• Age: 10 to 14
• Grade: 4

In the third volume of the Submarine Outlaw series, Alfred sets off in his submarine up the dark and wilful St. Lawrence River. With Hollie and Seaweed, his dog and seagull crew, Alfred follows the route of Jacques Cartier, nearly five hundred years before them, as they sail down the Strait of Belle Isle into the largest river mouth in the world. But the St. Lawrence is a treacherous river, concealing many dangers beneath its surface, not least of all the cursed and ghostly Empress of Ireland, a sunken ocean-liner that has claimed the lives of over a thousand people and that reaches up to entangle the sub as they pass. Alfred must sail to Montreal to confront the man who abandoned him at birth — his father. Only then will he escape the unfinished business that haunts him. But is the quest worth the danger? And why is Alfred plagued with bad luck? Is someone, or something, trying to turn him back?

Philip Roy continues to travel back and forth between Nova Scotia and Ontario, keeping residence in both places. For some half-dozen years now, he has been presenting orally a series of stories at local schools, fairs, and markets called “Happy the Pocket Mouse.” The first of the series, Mouse Tales, illustrated by Andrea Torrey Balsara, will be released by Ronsdale Press in spring 2014. This series of picture books complements Philip’s “Submarine Outlaw” series for young adults, which is now up to volume six. Recently he travelled to Australia to research the materials for the next book in the series, Eco Warrior, to appear in the fall of 2014. Travelling makes for great adventure, Philip contends. The only thing better is writing about it and visiting schools and libraries to share the stories with young readers. Visit Philip Roy’s website at www.philiproy.ca

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• Best Books for Kids and Teens selected

“Submarine Outlaw and its sequels have firmly established themselves as a riveting adventure series that has gathered a significant following who are anxiously awaiting this next installment. And they will not be disappointed! This personal quest and the internal struggles that it evokes for Alfred give this book a new dimension and allow his character to be more fully developed. . . . Roy continues to keep this series fresh and engaging. We will all join Alfred in anticipating his next voyage.” — Atlantic Books Today

“The age-old quest for the father gives depth to this exciting adventure story. Readers who discover the Submarine Outlaw in this book will want to read his earlier adventures and will eagerly await the next one. Highly recommended.” — CM Magazine

“Great books for reluctant readers. The language is clear and simple, the plot is full of exciting episodes—completely engaging.” — Kim Aippersbach

River Odyssey: The Submarine Outlaw Series

This is the third novel in the Submarine Outlaw series. Here Alfred takes a submarine excursion with his loyal shipmates, dog Hollie and seagull Seaweed. They leave from their safe cove in Newfoundland and travel up the unpredictable St Lawrence River in an effort to find his estranged father, believed to be working the shipyards in Montreal. After a treacherous journey involving ghosts and ancient shipwrecks, police chases and a near drowning, the battered Alfred finally reaches his destination and is rewarded by finding the treasure he had been seeking.

Submarine Outlaw earned Roy first prize in the Atlantic Writers Competition and ForeWord Review’s silver medal for Book of the Year. Journey to Atlantis, the second in the series, was shortlisted for the Hackmatack Award.

River Odyssey (Submarine Outlaw)

Alfred sets off in his homemade submarine up the dark and wilful St. Lawrence River on a quest he’s not sure he wants to take. Alfred must sail to Montreal to confront the man who abandoned him at birth — his father. Will his quest give him a better sense of who he is and where he came from? Book Three in the series.

An Odyssey of Growth

by Isabella

River Odyssey, book 3 in the Submarine Outlaw series, is another testament to Roy's gift for writing great books for kids and teens. What's most interesting about this book is just how much Alfred grows as a person. The story is a bit more "localized" in that Alfred spends a good deal of time in Montreal looking for his father, (who left him after he was born), but he learns so much about himself in the process that the story never really loses its momentum. My kids loved this novel as much as its predecessors. When you look at the series as a whole, Roy's writing simply improves with each and every book!

River Odyssey Reviews

by reviewposter

“Submarine Outlaw and its sequels have firmly established themselves as a riveting adventure series that has gathered a significant following who are anxiously awaiting this next installment. And they will not be disappointed! This personal quest and the internal struggles that it evokes for Alfred give this book a new dimension and allow his character to be more fully developed. . . . Roy continues to keep this series fresh and engaging. We will all join Alfred in anticipating his next voyage.”— Atlantic Books Today

“The age-old quest for the father gives depth to this exciting adventure story. Readers who discover the Submarine Outlaw in this book will want to read his earlier adventures and will eagerly await the next one. Highly recommended.”—CM Magazine

“Great books for reluctant readers. The language is clear and simple, the plot is full of exciting episodes–completely engaging.” –Kim Aippersbach

River Odyssey Review

by Olivia

I didn't think I would like this novel as much as the last two in the series, but it proved to be just as good as its predecessors. Al is really growing up, and I'm glad he took Sheba's advice. You can't go wrong with this series!