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The History of Maritime Piracy

Cindy Vallar, Editor & Reviewer
P.O. Box 425, Keller, TX  76244-0425

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Books for Pirate Apprentices ~ History

Cover Art: You
                Wouldn't Want to Be a Pirate's Prisoner
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

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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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