What do you think?
Rate this book
A Pirate a Blockade Runne,r and a Cat
Thirteen-year-old Erik Burks’ life is falling apart. When he discovers a lace bra in the glove compartment of his dad’s car, his mom leaves his father and drags Erik from being king of the hill in Texas to the bottom of the pits in South Carolina. No Dad, no baseball, no friends, just Starry Knight (a girl who reads minds) and her equally weird brother, Stormy, the twins that live down the block.
Just when Erik thinks life can’t get any worse, while hanging out at the beach one evening, he and the twins notice lights radiating from the lighthouse. The only problem is the lighthouse was deactivated years ago. Stranger still, a ship materializes in the moonlit harbor. Curious, the twins and a reluctant Erik investigate and discover the ghost of a blockade runner, a phantom cat, and a pirate who prowls Charleston Harbor, all searching for rest.
A former nonbeliever in the existence of ghosts, Erik cannot deny the proof before him. And he has a revelation: The ghosts may be the answer to his desire to return home. Erik soon makes a deal with the ghosts. He’ll help them find what they’re looking for so their spirits can rest in peace. In return, the ghosts will scare Erik’s mother so she’ll be on the next flight back to Texas. Star thinks his plan stinks, but Erik wants his life back, even at the cost of his mother’s sanity.
Just when Erik thinks life can’t get any worse, while hanging out at the beach one evening, he and the twins notice lights radiating from the lighthouse. The only problem is the lighthouse was deactivated years ago. Stranger still, a ship materializes in the moonlit harbor. Curious, the twins and a reluctant Erik investigate and discover the ghost of a blockade runner, a phantom cat, and a pirate who prowls Charleston Harbor, all searching for rest.
A former nonbeliever in the existence of ghosts, Erik cannot deny the proof before him. And he has a revelation: The ghosts may be the answer to his desire to return home. Erik soon makes a deal with the ghosts. He’ll help them find what they’re looking for so their spirits can rest in peace. In return, the ghosts will scare Erik’s mother so she’ll be on the next flight back to Texas. Star thinks his plan stinks, but Erik wants his life back, even at the cost of his mother’s sanity.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2013
7 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Stowe McClure
19 books456 followersMost of the time you'll find Beverly in front of the computer, writing stories young voices whisper in her ear. Other times she's snapping pictures of wildlife, clouds, and flowers. She has fifteen books published for children and teens, some of them award winners, like the Children's Literary Classics, Sharp Writ Awards, and Next Generation Indie Awards, as well as others.
To relax she plays the piano. Her kitties don't appreciate good music and hide when she tickles the ivories.
Happy Reading. She hopes you enjoy her novels and picture books.
To relax she plays the piano. Her kitties don't appreciate good music and hide when she tickles the ivories.
Happy Reading. She hopes you enjoy her novels and picture books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 19, 2013
Just how bad can one kid’s life get? When 13-year-old Erik Burks discovers a black lace bra in the glove compartment of his dad’s car his life falls apart. Totally! His mom leaves his father and drags Erik from being king of the hill in Texas to the bottom of the pits in South Carolina. No Dad, no baseball, no friends, just Starry Knight (a girl who reads minds) and her equally weird brother, Stormy, the twins that live down the block.
Just when Erik thinks life can’t get any worse, while hanging out at the beach one evening, he and the twins notice lights radiating from an old, deactivated lighthouse. Stranger still, a ship materializes in the moonlit harbor. On closer inspection, the kids discover the ghost of a blockade runner, a phantom cat, and a pirate who prowls Charleston Harbor, all searching for rest. The ghosts may be the answer to his desire to return home. Erik wants his old life back and he wants answers from his dad. He makes a deal with the ghosts. He’ll help them find what they’re looking for so their spirits can rest in peace. In return, the ghosts will scare Erik’s mother so she’ll be on the next flight back to Texas.
What a great tween adventure. This book has everything for kids who like action, mystery, pirates, and ghosts. Author Beverly Stowe McClure very cleverly intersperses real piratical and nautical facts between her fictionalized account of the feud between (historical figures) Major Stede Bonnet and Edward Teach aka Blackbeard. Danger abounds when Erik and his friends board the pirate ghost ship and set sail on their quest to resolve the ghosts’ issues. Magic and mayhem keep the action going, without being too scary. I liked the author’s handling of Erik’s inner turmoil, his confusion over his father’s behavior, and his longing for his life and friends back in Texas. A subtle theme is how children deal with parental break-ups. The author creates a lovely character in Erik, which kids will relate to very well. Storm and Star were less well-developed, but no less entertaining. Very enjoyable. Recommended.
