Pirates! : the true and remarkable adventures of Minerva Sharpe and Nancy Kington, female pirates

Title: Pirates! : the true and remarkable adventures of Minerva Sharpe and Nancy Kington, female pirates
Author: Celia Rees 
Publisher: 2003 
Year of Publication: 2003

About the book:
When Nancy Kington is forced into an arranged marriage to better her family’s ruined fortune, Nancy flees taking along with her Minerva, a slave she befriends, and together they join a crew of a pirate ship. Donning men’s clothing, Nancy and Minerva survive storms, battle, and mutinies, all while being constantly pursued by the groom she sought to escape.

The novel is fast-paced and engrossing, with Rees giving a strong feel for the 18th century the novel is set in, without being overly detailed. The main character Nancy is an engaging heroine with a voice that is appropriate for the time period.
While some of the details may be a bit dark for younger readers (such as the descriptions of violence on the plantation and aboard the ship), this novel is perfect for those who like a swashbuckling adventure that doesn’t shy away from the brutality and horror of the time period.

To Catch a Pirate

Title: To Catch a Pirate
Author: Jade Parker
Publisher: Scholastic
Year of Publication: 2007

About the book:
When her mother dies, 16-year-old Annalisa Townsend sets sail for the Caribbean where her father governs the small island of Mourning. On the way there, her ship is set upon by pirates who are after her father's treasure.
One of the pirate crew, James Sterling discovers Annalisa hiding in the hold of the ship. Begging him not to take her necklace (the only thing left of her mother), he accepts but only in exchange for a kiss.
One year later, Annalisa has her own ship and sails in search of James Sterling and the pirate crew that stole her father's treasure.
When Annalisa finally catches him, she remembers the kiss they shared the fateful night and finds herself falling for the pirate.

This book is perfect for those who like a bit more romance with their adventure. Annalisa and James have great chemistry, with Annalisa's strong-minded stubborness and James' cocky arrogance making their interactions reminiscent of Elizabeth Swan and Jack Sparrow in the Pirate of the Caribbean movies. Parker also mixes it up a bit by throwing in Nathaniel Northrup, the straight man to James' pirate who is also sweet on Annalisa.
Full of danger and adventure, and romance on the high seas, this book will satisfy anyone's pirate craving.

Piratica : being a daring tale of a singular girl’s adventure upon the high seas

Title: Piratica : being a daring tale of a singular girls adventure upon the high seas
Author: Tanith Lee
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Year of Publication: 2004

About the book:
16-year-old Artemesia Fitz-Willoughby (or Art, for short) has spent the last 6 years of her life stuck in the Angels Academy for Young Maidens. She remembers nothing of her previous life before Angels Academy until she takes a tumble down some stairs...
After hitting her head on a bannister, her mind begins to fill with the memory of her previous life, one full of pirates and swordfights and cannons, and her mother, a famous pirate, and Art escapes the school in search for adventure!
When it's revealed that the life she remembers was merely a stage play, that her mother and her crew were an acting troupe, Art remains undaunted and convinces them to join her and become real pirates!
While some of the plot elements can be a little far-fetched, Piratica is a fun read. Filled with derring-do and swashbuckling adventure, and a strong-minded female at the helm, this book is great for those who like an adventure that doesn't take itself too seriously. Piratica: being a daring tale of a singular girls adventure upon the high seas is the first of the Piratica series, which spans three books.

Steel

Title: Steel
Author: Carrie Vaugh
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year of Publication: 2011

About the book:
Jill is vacationing in the Caribbean with her family after losing the qualifying round for the Junior World Fencing Championships. Walking along the beach, she finds the rusty tip of a very old sword in the sand, which magically transports her into the past and onto the pirate ship Diana.
Stuck in the past, Jill has no choice but to join the crew. She earns her sea legs and she befriends a young pirate, Henry who teaches her how to fight with real swords.

Jill is a strong protagonist once she has found her feet on the Diana (she begins as a moody teenager, whose sulking could probably get a bit old for some), rising to the occasion as she tries to find her way back home.

Vaughn’s Steel is an action-packed adventure, with a richly detailed plot that vividly paints the eighteenth century that Jill has been transported to. Vaughn also introduces the readers to the sport of fencing in the historical context, and has also included a glossary of fencing terms.

Polly and the Pirates

 

Title: Polly and the Pirates
Author: Ted Naifeh
Publisher: Oni Press
Year of Publication: 2006



About the book:
Polly Pringle, stuck in a prim and proper finishing school, yearns for adventure and romance, much like in the tales she grew up with about Meg Malloy, the pirate queen.
When she is kidnapped by the Meg Malloy’s crew of pirates, she discovers that her dead mother was none other than the pirate queen herself!
Now Polly must follow the footsteps of her sea-faring mother to recover her mother’s treasure map, stolen by a rival pirate king determined to keep Meg Malloy’s pirate treasure for himself.

