Linda Collison's STAR-CROSSED reminded me of a mixture of The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Illustrated American Classics) and a more mature The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (rpkg) (HarperClassics). Like Kit and Charlotte, sixteen-year-old Patricia Kelley is forced into a radically new life, but remains stubbornly determined to shape it to her will. Orphaned, illegitimate, and penniless, Patricia stows away on a British merchant ship bound for Barbados. She was born there and is certain her father left her his sugar plantation before he died. She is soon discovered by bosun's mate Brian Dalton. But instead of exposing her, Dalton gives her a set of sailor's clothes and helps keep her presence a secret. In the dead of night, he spirits her up onto the deck and teaches her how to climb the rigging and track their progress by the stars.

Their secret is soon revealed, however, and she is only allowed to stay in the capacity of assistant to the ship's doctor, Aeneas MacPherson. Patricia gets through her days learning how to set a bone and stitch a wound, but she longs for the clear nights when she can climb to the top of the crow's nest with Dalton. Upon reaching Barbados events do not unfold as Patricia hoped. With no choices available to a girl in her position, Patricia numbly accepts Aeneas' proposal of marriage and Dalton leaves immediately for a gunner's position aboard a naval ship. The second part of the novel follows her life with Aeneas, while the third depicts the unexpected chain of events that lead to her crossing paths again with Dalton, once again disguised as a boy, this time aboard a naval ship in the midst of war with Spain.

Like its lovely cover, everything about this book is strong and vivid. Patricia's first attempt climbing the rigging to dizzying heights, gruesome descriptions of patients suffering from yellow fever, fiery battle sieges at sea, and the few stolen moments when Patricia and Dalton are able to speak freely. All of these leave the reader breathless and feeling as though she were actually there with them, desperate to survive. The novel is meticulously researched and I loved the map, glossary, background information, and particularly the closing quote by Sappho. "I tell you, someone will remember us." I look forward to Patricia's further adventures as Ms. Collison has indicated it will be a trilogy.

Star-Crossed is an excellent and historically accurate seafaring novel. The story, told in first person, is the account of Patricia Kelley, a young girl who is orphaned, broke, and alone. She stows away upon a ship bound for Barbados where her father's plantation awaits her to claim, if only she can get there. Although Patricia is discovered as a female stowaway very early on in the novel, she continues to frequently dress as male for freedom and for self preservation. For those who like a little romance, Patricia develops a relationship with a Brian Dalton, a bosun's mate, but they are star-crossed lovers, as the title suggests. The story is very dark and gritty at times, Collison does not spare the disgusting details of ship life, and Patricia's experiences are not sugar coated and sweet, but this only enhances the novel. Fans of Patrick O'Brien, Avi's: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and L. A. Meyer's Bloody Jack series will enjoy immensely.

Abandoned and penniless, Patricia Kelley, once a gentleman's daughter, stows away on a ship headed for the West Indies, and Barbados, the island of her birth, in hopes of reclaiming her father's estate after his death. It's not long before she is discovered, and she is torn between the simple life and love of a commoner, and the station that which she was born into. But will she really have any choice in the matter, or does Patricia dare to forge her own way into this new world?

The book contains three parts, the first of which is slightly hard to read into. Collison's writing is wrought with many, many details, but rather than bog the plot down, it does a commendable job in building suspense throughout the story. Once readers get past part one and into the heart of the novel, they will find themselves falling for the characters. This is perhaps one of the most realistic tales considering the traditions and customs of the era, but rather than turn off the reader, they will find themselves completely absorbed in Patricia's quest for fulfillment in this unflinching and poignant tale.

You don't just feel you are in the adventure, you learn as you read. I love that the class, race, and gender all play a part in this tale. The cover is a stunner, I want to frame mine, and the story rings true. My only complaint is that I feel the main character really should have had a better grasp of her situation earlier on in the book, but I suppose if she had nothing to learn the story would have been less. I would buy the sequel.

If you have a daughter who likes to read books from the POV of a strong and gutsy heroine, this book would be a good choice. Patricia grows from naive young girl to practical ships surgeon over the course of the story. This book is better written than another YA pirate book called "To Catch a Pirate". If you or your daughter enjoyed this story and setting, another good girl pirate story would be "Pirates!" by Celia Rees.