Review

The Invaders: Brotherband Chronicles, Book 2

Common Sense Media says

Teen shipmates take on pirates in high-seas series sequel.
Age
10
Quality
 
  • Educational value2
    The same glossary of sailing terms from Book 1 appears at the very beginning of this book, showing how important it is for readers to know them in order to follow along. Readers can also learn about battle strategy.
  • Positive messages4
    Plenty of lessons in teamwork and leadership. Plus, Hal has to face that even with the best-laid plans, something can and will go wrong; it's better to adapt as you go than get caught up worrying.
  • Positive role models4
    Every mom will want to take home the boys on the Heron ship -- even the bickering twins. They look up to Hal as skirl (their word for captain) and inventor and are respectful to the older mentor, Thorn, as he trains them to be better fighters. Hal knows how to work with everyone's strengths and bring out the best in his team. He also becomes a competent battle strategist here, earning the respect of much more seasoned fighters. Stig, who used to have a big temper, keeps it in check all but one time. A tough girl character is introduced but not developed well yet. Of course she's also beautiful, which brings out some jealous feelings between Hal and Stig.
  • Violence3
    Pirates cause the worst violence, boarding a random ship, killing the crew, and torturing the captain for information before killing him. Zavac, the pirate captain, even instructs his crew to torture the other captain for five more minutes after he says he'll talk. The pirates also overtake a town, killing any townspeople in their way, including Lydia's grandfather; Lydia barely escapes. Two main characters almost freeze to death in the water before they're picked up. The climactic battle includes many pirates dying via swordplay, arrows, fire, and splinters from exploding wood. Most gore is omitted, except when a Heron shipmate gets an arrow in his side and it has to be removed and bandaged. There's one fist fight that ends quickly.
  • Sex1
    Some mild jealousy between boys competing for Lydia's attention.
  • Language1
    A misbehaving Heron shipmate is called an "ass" a few times. The other insults are pretty funny, invoking the names of Skandian gods, some of the best being "by Orlog's crossed eyes" and "Gorlog's breath."
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    Adults celebrate a victory with ale and whiskey. Some talk of Thorn's past as an alcoholic, but he's sober for the whole book.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that The Invaders is the second book in Brotherband Chronicles, the companion series to the popular Ranger's Apprentice series. There's more violence here than in Book 1, The Outcasts, because the seafaring teens are done with their official training and are facing real pirate enemies. But only two scenes stand out as being gory: one in which an unknown captain is tortured for information before being killed and another in which a more major character has an arrow removed from his side. Most other violence is battle-related and barely described. More central to the story are the growing skills and maturity of this underdog group of boys. Main character Hal continues to be a great model of leadership and ingenuity.

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