First reviewed for Readers’ Favorite
Just when Erik thinks life can’t get any worse, while hanging out at the beach one evening, he and the twins notice lights radiating from an old, deactivated lighthouse. Stranger still, a ship materializes in the moonlit harbor. On closer inspection, the kids discover the ghost of a blockade runner, a phantom cat, and a pirate who prowls Charleston Harbor, all searching for rest. The ghosts may be the answer to his desire to return home. Erik wants his old life back and he wants answers from his dad. He makes a deal with the ghosts. He’ll help them find what they’re looking for so their spirits can rest in peace. In return, the ghosts will scare Erik’s mother so she’ll be on the next flight back to Texas.
What a great tween adventure. This book has everything for kids who like action, mystery, pirates, and ghosts. Author Beverly Stowe McClure very cleverly intersperses real piratical and nautical facts between her fictionalized account of the feud between (historical figures) Major Stede Bonnet and Edward Teach aka Blackbeard. Danger abounds when Erik and his friends board the pirate ghost ship and set sail on their quest to resolve the ghosts’ issues. Magic and mayhem keep the action going, without being too scary. I liked the author’s handling of Erik’s inner turmoil, his confusion over his father’s behavior, and his longing for his life and friends back in Texas. A subtle theme is how children deal with parental break-ups. The author creates a lovely character in Erik, which kids will relate to very well. Storm and Star were less well-developed, but no less entertaining. Very enjoyable. Recommended.
First reviewed for Readers’ Favorite
June 25, 2013
Get ready to set sail with Erik Burks and his new friends, Starry and Stormy, (the twins) as they head out to sea on an unforgettable adventure.
Erik's parents have split up, and that's why Erik and his mom have gone to live with his aunt in South Carolina. This being the case, all Erik wants to do is go back to Texas and reunite with his crush, Diana, as well as his baseball buddies. When the twins talk him into venturing out in a canoe to check out some strange lights at a lighthouse, little does he know what is in store for him—strange phenomenon—like in ghosts, and not just human ghosts but a cat ghost to boot.
Beverly Stowe McClure has done a superb job in writing this action packed story. It involves entering a spooky lighthouse, encountering the paranormal, sailing on the sea in a dangerous storm, and much more. Mingled in between all of this are teens trying to relate to dead people from centuries ago, as well as Erik having to deal with his concerned mom, who has no idea that he and the twins are without parental supervision (other than the adult ghosts) on the turbulent sea.
Having a thirteen-year-old son myself, I am very familiar with this age, and all I can say is hats off to Ms. McClure for an awesome job on creating the teen characters and perfecting their age appropriate dialog—definitely current, up to date, and a lot of fun to read.
I recommend this book to tweens, teens and adults. It is definitely a nonstop page-turner.
Erik's parents have split up, and that's why Erik and his mom have gone to live with his aunt in South Carolina. This being the case, all Erik wants to do is go back to Texas and reunite with his crush, Diana, as well as his baseball buddies. When the twins talk him into venturing out in a canoe to check out some strange lights at a lighthouse, little does he know what is in store for him—strange phenomenon—like in ghosts, and not just human ghosts but a cat ghost to boot.
Beverly Stowe McClure has done a superb job in writing this action packed story. It involves entering a spooky lighthouse, encountering the paranormal, sailing on the sea in a dangerous storm, and much more. Mingled in between all of this are teens trying to relate to dead people from centuries ago, as well as Erik having to deal with his concerned mom, who has no idea that he and the twins are without parental supervision (other than the adult ghosts) on the turbulent sea.
Having a thirteen-year-old son myself, I am very familiar with this age, and all I can say is hats off to Ms. McClure for an awesome job on creating the teen characters and perfecting their age appropriate dialog—definitely current, up to date, and a lot of fun to read.
I recommend this book to tweens, teens and adults. It is definitely a nonstop page-turner.
