Sea of the Dead »

Julia Durango resides in Ottawa, Illinois, where she wrote a weekly book review column for children. She is the mother of two sons and is the author of Dream Hop, her first picture books with Simon and Schuster, illustrated by Jared Leeher as well as Pest Fest, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus. Her first novel The Walls of Cartagena was published in fall 2008 and was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Her second novel, Sea of the Dead was published in Summer 2009. She is a contributor the Three Silly Chicks blog and lives in Ottawa, Illinois.

AS THE SON of the Warrior Prince, Kehl has always known certain things about the world. First and foremost is the certainty that the Teshic Empire is its center, and that everything — and everyone — beyond the empire's borders has been created ultimately to be brought under Teshic dominion. Furthermore, because Kehl is being trained to follow in his father's warrior footsteps, he is all too aware of the expectations placed upon him to never show weakness or fear, to instead show an unwavering loyalty to the Teshic Empire and its often severe beliefs and demands.

But when Kehl is abducted by a seafaring band of rebels and taken beyond the borders to the enigmatic Sea of the Dead, a whole new world begins to open up before him. A new world filled with challenging beliefs and dangerous ideas. A world where Kehl's future — as well as his past — may be linked to the renegade crew of a ship named Carillon's Revenge and the Fallen King who captains her.

Children's Literature

As the fifth son of Prince Amatec, Kehl has known only a small world. He has been fully instructed in the warrior ways and in being obedient to the sun god Teshic, and he has learned that everything beyond the Lands of the Empire is barbaric wilderness or the Sea from which no one ever returns. Then, Kehl is kidnapped by the Fallen King. Finding himself on a ship in the Sea of Carillon, Kelh is forced to rethink the world as he knows it. The brutality he has ascribed to outsiders may be closer to home than he realizes. This fast-paced adventure story draws the reader quickly into a world loosely based on a Central America, although with an alternate history. The characters are fully developed, and Kehl is likable and relatable. In the midst of such rich characters, his father seemed flat, but the lack of depth worked well with the prince's position in society. Readers will appreciate the action, the personalities, and the insight into a world foreign, yet familiar. Reviewer: Jennifer Lehmann