Review: Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff (Author, Illustrator)

Synopsis: Lovable ne'er-do-well Delilah Dirk is an adventurer for the 19th century. She has traveled to Japan, Indonesia, France, and even the New World. Using the skills she's picked up on the way, Delilah's adventures continue as she plots to rob a rich and corrupt Sultan in Constantinople. With the aid of her flying boat and her newfound friend, Selim, she evades the Sultan's guards, leaves angry pirates in the dust, and fights her way through the countryside. For Delilah, one adventure leads to the next in this thrilling and funny installment in her exciting life. (from the online description)

Review: With bright drawings, fun dialogue, and excellent action, Tony Cliff takes the reader on the mad-capped adventures of Miss Delilah Dirk. Set in the early 19th century, Miss Dirk travels through exotic cities among strange people – and often, steals their shit. It’s hilarious. In the first mad adventure, she meets Selim. Together, they travel far and help each other escape certain death.

This is a humorous adventure story, fast-paced, with lots of imagination. But this doesn’t mean it lacks depth or heart. It has both a plenty. Dirk is a fun, reckless, caring young woman, fearless and bold, whose troubles are often caused by her desire to help others. Selim is a timid man, just trying to survive, when Dirk cashes (literally) into his life and he finds something he didn’t know he needed. I was grateful their relationship stayed platonic.

This is suitable of elementary age kids and up. There is no sexual content and the violence is of the Saturday Morning Cartoon variety, with little or no blood or other graphic content.

This is the first in a series and I’m eager to join Ms. Dirk and Selim on more of their wild adventures!

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards:  A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of 2013 / A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013

ISBN: 978-1-59643-813-2
Year Published: 2013
Date Finished: 4-27-2017
Pages: 189