The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle was one of those classy and educational young adult novels that somehow passed me by in my younger years. I’m sure there are plenty of other former reading geek girls out there who are thrilled, though, to know that they’re making a movie of the book, and Saoirsie Ronan of Atonement will star as the headstrong Charlotte.

The Hollywood Reporter has the details on the independent project, which Danny DeVito wrote and will direct. Now before you’re all “What?? Danny DeVito making a kid’s movie!”, remember, he also directed Matilda in 1996, which was an excellent adaptation of a super-dark Roald Dahl book. And DeVito says he’ll bring the darkness, of a sort, with Charlotte, which takes place largely on a boat: “I want edge, in terms of keeping you on the edge of your PG seat," he told the Reporter. "You always want to push to the limit, but I want people to know I’ll take care of the audience like I would my own children."

The story follows Charlotte, a teenager from England trying to make it to America on a passenger ship in the 1830’s. Pierce Brosnan will play a “ruthless captain,” while Morgan Freeman has a role as the friendly cook who helps Charlotte through her journey. That’s an impressive pair of co-stars, but given that Ronan acted circles around everyone in Atonement, it should be no challenge for the Irish actress. Even though the last movie based on a fictional girl from a book, Kit Kittredge, hasn’t done too well, Charlotte Doyle sounds like a girl’s adventure that could cross over and be popular with everyone.