October 27, 2013
What a wild sail!
I had to read the last two-thirds of the book in one setting for I just couldn’t put this exciting teen adventure down. I needed to find out how it all ends and if the young ghost hunters made it home okay.
Erik Burks’ life spirals out of control when his mom moves him to South Carolina because of his dad’s infidelity. Life just sucks for thirteen year-old Eric with no Dad, no baseball, and no friends. All he could think of is how fast he can get his mom back to Texas and his dad, when he meets the most unusual twins ever. Not only are their names weird: Starry and Stormy Knight, but Starry actually reads minds (a very annoying fact as Erik finds out) and her brother is pirate-obsessed. Against his will (for there are not ghosts), they take him on a wild ghost adventure that might even solve his problem of returning home to Texas.
‘A Pirate, a Blockade Runner, and a Cat’ has something of everything for teens that like action, mystery, pirates, and real ghosts. I love the fact how Beverly Stowe McClure has very cleverly inserted nautical and pirate facts in her story that at the same time reflect Eric’s inner chaos of his father’s betrayal and his longing for his old life while being presented with the most electrifying new life which even offers some of the comforts of the old, like baseball.
I wish we had such an exciting book when we learned about seafaring time in school!
I had to read the last two-thirds of the book in one setting for I just couldn’t put this exciting teen adventure down. I needed to find out how it all ends and if the young ghost hunters made it home okay.
Erik Burks’ life spirals out of control when his mom moves him to South Carolina because of his dad’s infidelity. Life just sucks for thirteen year-old Eric with no Dad, no baseball, and no friends. All he could think of is how fast he can get his mom back to Texas and his dad, when he meets the most unusual twins ever. Not only are their names weird: Starry and Stormy Knight, but Starry actually reads minds (a very annoying fact as Erik finds out) and her brother is pirate-obsessed. Against his will (for there are not ghosts), they take him on a wild ghost adventure that might even solve his problem of returning home to Texas.
‘A Pirate, a Blockade Runner, and a Cat’ has something of everything for teens that like action, mystery, pirates, and real ghosts. I love the fact how Beverly Stowe McClure has very cleverly inserted nautical and pirate facts in her story that at the same time reflect Eric’s inner chaos of his father’s betrayal and his longing for his old life while being presented with the most electrifying new life which even offers some of the comforts of the old, like baseball.
I wish we had such an exciting book when we learned about seafaring time in school!
April 6, 2013
Erik Burke’s life changes completely after he finds a black lace bra in the glove compartment of their car. His mother moves them out of Texas - away from his traitorous father, his friends and his beloved baseball - to South Carolina. After Erik meets the strange twins, Star and Stormy Night, his life changes even more. Soon he is off on a high seas adventure to solve the unresolved issues of three ghosts; a pirate, a blockade runner, and a cat. Erik’s motivation is to help the ghosts so that they will in turn help him get back to Texas by scaring his mom out of her wits and out of South Carolina!
I especially enjoyed the relationship between Erik and Star Night. It was just on the cusp of friendship and young love and it felt very genuine to me. With Erik’s entertaining inner monologue and the antics of Storm and Dixie the ghost cat, I think this book has a lot of boy appeal. And of course every good story offers girl appeal, too.
Recommend for those who like ghosts stories, pirates or stories about friendship.
I especially enjoyed the relationship between Erik and Star Night. It was just on the cusp of friendship and young love and it felt very genuine to me. With Erik’s entertaining inner monologue and the antics of Storm and Dixie the ghost cat, I think this book has a lot of boy appeal. And of course every good story offers girl appeal, too.
Recommend for those who like ghosts stories, pirates or stories about friendship.
March 18, 2013
In an effort to help Blackbeard’s ghost find peace, thirteen-year-old Erik Burks goes on a ghostly voyage on board a phantom ship with an annoying mind-reading girl. What I enjoyed most about Ms. McClure’s book was the interesting pirate history, which inspired me to want to learn more about them. Young readers love ghost stories and will enjoy this hauntingly good book.
September 12, 2017
I read this book several years ago. Here's what I remember. Erik is a young boy transplanted from Texas to the South Carolina coast - something he fails to fully appreciate. He desperately wants to return to his home and friends in Texas where baseball was his life. In South Carolina he meets new friends. They notice a light in the abandoned lighthouse nearby and feel compelled to investigate. Doing so they run into the paranormal - including the ghost a well-known pirate.
