Pirates and Privateers
The History of Maritime
Piracy
Cindy Vallar, Editor
& Reviewer
P.O. Box 425,
Keller, TX 76244-0425
Books for
Pirate Apprentices ~ History
You Wouldn’t Want to Be a
Pirate’s Prisoner!
Horrible Things You’d Rather Not Know (Revised Edition)
by John Malam
illustrated by David Antram
Scholastic, 2013, ISBN 978-0-531-27502-3, US $29.00
You are
captain of a Spanish galleon, traveling to Spain in
the year 1716, but pirates lurk in the waters of the
Caribbean. They seek one thing: your ship with its
cargo of gold and jewels. What will your life be
like if the worst happens and you become a pirate's
prisoner?
This delightful, informative, and intriguing book
begins with an introduction as all good non-fiction
does. You learn about yourself, your ship, its
cargo, and where you are currently located. Then you
find out about the hunters, former privateers turned
pirates. The other topics provide a plethora of
information you should know about, especially from
the captive’s perspective: what pirates seek and how
they procure it; life aboard a pirate ship; how the
pirates will make you talk; and who will rescue you.
Each colorful, fact-filled, double-page spread
pertains to a specific aspect of your adventure and
includes one “handy hint” that may help you survive
the ordeal. The book also includes a pirate timeline
(1470-1803), a glossary of terms, an index, facts
about pirates, a “Did You Know?” section, and the
top pirates in history.
Two things make this refreshing nonfiction about
pirates geared toward young children who can read.
First: perspective. The majority of piratical books
is from either the pirate’s or the hunter’s point of
view. This book comes at it from the victim’s
perspective. Second: artwork. It’s humorous, yet
serious. The narrative is factual and realistic, but
the colorful pictures lower the threat level. The
characters immediately draw your attention and, on
some pages, there is so much detail, you can read
the book more than once and still see something new.
This book depicts life among the pirates with
realism. It’s not romantic in the least, especially
when you’re a captive. You Wouldn’t Want to Be a
Pirate’s Prisoner! is a wonderful addition to
a young pirate’s library, and by the time you turn
the last page, you’ll know a lot about these wolves
of the sea. If you dare to set sail, you’ll never
regret it!
Review
Copyright ©2014 Cindy Vallar
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