The Ship of Stolen Words

Sam's habit of saying "sorry" without meaning it leads to unexpected consequences when goblins start stealing words from his vocabulary. His quest to regain his stolen words takes him into an underground world of word-trading goblins who harvest language from humans. Sam teams up with a goblin named Topher who needs help recovering something that was taken from him. Together they navigate the complex goblin marketplace and social hierarchy while trying to understand why certain words hold such value in this hidden economy. As Sam works to retrieve his words, he discovers deeper truths about the power of language and sincerity in human communication. The story explores themes of responsibility, the weight that words carry, and what it means to say what you truly mean.

Readers found this middle-grade novel uses unique worldbuilding to explore themes of communication and responsibility. Multiple reviews note it works well as both a fun adventure and a teaching tool about the importance of words and promises. Liked: - Creative premise about stolen words - Strong message about thinking before speaking - Engaging side characters, especially the goblins - Humor throughout the story - Appeals to reluctant readers Disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle - A few readers wanted more development of secondary characters - Several mentioned the concept might be complex for younger readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (50+ ratings) Kirkus: Starred Review One parent reviewer noted: "Perfect for kids who are just starting to understand that their words have real impact." Another mentioned: "The goblin market scenes were a highlight - detailed and imaginative without being scary."

Finders Keepers by Jessica Townsend A girl discovers a hidden hotel filled with magical creatures who steal and collect lost things from the human world.

The Last Shadow Warrior by Sam Subity A young warrior must reclaim stolen Viking words of power before they fall into the hands of ancient monsters.

The Lost Property Office by James R. Hannibal A London boy learns he comes from a family of trackers who find lost objects with special powers and must locate a missing artifact that could destroy the city.

The Collectors by Jacqueline West A boy discovers a secret society that collects wishes stolen from pennies in fountains and must decide whether to join their mission or stop them.

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi A girl journeys through a world where memories and stories can be stolen and traded to find her missing father and restore color to her life.

🔍 Before writing The Ship of Stolen Words, Fran Wilde worked as a sailing instructor and web programmer, bringing both nautical knowledge and technology expertise to her storytelling. 📚 The book explores the real linguistic phenomenon of "filler words" (like "um" and "sorry") and transforms it into a magical adventure about the power of language. 🗣️ The story's focus on stolen words was partially inspired by the author's experience with her daughter, who suddenly stopped saying "sorry" as a preteen. 🌟 Many of the goblin characters' names in the book are playful takes on technical computer terms, reflecting Wilde's background in technology. 🎨 The novel includes detailed illustrations by Cornelia Li, who used traditional Chinese painting techniques to create the book's whimsical goblin market scenes.