3.5 stars. The relatively simple story is suitable for older grade school or younger teen readers, though a few 'mysterious' parts may be a bit too obvious for older teens. Twin siblings are orphaned and penniless after their lighthouse-keeper father's death, and rather than be carted off to the town orphanage or adopted by the odious banker, they run off to sea. Promptly shipwrecked, they are separated when each is rescued by a different ship: one by a pirate ship, the other by the dreaded vampirate ship their father used to sing to them about. The rest of the book is concerned with their quest to be reunited. Though the main story arc resolves, it feeds directly into a cliffhanger-ish ending hinting at the adventures and perils of next volume. May appeal to fans of Harry Potter or A Series of Unfortunate Events.