The Night Ship

The Night Ship by Jess Kidd tells the story of two children who have both lost their mothers and are being sent away to live with a distant relative. Mayken's story is set in 1628 aboard the Batavia. She must face a long treacherous voyage which is full of danger, from the uncontrollable weather to the men living and working onboard the ship. Gil's story is set in 1989, he has been sent to live with his reclusive grandfather to a tiny fishing island. As he struggles with his grief and social isolation he finds comfort in a tortoise named Enkidu and a local story about a ghost child, Little May who haunts the island.

As the chapters alternate between the two children we hear of their harrowing experiences, their resilience and strength to survive. I loved the fact that the two stories intertwine at times, adding to my enjoyment and engagement of the novel.

I think I favoured Mayken's story slightly as I loved reading about her life at sea and all the grim details happening on board the ship. I found Gil's story more upsetting and could feel the rawness of his grief ooze from the pages.

There are some disturbing scenes in this novel and a lot of cutthroat behaviour. The Night Ship is a beautifully written, atmospheric, historical read based on the Batavia shipwreck of 1629.