This novel is full of action and adventure while giving a sense of South Carolina coastal history. I know children, especially boys, will love it. There aren't enough books written for young tween-aged boys and this one fills a need. While it will especially entertain children in the region of the story, I'm sure others will take an interest as well.
Personally now, I have to admit I do not like pirates. They were despicable robbers and certainly not lovable creatures. I do not understand the popularity of Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Johnny Depp, notwithstanding. I came to my anti-pirate stance after reading two well-known pirate novels. First, the The Dark Frigate by Charles Hawes, which was the 1924 winner of the Newbery Medal. It was about a teenager kidnapped by pirates. The other book, which really opened my eyes to the true nature of pirates, was Cup of Gold: A Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History by John Steinbeck - his first novel, which he originally self-published. If you want to know about pirates, these two novels are graphic reminders of the grief they caused. However, they are not for tween-aged children that Beverly Stowe McClure wrote her pirate book for.
Even though I don't like pirates, I recognize that this novel has a certain appeal for children living on the East Coast in South Carolina, and other states or islands that may have been affected by pirates in the past. There's nothing wrong with a good history-based education, and local histories are especially helpful. I debated with myself whether to give this novel 4 or 5 stars, based on my personal dislike of pirates. I finally chose to give it five stars because it is creative and somewhat of a departure from other Beverly Stowe McClure novels I've read (mostly in the YA genre.) Also, I love that it explores a part of local history that enhances our understanding of what South Carolina is like for the people who live there.
This novel is full of action and adventure while giving a sense of South Carolina coastal history. I know children, especially boys, will love it. There aren't enough books written for young tween-aged boys and this one fills a need. While it will especially entertain children in the region of the story, I'm sure others will take an interest as well.
Personally now, I have to admit I do not like pirates. They were despicable robbers and certainly not lovable creatures. I do not understand the popularity of Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Johnny Depp, notwithstanding. I came to my anti-pirate stance after reading two well-known pirate novels. First, the The Dark Frigate by Charles Hawes, which was the 1924 winner of the Newbery Medal. It was about a teenager kidnapped by pirates. The other book, which really opened my eyes to the true nature of pirates, was Cup of Gold: A Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History by John Steinbeck - his first novel, which he originally self-published. If you want to know about pirates, these two novels are graphic reminders of the grief they caused. However, they are not for tween-aged children that Beverly Stowe McClure wrote her pirate book for.
Even though I don't like pirates, I recognize that this novel has a certain appeal for children living on the East Coast in South Carolina, and other states or islands that may have been affected by pirates in the past. There's nothing wrong with a good history-based education, and local histories are especially helpful. I debated with myself whether to give this novel 4 or 5 stars, based on my personal dislike of pirates. I finally chose to give it five stars because it is creative and somewhat of a departure from other Beverly Stowe McClure novels I've read (mostly in the YA genre.) Also, I love that it explores a part of local history that enhances our understanding of what South Carolina is like for the people who live there.
January 3, 2017
I love ghost stories...and I also love children's adventures in the style of Peter Pan. A Pirate, a Blockade Runner, and a Cat satisfies both of those loves, with a young boy and his friends discovering a ghost ship near an old lighthouse. Over the course of the story, this world provides a form of escape for the main character, who is going through a tough time at home. Kids will be able to relate well to this touching adventure.
November 7, 2013
Erik is sad that he is now living in South Carolina, He moved there with his mom when she found out his dad was not being faithful to her. He is miserable in South Carolina because he is away from everything he knows. Erik meets the twins Starry and Stormy Knight. Erik becomes friends with despite them being pretty weird and the fact that Starry can read minds, which really makes Erik uncomfortable.
Erik and the twins investigate an abandon lighthouse where they see a light coming from. In the lighthouse, Erik is stunned to find actual ghosts! The ghosts (a blockade runner, a pirate and a cat) are looking for something and can’t rest until they find it. Erik hatches a plan to help the ghosts in exchange for their help in getting him back to his home in Texas.
