Pirates & Privateers: Books for Pirate Apprentices -- Fantasy

An awkward ninth grader who dreams of being captain of a sailing ship, Ricky Bradshaw spends Christmas Eve alone. Mom, a trucker, must haul a load to Memphis. Since the pizza delivery guy always goes to the wrong building, Ricky waits outside for him. Sirens suddenly fill the air and fire engines and police cars drive into the parking lot. His apartment building is on fire! Unable to return home, Ricky climbs aboard the replica of a 300-year-old sailing vessel docked nearby. A mutt named Barnacle steals his pizza but soon ends up in the river. When Ricky tries to save the dog, he suffers an epileptic seizure. After he awakens, he assumes Paco, a fisherman, rescued him until he realizes something is amiss. He’s in the Caribbean instead of the Chesapeake Bay, the year is 1700, his father is alive, and a pirate ship is fast approaching.

Ricky soon finds himself amid the pirates on their ship. When Captain LaFoote threatens to toss Barnacle overboard, Ricky offers his life for the dog’s. Just as he’s about to meet his fate, a prize is sighted and the pirates prepare for battle. During this reprieve, Ricky makes the acquaintance of the ship’s doctor and his assistant, Beckwith. Ricky soon discovers that the lad isn’t a lad at all. Beckwith is actually Rebecca and she’s on her way to visit her uncle, the governor of one of the Caribbean islands. To get there, she must escape from the pirate ship and enlists Ricky’s help to do so. While the pirates try to evade the trap the merchant ship lures them into, Ricky, Rebecca, and Barnacle escape from LaFoote. No sooner do they escape one enemy, but they find themselves surrounded by new ones. Once LaFoote discovers the secret Barnacle hides, he and his men are also on their trail.

This enticing, fast-paced adventure has more twists and turns than a roller coaster, but it’s not without some violence both in the present and the past. Ricky is a likable character that many teens will identify with, although after he slips back in time, it’s unclear whether the dreamlike transitions from one place to another are because of his epilepsy or an ability to move through time. If the latter, his epilepsy seems to disappear once he’s with the pirates.

This is the first volume in the Caribbean Chronicles trilogy, and the author does a fabulous job of bringing the beauty and the danger of the islands to life and intricately weaving pirate lore into the story. Since Ricky has epilepsy, a few “pieces of eight” will be donated from the sale of each book to the Epilepsy Foundation. Although written for boys, other fans of pirate adventures will also enjoy the journey.

Dead Cool
By Peter Clover
Stone Arch Books, 2005, ISBN 978-1-59889-100-3, US $16.95

Sammy wants a dog, but he and his parents live in a small apartment. Instead, they get a parrot, but Polly only squawks. One day after school, Sammy hears a strange voice in the apartment and when he looks around, he sees not one parrot but two! And the second one talks. But Sammy is the only one who sees Crabmeat. The next day, Crabmeat comes with a friend, a red cat, and while lying on his bed, Sammy sees a boy sitting in the chair. His name is Smitty. Later, eleven more pirates join Smitty, and they have a rousing good time entertaining Sammy until one of them mentions Red Beard the Really Rotten. These aren’t ordinary pirates; they’re ghosts who drowned at sea after mutinying against Red Beard, who’s been chasing them for 250 years.

Sammy’s apartment seems safe enough, so the pirates and their animals hide out there. One day, while his mom cooks breakfast, Crabmeat pipes out a warning: “Shiver me timbers! Ship ahoy! Pieces of eight!” Through the window they see an approaching storm. Sammy’s dad says the bacon tastes like seaweed as the sky darkens. Then there’s a flash of light, and Red Beard the Really Rotten appears at the window. Anger oozes from him in smoke and flames. What’s Sammy to do? Can the pirates escape? Will he save them and his parents? Or will Red Beard finally get his revenge?

Dead Cool starts out as a simple tale about a boy who yearns for a pet. Once he gets his wish, Sammy finds himself enmeshed in a mystery he doesn’t want to be part of. As astounding as the events seem, they are believable, and the climax builds until it strikes with the force of a hurricane. The solution to escaping Red Beard’s clutches will surprise even the savviest readers! Like other Stone Arch books, Dead Cool’s reinforced library binding makes certain that this adventure survives many a stormy sea. The discussion questions and writing prompts allow readers to explore the world of pirates in greater depth.

This tale captivates and stirs the imagination, while spicing it with ghostly danger. Great fun and perfect for a dark, stormy night . . . especially around Halloween!

Cover Art: Terra
Vonnel & the Skull of Aries

Terra Vonnel & the Skulls of Aries
by D. C. Akers
Vanquisher Publishing, 2010, ISBN 9780984587100, US $8.95

When Terra Vonnel is five years old, someone murders her mother. Her father has diligently searched for the Skulls of Aries so he can time travel into the past to prevent his wife’s death. Two years ago, he fell ill. Ever since, Terra has taken over his search. She’s already retrieved the first Skull of Aries, but Count Dragos, a vampire with special skills, and his fellow vampire pirates, have stolen the second one. Terra and her mates, including the Sea Ghouls (phantoms who man the oars of her galley Aspen), track them down and after a heated battle that requires brains as well as brawn, she succeeds in acquiring the skull. Having both objects and uncovering their secrets is but the next step in achieving her goal. There’s still a host of creatures and challenges to tackle, and each proves deadlier than the last. How much will Terra, her pirates, and the Sea Ghouls sacrifice to recover the device that will allow her to carry out her father’s wishes?

Aimed at young teenagers, Terra Vonnel & the Skull of Aries is a fast-paced adventure filled with elements of horror and fantasy without being too graphic in the violence. A few word choices may confuse readers (bellowing clouds for billowing clouds or incitation for incantation), but these are minor points.* The book is intended to be the first in a series, so some readers may be a bit disappointed in the story’s ending. Others will eagerly await the next chapter in Terra’s quest.

*The author and publisher have corrected the confusing word choices since this review first appeared.