Naifeh’s art is close enough to the typical manga style, but still retains his own unique look that brings his characters to life. Polly is a strong character, who grows from being a quiet, prim and proper young lady to a pirate queen.

The Pirate Captain's Daughter

 

Title: The Pirate Captain's Daughter
Author: Eve Bunting
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Year of Publication: 2011

About the book:

After her mother’s death, 15-year-old Catherine is determined not to be shipped off to her aunt in Boston. When she discovers her father’s secret life as a pirate captain, she dons boy’s clothing and convinces her father to take her along with him on his impeding three-month voyage.
Under the name Charlie and under the guise of being her father’s son, Catherine realises that life on a pirate ship is not as romantic and glamorous as she had imagined.

Slightly different to the usual swashbuckling adventures usually found in pirate books, the books frequently dark tone is effective in keeping with a more realistic portrayal of piracy.

Bloody Jack : being an account of the curious adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, ship’s boy

 

Title: Bloody Jack : being an account of the curious adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber
Author : L. A. Meyer
Publisher: Harcourt
Year of Publication: 2002
Series: Bloody Jack

About the book:
Mary Faber is an orphan living in the streets of London in the early 1900s. When the leader of her gang is killed, she puts on his clothes, names herself Jack and sneaks aboard the HMS Dolphin. 
The novel follows Mary’s adventures on the HMS Dolphin, exploring her struggle to maintain her Jacky persona and her clashes with the pirates on board (which earns her the name ‘Bloody Jack’). 

The novel is praised as being an engaging novel with a lot of historical and nautical detail of piracy in the 18th century. This novel is the first of the Bloody Jack series, which has so far spanned nine books (the ninth to be published in October 2011).

The Ballad of the Pirate Queens

Title: The Ballad of the Pirate Queens
Author: Jane Yolen ; with illustrations by David Shannon
Publisher: Voyager Books
Year of Publication: 1995

About the Book:
You're never too old for a picture book, especially one was beautifully illustrated as this one, for a poem about two of the most well known female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.

The poem follows the pirate duo as they take on a 'Man 'O War' ship, while the rest of the male crew, including the Captain Calico Jack just drink. Anne and Mary put up a good fight, but are eventually taken and then put to trial.

Saved from death by 'pleading their bellies', Yolen leaves the ending open ended, with Yolen speculating on where Anne and Mary end up (grandmothers telling their grandchildren of their pirate life.

Illustrations by Shannon are gorgeously done, and Yolen's poem has great rhythm and rhyme that greatly lends itself to being read aloud.

Even if you think yourself above picture books, this one is well worth a look. If only for the beautiful illustrations done by Shannon. This book brings the story of the two of the most famous female pirates into a fun and accessible format at anyone at any age can enjoy.

City of Ships

Title: City of Ships
Author: Mary Hoffman
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year of Publication: 2010
Series: Stravanganza

About the Book:
While this novel is part of the Stravanganza series, it is can also be read as a stand alone.
The general premise of the series is teens from modern day England find items or 'talismans' that send them back in time to Talia (a place like 16th century Italy but isn't) where only they can do a certain task or quest to help Talia.

Isabel is the younger twin and has spent her whole life in her twin Charlie's shadow. When her talisman transports her to the Talian town of Classe, a city about to be invaded by the Gate People. Isabel befriends a female merchant Flavia, whose son Andrea is an outcast and a pirate. As the city prepares for war, Isabel must help save the city before it falls into ruin.

This book is perfect for those who like a little fantasy with their historical fiction, with pirates thrown into the mix! Don't let the fact that this is part of a series deter you from reading it, it might even convince you to explore the rest of the Stravaganza series.

Isabel is a very likable character, with the potential to come off as whiny as she plays second fiddle to her brother, it's refreshing to have her perspective not being that of the stereotypical jealous sibling. She does come into her own throughout the book and grows to become a stronger character towards the end.

Hoffman's worldbuilding has been praised throughout her previous books, and this book is no exception. This book is richly detailed with Hoffman's masterfully written plot intricately woven thoughout. Her characters are engaging and likable, and her story is filled with adventure, suspense and unexpected twists and turns that will leave you wanting to explore the rest of the Stravanganza series (even if the rest of the books don't include pirates).

The Pirate's Son

 

Title: The Pirate's Son
Author: Geraldine McCaughrean
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Year of Publication: 1998


About the book:
Fourteen-year-old Nathan Gull is thrown out of his English boarding school when his father dies and is left unable to pay his fees.
Having read about and dreamt of a pirate’s life, he joins his schoolmate Tamo White (the son of a pirate and a Madagascar queen) and his sister Maud aboard Tamo’s guardian’s ship as it sails to his homeland, Madagascar.

The novels three main protagonists each come into their own. Nathan’s little sister Maud is easily the most sympathetic and interesting of the three, who easily adapted to life in Madagascar.

The point of view switches between the three characters (with the occasional point of view from the villains) which can be confusing at times. However, the novel is a gripping and engaging read, full of pirate lore, heroics, deceptions and adventure that will leave you wanting more.