greenereading's review against another edition
4.0
This book got me hooked on all the others in the series to come. I read these books like I drank water.
morepagesplease's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting read with an engaging and charismatic protagonist. I will be continuing on with the series.
netgyrl's review against another edition
4.0
Jack is a great character and it was a fun quick listen (i had it on Audible). I think the narrator added a lot to the story as her poor side of London accent was spot on. I can't wait to start book 2.
laphenix's review against another edition
3.0
The "pirate accent" of the audio narrator was initially grating, but as I began to inure it, I came to enjoy the adventure, but lost interest again towards the end.
solshines68's review
5.0
Oh, my! What a bloody good "read"!! Katherine Kellgren does a fabulous job of "reading" this book! The accents, the voices, the excitement/emotion... I think "reading" this book would endear anyone but hearing it ... amazing! I learned quite a bit about what life is like on the HMS whatevers of the time and found myself totally absorbed in the story making a very long road trip so much shorter. Can hardly wait to listen to the next books in this series!
suzannedix's review against another edition
2.0
A bit long winded so far but I do like it. This series is constantly mentioned as a school library favorite.
mikaelap23's review against another edition
5.0
I adored this book. Would highly recommend at around 4.5 to 5 stars
kjalexander's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My all time favorite comfort series, I’ve read and re read for almost 20 years now. I always breeze through these books, they’re full of action and you’re always wondering where Jacky ends up next.
liralen's review against another edition
4.0
Cross [b:Alanna|13831|Alanna The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1)|Tamora Pierce|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348885690s/13831.jpg|1936544] and [b:The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle|310146|The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle|Avi|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348243806s/310146.jpg|997358] and this might be what you end up with. It’s a very fun read, as Jacky is full of spunk and never one to be kept down long. Living on the streets? Find a way to survive. Lots of competition to be a ship’s boy? Find the thing that makes you stand out.
Alanna is fiery but rarely rash; Charlotte Doyle is stubborn but dignified. Jacky, meanwhile...she’s brave but headstrong; loyal but stubborn; precocious but bratty. She makes the decision to seek work as a boy with delightfully little angst, and if there’s one thing true of these books, it’s that as long as Jacky’s around things will always be interesting.
The book is not without flaws — some of the characters feel quite underdeveloped (*cough*Jaimy*cough*), and parts of it feel quite...sanitised, I guess? But in odd ways. I loved how real some of the struggles felt: Jacky faces war against pirates and sees (and helps cause) the ensuing carnage; people die; her future is never certain. But, for all that there are villains in the book, Jacky wins over so many potential adversaries that it gets hard (harder?) to believe.
But let’s be honest: That’s more than made up for by the fact that this is book one...of ten to date, with more in progress. Ten! The adventures continue! Colour me pleased indeed.
Alanna is fiery but rarely rash; Charlotte Doyle is stubborn but dignified. Jacky, meanwhile...she’s brave but headstrong; loyal but stubborn; precocious but bratty. She makes the decision to seek work as a boy with delightfully little angst, and if there’s one thing true of these books, it’s that as long as Jacky’s around things will always be interesting.
The book is not without flaws — some of the characters feel quite underdeveloped (*cough*Jaimy*cough*), and parts of it feel quite...sanitised, I guess? But in odd ways. I loved how real some of the struggles felt: Jacky faces war against pirates and sees (and helps cause) the ensuing carnage; people die; her future is never certain. But, for all that there are villains in the book, Jacky wins over so many potential adversaries that it gets hard (harder?) to believe.
But let’s be honest: That’s more than made up for by the fact that this is book one...of ten to date, with more in progress. Ten! The adventures continue! Colour me pleased indeed.
celise_winter's review against another edition
5.0
(Review edited in 2015, read in 2013)
I at first thought, several years ago when I saw this, that it was probably border-lining on being a children's book, or even a typical immature YA novel. But it was everything I wanted to read right now.
This came out in 2002, a year before the first of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, so no, it is not some kind of rip off, even with the character's name. It is really good for anyone who loves those movies though. I was actually so entranced by the imagery while reading this that I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it in decent time. I kept wanting to go watch those movies. They really aren't similar, I'm just so in love with pirates.
What I thought was handled quite well was that this book doesn't give you the entirely romanticized version of pirates or the Royal Navy. People are raped, people die. Also, Jacky was not the typical Mary-Sue that is often found in the pirate books and fan fiction, you know the one who runs off and WANTS to be a boy and completely dismisses women as pirates. She does want to grow up to be a lady and get married, which is kind of amusing, but she is also strong and decent at ship life.
I at first thought, several years ago when I saw this, that it was probably border-lining on being a children's book, or even a typical immature YA novel. But it was everything I wanted to read right now.
This came out in 2002, a year before the first of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, so no, it is not some kind of rip off, even with the character's name. It is really good for anyone who loves those movies though. I was actually so entranced by the imagery while reading this that I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it in decent time. I kept wanting to go watch those movies. They really aren't similar, I'm just so in love with pirates.
What I thought was handled quite well was that this book doesn't give you the entirely romanticized version of pirates or the Royal Navy. People are raped, people die. Also, Jacky was not the typical Mary-Sue that is often found in the pirate books and fan fiction, you know the one who runs off and WANTS to be a boy and completely dismisses women as pirates. She does want to grow up to be a lady and get married, which is kind of amusing, but she is also strong and decent at ship life.