Pirates & Privateers: Justine & Ron Fontes' Books

Part of the “Twisted Journeys” series of graphic novels, Captured by Pirates is your adventure aboard a ship where mutiny boils and pirates lurk in the wings.

The year is 1635, and this is your first sailing voyage. Your mother dies a short time ago, and Father decides to start life anew in Barbados as a trader. Before long, you learn there is a difference between life amidst the officers and those who crew the ship. Since you play the fiddle, the seamen invite you to join in their merrymaking. Thus begins your journey, for you must decide whether to hurry back to the safety of your cabin or join them. Depending on the decision you make, you’ll turn to a specific page and continue the tale. Until you reach another “fork in the road.”

I first encountered “choose your own adventures” in high school, but they are far more exciting now. The story keeps you guessing as to what happens next; the options are realistic and don’t always have a happily-ever-after ending. The full-color artwork depicts life at sea and pirates with gritty realism that make your adventure both exciting and terrifying. No matter how often you read Captured by Pirates, what you experience and where you end up changes each time based on how you choose to answer the questions posed. Great fun!