malamander the legends of eerie on sea thomas taylor

For example, the legend of Captain K demonstrates how the captain’s desire for the egg causes his entire crew to be lost to the malamander. The malamander’s egg is central to many of the characters’ motivations, and Taylor’s story touches on the harmful nature of greed that has lasting effects it can have on others. Herbie, while confident in some moments, is much quieter and cautious. Violet is a go-getter, who thinks quickly and is strong-willed. The balance between Herbie and Violet is engaging from their first meeting. She is new to the island, as is the audience, allowing readers to identify with Violet as they learn about the stories which the townspeople know well.

Herbie’s friendship with Violet also helps readers understand the mysteries of such a place. Herbie is a loveable narrator who provides much needed information about the culture of Eerie-on-Sea. By the end of the novel, readers will feel as if they were on the island themselves. The legends– and the people who tell them– are enthralling, and each person is essential to the story being told. It is home to ancient legends regarding the existence of sea monsters, which Herbie and Violet discover to be more fact than fiction.

From the very first chapter, it is clear Eerie-on-Sea is no ordinary island. Taylor wonderfully builds the world of Eerie-on-Sea. Herbie and Violet must consult the eclectic townspeople and watch their backs as they work to uncover the mysteries which are hidden in the mist of Eerie-on-Sea. The power of the egg draws a variety of characters into the fray, including a gruff man with a boat hook for a hand. The malamander only comes inland once a year to lay its wish-granting egg. The Parma mystery leads the duo to the malamander, a mythic creature that supposedly lives in the water surrounding Eerie-on-Sea. Herbie reluctantly takes the case, and the pair works together, discovering that one legend from the town’s past may have more to do with the Parmas’ disappearance than they could have imagined. Violet Parma puts Herbie in charge of helping her track down her missing parents, who became “lost” when she was an infant while staying at the Grand Nautilus. One day, a new kind of lost thing arrives, inspiring quite an eventful case for the young detective-of-sorts. His job now is to keep track of every lost item in the hotel and, when possible, find its home. After all, as an infant, he was a “lost thing.” Herbie was found and given a home in the town of Eerie-on-Sea, where he was eventually put in charge of the Lost-and-Foundery at the Grand Nautilus Hotel. Twelve-year-old Herbie Lemon has always been fond of lost things.

Malamander the legends of eerie on sea thomas taylor