Star Crossed, by Linda Collison

Star Crossed, by Linda Collison
Young Adult, 2008

from the author's website:

Patricia Kelley has been raised a proper British lady--but she's become a stowaway. Her father is dead, and her future in peril. To claim the estate that is rightfully hers, she must travel across the seas to Barbados, hidden in the belly of merchant ship.

It is a daring escapade, and the plan works--for a time. But before she knows it, Patricia's secret is revealed, and she is torn between two worlds. During the day, she wears petticoats, inhabits the dignified realm of ship's officers, and trains as a surgeon's mate with the gentle Aeneas MacPherson; at night she dons pants and climbs the rigging in the rough company of sailors. And it is there, alongside boson's mate Brian Dalton, that she feels stunningly alive.

I checked out this book because it sounded intriguing, and truthfully, fit the bill for 'my kind of book'. An adventurous runaway who comes into her own and of course finds romance in unexpected ways? Sign me up!

Patricia is such an interesting character. On one hand you just hate her - she's shallow, immature, selfish, and I almost put the book down on multiple occasions. However, this is one of those rare books where you can actually see the heroine grow up. Did it take awhile? Oh yes, in fact I'd say it took too long - it was nearly the end before you decided maybe you liked her. But it was an interesting journey; one where she learned so very much. The other characters were a bit underplayed, and I would have liked to have gotten to know them better. The ending was so very open, driving me a bit nuts - I mean, sure, things ended the way you wanted them to, but...you leave wondering if maybe they just didn't.

There are a few adult situations, so I would recommend this only for older teens on up.

Graded a B-.