March 2026
I’m so excited to be back with Silver in her unusual life as a cruise ship kid! Her mum is the Cruise Director on a huge ship which means most of 10-year-old Silver’s life is spent on board – including ship school, meals and making friends. Many of her friends are members of the ship’s crew and ‘The Gang’, a group of lively regular passengers who are all age 80+. In book two, Silver’s mum has been given a promotion and moved to a much larger ship. There is so much to see, do and EAT! As they set off on a 15-night transatlantic voyage from Barbados to Southampton, Silver can’t wait to discover everything the ship has to offer and, hopefully, convince her mum she really needs a phone.
When a famous social media influencer boards the ship, everyone is excited (and slightly nervous about the reviews she’ll be making on her vlog). The most glamorous grown-up Silver has every seen, she can’t believe it when ‘Kindness Kay’ goes missing. This mystery is even more serious than the stolen jewellery on their last voyage! Silver teams up with The Gang to form ‘The Clotted Cream CIT (crime investigation team)’. Together they search for clues, list suspects and find evidence, all while trying out every restaurant on the ship.
Author Emma Swan and illustrator Katie Saunders have created a wonderfully interactive diary-style book that completely engages readers. With questions directed right at them and spaces to write their answers, readers will feel a part of the story. It’s up to them to work with Silver to discover clues and solve the mystery. Along the way, readers are challenged to think about the benefits and limitations of different types of technology, how being on a phone all the time isn’t always the best, and how some methods of communication are better than others. Underlying themes of developing confidence, using your voice and not being afraid to show others your true self are so empowering.
Silver is such a relatable child. Curious, adventurous and absolutely one-of-a-kind, she’s a book friend children will always remember. They’ll understand that she’s a clever girl with big ideas, even if adults don’t always listen to her, and that she doesn’t always feel confident. As Silver earnestly does her best and tries to help others, she grows into a more mature, responsible and trustworthy girl who is well-liked by everyone. What a wonderfully energetic role model for young readers!
A huge thank you to Usborne and NetGalley UK for this fantastic book!
You can read my review of book one, Cruise Ship Kid: Thief at Sea here:
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