Blurb

For as long as she can remember, Pepper Stark has wanted one thing: to join her father, the Captain, aboard the magnificent RMSAquitaniaon a voyage to New York. She has never been allowed to set foot on her father’s ship – until now.

From the decadent food to the star-studded passenger list, travelling First Class on Aquitania is every bit as glamorous as Pepper had imagined. And most dazzling of all is American stage sensation Perdita West, wearing the world-famous Saffron Diamond around her neck. When the priceless jewel disappears mid-voyage, Pepper unexpectedly finds herself entangled in the crime.

With the Captain’s reputation at stake, Pepper and her new friends set out to solve the mystery. But finding a missing diamond isn’t so easy onAquitania, where everyone has something to hide …

The CBCA judges say...

This beautifully crafted historical novel powerfully transports readers back to a 1920s adventure via a group of young children. Each character is creatively brought to life and the author’s style and red herrings ensure that the reader remains glued to each page. The actions, interactions and the relationships developed within the narrative explore social class, gender roles, parent / child roles, mystery and deception. The opulent extravagance of the first class setting is consistent throughout and the reader is ushered through it seamlessly by the protagonist’s sense of wonder.

Teaching Notes for this book...

The publisher has generously made teaching notes available for this book.

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