Opinion- First of all, what an AWESOME main character name (with the correct spelling)! ;) Besides having an awesome name (spelled correctly) I thought Erik was a great main character. He is a very believable 13-year-old and I really wanted him to get a solution to his problem. I love the unique plot of the book, that the kids help out some ghosts and in return the ghosts help Erik. That makes this book a very different kind of ghost story. I love the weirdness of the Knight twins and the fact that Starry can read minds. They are very likeable characters too. The book is a clean read, although it is mentioned that the mom finds a certain lacy undergarment in the glove box of Erik’s dad’s car (that happens before the story starts but is referenced in the book) and is why she took Erik and left. The cover of the book is pretty cool. It has a creepy but historical feel to it. The ending to the book was good and not what I expected, but it left me feeling good about the story.
*NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Erik and the twins investigate an abandon lighthouse where they see a light coming from. In the lighthouse, Erik is stunned to find actual ghosts! The ghosts (a blockade runner, a pirate and a cat) are looking for something and can’t rest until they find it. Erik hatches a plan to help the ghosts in exchange for their help in getting him back to his home in Texas.
Opinion- First of all, what an AWESOME main character name (with the correct spelling)! ;) Besides having an awesome name (spelled correctly) I thought Erik was a great main character. He is a very believable 13-year-old and I really wanted him to get a solution to his problem. I love the unique plot of the book, that the kids help out some ghosts and in return the ghosts help Erik. That makes this book a very different kind of ghost story. I love the weirdness of the Knight twins and the fact that Starry can read minds. They are very likeable characters too. The book is a clean read, although it is mentioned that the mom finds a certain lacy undergarment in the glove box of Erik’s dad’s car (that happens before the story starts but is referenced in the book) and is why she took Erik and left. The cover of the book is pretty cool. It has a creepy but historical feel to it. The ending to the book was good and not what I expected, but it left me feeling good about the story.
*NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2013
Talented in the areas of contemporary and historical fiction, I am always amazed by how diverse McClure's ideas are while staying true to her fan base. A Pirate, a Blockade Runner, and a Cat should be another big winner for her. Why? Because in a nutshell, no matter what she is writing, she knows what relates well to her readers.
In this story, Erik has been uprooted. Not only is he away from all his friends and baseball, he’s pretty ticked his dad hasn’t tried to contact him since the move. Not only that, Erik’s mom is trying to get him to befriend a couple of odd twins, when all he wants is to be reunited with his friends in Texas. Those emotions work their way into the unfolding stories of Major Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard, and the ghost residing in the deactivated Morris Island Lighthouse.
This paranormal middle grade/tween novel has a lot to offer. It's a perfect, not too spooky, ghost adventure that kids will enjoy.
In this story, Erik has been uprooted. Not only is he away from all his friends and baseball, he’s pretty ticked his dad hasn’t tried to contact him since the move. Not only that, Erik’s mom is trying to get him to befriend a couple of odd twins, when all he wants is to be reunited with his friends in Texas. Those emotions work their way into the unfolding stories of Major Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard, and the ghost residing in the deactivated Morris Island Lighthouse.
This paranormal middle grade/tween novel has a lot to offer. It's a perfect, not too spooky, ghost adventure that kids will enjoy.
June 9, 2014
I'm always eager to read about pirates, but when they're about real pirates of yore, I'm there. Following the adventures of Erik, Star and Storm as they try to help the sad and ghostly Bonnet and James was a fun experience. While the three kids are storm-tossed and lost at sea on a ship that sailed hundreds of years ago, we also know that Erik is searching for something he's lost--his home with his mom and dad living together.
The best part of the story for me was the history and how the author wove that information into the adventure. This is a good Tween book with enough mystery, excitement and action to keep a young reader engaged.
The best part of the story for me was the history and how the author wove that information into the adventure. This is a good Tween book with enough mystery, excitement and action to keep a young reader engaged.
September 25, 2014
If you have a child who loves pirates and ghosts, then this is the story for them. Well-written, Beverley Stowe McClure creates memorable characters, from Star who reads minds, to Storm her brother, and Ek AKA Erik, who loves adventure but hates having his mind read. Together they set out to put the ghosts that haunt the old lighthouse at rest, but not without a cost to themselves when they meet Mattie, the questionable clairvoyant who captures Star and holds her captive with the spirit of her grandmother. Ew, too fascinating! A great tween read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews