Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra De Winter and Bram Broen

Set in 1663, Yohalem’s seafaring adventure is saturated with action and historical detail. Twelve-year-old Petra De Winter escapes her abusive father in Amsterdam by stowing away on the Golden Lion, which is sailing for Batavia (now Jakarta) and carrying more than 300 passengers, as well as the Dutch East India Company’s payroll. Petra is quickly discovered by Bram Broen, the illegitimate half-Dutch, half-Javanese son of the ship’s carpenter, and he risks his future by hiding her in the hold, smuggling her food, and disguising her as a boy. Despite her privileged background, Petra is a hard worker, and she covertly completes Bram’s chores, impressing Captain De Ridder, who has the power to get Bram a certificate of legitimacy as a Dutch citizen. As the ship faces illness, pirates, mutiny, and other hazards, Yohalem (Escape Under the Forever Sky) explores the limited options for women and minorities through Bram and Petra’s first-person narratives. Vibrant descriptions and sometimes gruesome imagery make for an absorbing, informative read. An author’s note details Yohalem’s extensive research, as well as the nonfictional underpinnings of her story. Ages 10–up. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown. (May)