The Danger Gang and the Pirates of Borneo!

by Stephen Bramucci, Arree Chung (Illustrator)

Overview

Ronald Zupan is a daring master adventurer! But he actually hasn't experienced any grand adventures . . . YET! When his world-traveling parents are kidnapped on his twelfth birthday, Ronald seizes the chance to prove himself with a dazzling, danger-defying rescue operation.

Teaming up with his trusty butler Jeeves, his quick-witted fencing nemesis Julianne Sato, and his pet cobra Carter, Ronald sets course for the jungle of Borneo where his parents were last sighted. If they can crash-land a plane and outrun a hungry snow leopard, surely they can find the secret lair of Zeetan Z, the world's most ruthless pirate! But as their adventure becomes more and more dangerous, can Ronald and his companions muster enough courage to see this adventure through?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781619636927
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	08/01/2017
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Stephen Bramucci is an award-winning travel writer and adventurer. He's rowed down the Mekong Delta, crossed the Australian outback in a car powered by French fry oil, and explored ancient pirate islands in Madagascar. A lifelong animal lover, Steve's encounters with endangered species often come up in his classroom presentations. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
@SteveBram

Arree Chung is the author and illustrator of Ninja! and Ninja! Attack of the Clan, as well as the illustrator of How to Pee: Potty Training for Boys/Girls. Prior to writing and illustrating picture books, Arree worked at Pixar. To pursue his passion, Arree enrolled at the Art Center College of Design where he learned to draw, paint, and think differently. He lives with his family in San Francisco, California.
www.arree.com
@arreechung

Editorial Reviews

"Readers everywhere will devour the hilarious, action-packed adventures of Ronald Zupan. In this dazzling debut, Steve Bramucci takes us on the ride of a lifetime. Warning: devilish traps and ferocious pirates ahead!" - Matt de la Peña, Newbery Award-winning author of LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET

"I've closed the book, but I'm still wearing my adventure hat. I want to be ready when Ronald Zupan and his friends set off on their next courageous journey." - Cassie Beasley, author of CIRCUS MIRANDUS

"A fast-paced, comic update of a classic swashbuckler!" - Mac Barnett, co-author of THE TERRIBLE TWO

"Adventure, suspense, humor and heart! I loved reading about Ronald and his brave friends, and I know you will, too! Watch out evildoers—you don’t stand a chance against the unflappable Ronald Zupan!" - Varian Johnson, author of THE GREAT GREENE HEIST and TO CATCH A CHEAT

From the Publisher

2017-04-17
When his adventure-loving parents disappear on an expedition to Borneo, an 11-year-old shut-in recruits a sidekick (actually "partner") and sets out to the rescue.A legend in his own mind, Ronald ostentatiously refers to himself as "Ronald Zupan" throughout. In his quest to find his missing parents (Argentine dad Francisco and white American mom Helen), the mixed-race lad sweeps up Carter, his defanged (but still prone to biting) pet cobra, a white British nanny/butler he insists on calling "Jeeves" (not his name), and fencing rival Julianne Sato, a "feisty" lass of Japanese descent, on the way to a crash-landing in the jungle. Encounters with poop-throwing orangutans and unsavory local residents ensue, along with diverse narrow squeaks aboveground and below, culminating in a brisk duel with a pirate captain on a slippery mountain of bat guano that brings the mission to a successful close. Most of these exploits, along with the corrective comments offered by "Jeeves" at each chapter's end and the superfluous appearance of a ship and other props from a certain series of pirate movies produced by "swarthy" superstar Josh Brigand come off as labored efforts to liven up the flaccid plot by cramming in as many yuks as possible. The boastful narrator, the artifact looters who are his parents, and the rest of the stereotyped cast fall as flat as the jokes. Map and finished spot illustrations not seen. Routine even with the swordplay and flying excrement. (Adventure. 10-12)

Kirkus Reviews