The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray by Christine Calella (review)

Reviewed by: The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray by Christine Calella Jessie Maimone Calella, Christine The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray. Page Street, 2024 [384p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781645678724 $18.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9-12 Ophelia shares both her name and face with her pirate queen mother, and the inhabitants of the penal colony Peu Jolie never let her forget it. After watching her mother hang for her crimes, Ophelia attempts to prove she's nothing like her seemingly villainous mother by joining the navy to help rid the sea of pirates. When her own name can't shake the reputation, Ophelia pretends to be her half-sister Betsy, journeying to a neighboring island where she goes unrecognized. After their shared father dies, anxious Betsy accidentally informs the navy of Ophelia's ruse and must go on her own adventure to save Ophelia from suffering the same fate as her mother. Told through the point of view of both sisters, this maritime adventure sees Betsy and Ophelia discovering who they are when they're not together, and how much more powerful they are when they work together. The story juxtaposes the two often, emphasizing their differences in both physical appearance and personality: Ophelia has dark hair and features and is quite rash, where Betsy is fair-haired and contemplative, and Ophelia's tendency to run into danger is tempered by Betsy's more thoughtful strategizing. While there are lulls in the story and some of the plot devices feel a bit too convenient at times, readers looking for high-seas action and teen girls defying their era's stereotypical gender roles will be in for a delight.