Summary

Treasure Island meets Battlestar Galactica in Book 2 of the swashbuckling sci-fi adventure series SLJ called "space opera in the classic style" in a starred review, from New York Times bestselling author Jason Fry.

It's been a tough year for Tycho Hashoone and his family. Hostilities between the Jovian Union and Earth have reached a boiling point. The privateering business hasn't exactly been booming. And the ongoing contest for the captain's seat of the Shadow Comet has the three Hashoone siblings perpetually on edge. Then the Hashoones intercept a ship--one with a long-dead crew, its final mission a warning to all who seek their fortunes in space. The Hashoones don't have time for ill omens; they need a payday. Following clues from the mysterious ship, they embark on a hunt for the long-lost treasure of the Iris--a treasure that Tycho's own great-grandfather Johannes had a hand in hiding. But in his quest for the Iris cache, Tycho is going to dig up much more than he bargained for. Because like old pirate treasure, family secrets never stay buried for long.

Filled with action, intrigue, and one unforgettable family, The Jupiter Pirates: Curse of the Iris takes readers across the depths of space and brings the Jupiter Pirates saga to new heights.

Booklist Review

The Hashoone family's newest raid turns up a clue to a lost and possibly cursed pirate treasure. Tyco, Yana, and Carlo continue to compete for the captaincy of the Shadow Comet, as they puzzle out clues to the cache that lead to Jupiter's and Saturn's moons, plunging the siblings into their seedy underworlds. Amidst this quest, a political rebellion rears its head, and the Comet's crew must help in the fight. Maps, schematics, and a glossary of Spacer's Lexicon give the entry into the Jupiter Pirates series a tactile edge, while its intense battles and buzz of secrets keep the Hashoones' latest adventure going full throttle.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2015 Booklist

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-6-As space privateers operating under letters of marque from the Jovian Union, the Hashoone family makes their living stalking and seizing Earth vessels. With their last capture (Hunt for the Hydra, HarperCollins, 2014) still tied up in dirtside red tape, the clan is in desperate need of a good prize. Fourteen-year-old Tycho is on deck when the Shadow Comet crew encounters a drifting ore freighter. At first, the dead ship doesn't seem worth much, even as salvage, but then they discover that its captain was seeking the legendary Isis cache, a fabulous pirate treasure lost in space-and the logs indicate that he might have been on the right track. Although Grandpa Huff warns that the Isis hoard has spelled doom for many unlucky searchers, the Comet sets off to follow the clues left in the ghost freighter. There are other parties interested in the search-the remaining pirate heirs, the Jovian secret police, and even the Hashoone's old adversary from the Hydra affair, renegade captain Thoadbone Mox. The narrative is more thoughtful and introspective than in the first volume. Tycho and his two siblings are still competing for eventual succession to the captaincy, and often must balance individual ambition with their responsibilities to family and ship. New details about conflicts and issues from the clan's sometimes checkered past help clarify character relationships. There is also plenty of intrigue and rousing battle action. Familiarity with the first book is helpful but not essential. A good choice for middle grade science fiction fans.-Elaine E. Knight, formerly at Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.