- Illustrated Chapter Books
- Ages 8–11
- Mystery
Cruise Ship Kid: Kidnap at Sea!
Book 2 of 2 in Cruise Ship KidView the full series
Silver is aboard a brand-new cruise ship, the Fabula, when a social-media influencer goes missing. It's the perfect chance to crack her second case — and prove to her mum she's ready for a phone of her own. Another funny, twisty mystery at sea.
- Best for8–11
- FormatIllustrated
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Funny
- Adventurous
- Warm
- Exciting
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
After her mum's promotion, budding detective Silver finds herself aboard a glamorous new cruise ship, the Fabula, ready for a fresh adventure on the high seas. When a popular social-media influencer known as Kindness Kay vanishes without trace, Silver spots the perfect opportunity: solve her second mystery, and prove to her mother that she is responsible enough to have a mobile phone of her own. But a gaggle of sharp-eyed elderly holidaymakers known as The Gang keep getting in her way, and the deeper Silver digs, the more tangled the case becomes. Emma Swan's second Cruise Ship Kid adventure serves up more comedy, more shipboard chaos and another satisfyingly twisty whodunnit, brought to life by Katie Saunders's bright, characterful illustrations. Warm, funny and fast-moving, it is ideal for newly confident readers who loved the first book and for anyone who enjoys a mystery with a heroine worth cheering for.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Best for readers aged 8-11 reading independently, especially newly confident and reluctant readers. Short chapters, humour and illustrations make it a fun shared read for younger children too; peril stays low throughout.
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- Best fit · 8–11
- Read aloud · 7–10
- Independent · 8–11
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Moderate
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- 8 to 11
- Mystery fans
- Reluctant readers
- Funny stories
Avoid if
No common reasons to avoid this one — a rare clean sweep on the sensitivity flags.
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Silver is back on a brand-new ship with a proper mystery: an influencer has vanished. The comedy of dodging The Gang of nosy holidaymakers while trying to crack the case is great fun, and Silver's campaign to earn her own phone gives her a goal every kid understands.
- Being a detective
- Adventure and freedom
- Trickery and cleverness
Why parents love it
A worthy follow-up: the same likeable heroine, brisk humour and Katie Saunders's engaging illustrations, plus a gently topical thread about phones and social media. Low peril and short chapters keep it accessible, making it an easy win for children building reading stamina.
- Quick to read
- Shared humour
In the series
Cruise Ship Kid.
2 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
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