Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra de Winter and Bram Broen

A tale of pirates mutiny and friendship on the high seas perfect for fans of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle Its 1663 and there is an extra passenger on board a Dutch merchant ship setting sail for the East Indies. Twelve-year-old Petra has stowed away to escape her abusive father. But she quickly realizes that surviving for months at sea will be impossible without help. So when Bram the half-Dutch / Half-Javanese son of the ships carpenter finds her hiding spot Petra convinces him to help her stay hidden . . .and help disguise her as a boy. If Petra is discovered and exposed as a girl she could be tossed overboard or worse . . . returned to her father. And if Bram is exposed for helping her he could lose the only homeand familyhe has. As tensions rise on the ship with pirates attacking deadly illness and even mutiny Petra and Bram face impossible decisions that test their friendship and threaten their dreams of freedom. Told in alternating voices and filled with secrets and intrigue this richly researched novel is historical fiction at its best.