Billy Stuart and the Sea of a Thousand Dangers

Billy Stuart and his friends, the Zintrepids, continue their time-travelling adventures on a ship in the time of Ancient Greece. The young raccoon and his friends Foxy (the fox), Musky (the skunk), Yeti (the weasel), Shifty (the chameleon) and FrouFrou (the dog) are travelling with Captain Loslobos and his sister Timoree. When they encounter a fierce and unexpected storm, the crew struggles to keep the ship afloat. After the storm, the water turns very calm. “Our ship is practically immobile, even with the sails up.” (p. 24) Led by the villainous slave master, Ugobos, the crew rebels and tries to sacrifice the Zintrepids to the gods of the sea so that the winds will pick up once again.

They are saved at the last minute by the appearance of a UFO (an unidentified flying object) which turns out to be a large bird. The monstrous bird, called the roc, unsuccessfully bombs the ship with boulders. Then the ship is attacked by an octopus and later by a large group of treacherous sirens. They eventually land, only to be overwhelmed by a massive crowd of crabs ready to eat them, leaving their survival in question.

Billy Stuart and the Sea of a Thousand Dangers is the third book in the "Billy Stuart Adventures" by Alain M. Bergeron. Beginning in 1996, Bergeron collaborated with Quebecois artist Sampar to create the "Billy Stuart" series. In this offering, the brave young explorers travel on the treacherous seas trying to find land. Their story is reminiscent of the voyages of Odysseus with lots of mythological creatures attacking the voyagers. Readers will learn about life on the sea in Ancient Greece as well as the myth of the sirens.

As in earlier Billy Stuart adventures, Billy Stuart and the Sea of a Thousand Dangers is a combination of traditional and graphic novel formats. There are highlighted words in bright colours, as well as cartoon panels, as part of the narrative. Bergeron adds interesting elements in which he comments on the storyline or discusses scientific facts such as the relationship between thunder and lightning. There are also six intriguing puzzles to solve for readers which will test their reasoning skills.

Billy Stuart and the Sea of a Thousand Dangers is an intriguing adventure story filled with mythological figures, scary monsters, and exciting conflicts. The Zintrepids once again work as a team to conquer whatever obstacles they confront. These heroes will inspire young readers who could read this book independently or listen to it as a read-aloud. Their adventures could also lead to discussions on topics such as: time travel, ocean voyages, mythology, loyalty, and determination. Readers will eagerly await the next book in this series.