Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World
by Jane Yolen; Illustrated by Christine Joy Pratt
Published by Charlesbridge
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Jamie Driggers
When kids think of pirates, they think of treasure, peg-legs, parrots, and “arrrrrrgh!” They don’t often think of women. In Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World, Jane Yolen dispels the myth that only boys should play pirate. In thirteen true, or almost true (if only by legend), stories of real women pirates, readers can no longer think only of damsels in distress in relation to pirate ships.
This is a gorgeous book. The binding is absolutely rich and wonderful. The black and white folksy illustrations are exactly what they should be for this type of book. Aside from the stories, there is a ton of additional information in sidebars for curious minds. The stories are clearly told and when there is a question of authenticity, it is made clear that it is a matter of legend. One word of caution is that pirate stories, even those with women as the main character, nearly always end poorly. They are gristly and gory. People lose their lives time and again. I know I should have expected it. These are pirates, after all, but I don’t think I will offer it to my second graders for extra reading anytime in the near future. They still prefer happy endings.
Armchair Interviews say: Good story; just know your reading audience’s level of scariness.
Author’s Web site: http://www.JaneYolen.com