’s mind’s eye. It was very hard to put this book down. “Just one more chapter, then I’ll go to bed,” was the thought that led to a very late night of reading Deadweather and Sunrise. In fact, that may be the only problem with this series—kids will not want to stop reading to eat dinner, do chores, or go to bed (more than usual, that is). //map The only physical illustrations are the maps inside the covers. Deadweather and Sunrise is Geoff Rodkey’s imaginative debut novel. His complete series will be a minimum of three books. If they are all as exciting, enthusiastic, and enthralling as Deadweather and Sunrise, The Chronicles of Egg will be a huge hit among kids and adults wise enough to understand many middle grade novels have great writing, interesting places, and three-dimensional characters worth reading about. The Chronicle of Egg, Book 1: Deadweather and Sunrise is one of those middle grade novels. The second book, New Lands, will be released May 3, 2013. Catch a review right HERE, next month. There will also be a giveaway associated with Book 2’s release. Deadweather and Sunrise is now available in paperback. (received from publisher) Originally reviewed at Kid Lit Reviews: http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2013/04/26/review-the-chronicle-of-egg-book-1-deadweather-and-sunrise-by-geoff-rodkey/