South Sea Adventure facts for kids
First US edition cover
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| Author | Willard Price |
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| Language | English |
| Series | Willard Price's Adventure series |
| Genre | Young adult Adventure novel |
| Publisher | John Day (US) |
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Publication date
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1952 |
| Preceded by | Amazon Adventure |
| Followed by | Underwater Adventure |
South Sea Adventure is an exciting children's book written in 1952 by Willard Price. He was an American author born in Canada. This book is part of his popular "Adventure" series. It features the brave brothers, Hal and Roger Hunt. In this story, Hal and Roger go on a big trip to the South Pacific. Their mission is to find and capture animals for a zoo. The book also introduces a tricky villain named Merlin Kaggs.
Contents
Story of South Sea Adventure
In South Sea Adventure, the Hunt brothers face a huge challenge. They become stranded on a remote island. This is much like the famous story of Robinson Crusoe. However, Hal and Roger's island is very tough. It has little fresh water and not much food. The brothers must use all their smarts. They use their knowledge of science and animals to survive. They learn to find what they need in this difficult place.
Main Characters in the Adventure
This book features several important characters. Some are friends to Hal and Roger. Others are their enemies.
Allies of Hal and Roger
- Captain Ike: He is an older captain who fought in World War II. He commands the ship called Lively Lady. His wife usually travels with him. But she stayed home this time because the trip was too dangerous. At first, Captain Ike is a bit grumpy and suspicious. Over time, he becomes a good friend to Hal and Roger.
- Omo: He is Captain Ike's first mate. Omo and Hal become very close friends. Hal saved Omo's life, and they became "blood brothers." Later, Omo even took a bullet to protect Hal. This happened when they were stuck on the desert island.
Enemies They Face
- Merlin Kaggs: For most of the book, Merlin Kaggs is a mysterious character. You can feel his presence, but you don't see him. When he finally appears, he gets rid of his failed helper, Crab. Kaggs then tries to trick the boys. He pretends to be a Christian minister. Hal almost believes him at first. But he starts to get suspicious later on. When they reach the island, Kaggs tries to steal its valuable pearls. The boys manage to drive him away. Kaggs eventually goes crazy after drinking sea water out of desperation. He appears in other books in the series too.
- Crab: He is a spy working for Merlin Kaggs. Crab was placed on the Lively Lady ship. He is lazy and doesn't work hard. He fails to find the location of the boys' secret pearl island. Because of this, Kaggs leaves him behind and blames him for things. Hal eventually helps Crab get out of prison. But Crab quickly joins a new crew and leaves without even saying thank you.
Book's Impact and Recognition
South Sea Adventure is a well-loved book. In 2015, a famous newspaper called The Telegraph recognized its importance. They named South Sea Adventure as one of the "100 best children's books of all time." This shows how much people enjoy Willard Price's exciting stories.
