Shivers!: The Pirate Who’s Afraid of Everything

It’s hard to continue the fine family tradition of piracy when you’re afraid of absolutely everything, but Shivers makes the best of it. He has a pirate ship (on land), a loyal first mate (his goldfish), and many fine quests to his credit (confronting bugs, dust bunnies, and other threats). But when his family is captured, Shivers has to overcome his fears and go on a real adventure to save them. With the intrepid police chief’s daughter Margo by his side, he just might succeed… if he can manage to get out of bed.

Shivers!: The Pirate Who’s Afraid of Everything is immensely silly, but a fun time and a quick read. Like many reluctant heroes, Shivers is perpetually outshined by his companion Margo. (Heck, if not for Shivers’ constant goof-ups, the book would be a third the length and called The Exceedingly Competent Adventures of Margo!)

The art is a little disappointing, as it varies wildly from simple portraits enhancing the storytelling to borderline scribbles that feel like last-minute additions to take up space. Nonetheless, Shivers’ world is one I’d like to visit again, one where pirates roam freely and carrier pigeons are a primary mode of communication.