The Night Ship

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The narrative alternates between Mayken and Gil with chapters switching between the two. This structure works particularly well, especially towards the ending as both characters are facing life threatening dilemmas. Kidd shortens the chapters, which gives the impression of speed and ratchets up the tension, as both characters approach a climactic ending. Storytelling is woven into The Night Ship in various ways, including through folklore and family histories. What do you think the author is trying to achieve with these layers of storytelling? Both children are nine when their mothers die. Other than that and a relic that once belonged to Mayken that is found and treasured by Gil, there's not a lot that connects them. I kept waiting for some amazing connection, some revelation, but it never came. Imke erupts with a rich fat giggle that runs to a generous laugh that Pelgrom heartily joins in with. Finally, Imke’s laughter subsides into the dabbing of tears and a look of gratitude. Mayken closes her eyes and listens, to the billow of canvas and the rasp of rope and the plash of water on the hull. The ship creaks, heeling as her massive sails fill with wind. And beyond this, the ship’s own song in the accent of the forest she is made from – a whole forest of trees! In the ship’s song is the memory of branches and leaves tasting the wind. The heartbeat of the slow-growing oak, the rushing pine.

He makes a glugging sound and a motion with his hand: a ship sinking. The cherub pouts and his sister rolls her eyes. Mirroring Mayken’s life on the Batavia in many ways is that of another nine year old, Gil in 1989. Both children have recently lost their mothers and while Mayken is being taken by her nursemaid to her father in the East Indies, Gil is sent to live with his grandfather, a cray fisherman on the Abrohlos. Both are unusual children with active imaginations and have imaginary monsters lurking nearby. In Gil’s case it is the Bunyip, luring children into its waterhole and in Mayken’s case it is the Bullebak who she believes lives in the bottom of the ship. However, neither is yet aware that there are real monsters even closer who mean them real harm. This is not a happy story. It’s brutal truth as to the tragedies that took place. But the young characters are so brave. Each facing their own realities of death.

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Dutch shines his torch to illuminate their burrows. He talks about the stars and points out constellations. Gil pays no attention. He would rather the stars stayed wild and not become something else he has to know about.” No. I’ll still need to be Mayken. And there are no hidden gems.” Pelgrom feels along the hem of her dress, then stops, raises an eyebrow, and bites at the stitching. Mayken grabs at the dress but Mayken, woken by the change in the ship’s movement, slips out of her bunk. She peers at her nursemaid. The old woman sleeps on, mouth open, breath evil, cap crooked. I think it might have been a case of "it's not you, it's me".... because it is an engaging story and it's well written. I seem to be in a bit of that dreaded reading slump and finding it almost impossible to concentrate. I think I've just read too many novels in a row and I need some nonfiction. How would you characterize the tone of the story? How does the language contribute to the tone? What else contributes to it?

Gil’s story was difficult for me to listen to. I ached for the poor boy, who’s troubles follow him. Being eccentric is not easy. Mayken’s story was fun to listen to until the ship met its demise. The fun turns to a suspenseful read. Mayken has a father she’s never met. Her father is a merchant who lives in a distant land where the midday sun is fierce enough to melt a Dutch child.We follow Mayken’s adventures on this months-long journey across the world. But we know from the beginning that the ship will not complete its trip. Gil is also nine and he has also recently lost his mother. The year is 1989 and he is living on a small island off the coast of Western Australia with his fisherman Grandfather. His story is horribly sad and I cried all the way through one chapter involving a tortoise. You have to read it to understand! Course you will.” Pelgrom pulls a cap onto her head and surveys her with satisfaction. “My, you are exactly a cabin boy! You must have a name.” She will keep us safe, though there’ll be storms and shipworms outside and in. To the ‘Batavia’ we must cling.’”

Jess Kidd

Mayken applies her ear to the hole in a corner of the ceiling. This hole is for eavesdropping on conversation from the neighboring cabin. Mayken listens hard. Nothing is happening. Because Imke looks as if she might cry and Mayken loves her, she reaches out her hand and strokes the tops of the old woman’s missing fingers.

How does Kidd mirror Mayken and Gil’s separate journeys in chapters 1 and 2? As the story progresses, do you find Gil’s outsider identity important to the novel? How does his ‘otherness’ reflect Mayken’s experience? Watch yourself,” warns Pelgrom. “Aft-the-mast you’re protected. The rest of the ship has different rules. Don’t expect people to treat you nicely. You’re not fine anymore.”

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A: I hope that readers will feel that I’ve brought the story alive and created an immersive world for them. This is what I love to get from a book when I read. I’m also hoping that they will go on to discover the Batavia’s incredible story for themselves, as there are so many fascinating resources out there. The Batavia heads out to meet the stormy Noord Zee with her cargo of wealth and wharf rats and souls.