PIRATES!

Pirates! * Celia Rees
2003 * p. 488 (Large Print Edition)* YA Historical Fiction

Nancy Kington is the daughter of a wealthy sugar merchant in 1720's East Coast America. When her father's company (a rather shady one dealing in the slave trade) collapses and he dies. Nancy is left to the will of her older brothers.

To make some quick and plentiful cash, they ship her off to the West Indies and betrothe her to The Brazilian. A cruel, wealthy plantation and slave trade owner. Nancy is shocked and heartbroken, especially since she must leave William, the boy she has pledged herself to at home. So Nancy is shipped to the Indies and William likewise takes to the sea in the hopes of joining the navy.

When Nancy reaches her new tropical home in Jamaica, she instantly witnesses the cruelty inflicted on the black slaves. Cruelest of all is The Brazilian. As the cruelties continue and speculation mounts on Nancy's strange kindness to the slaves, Nancy concludes she must runa away. With her slave and friend Minerva, they buy passage with an old naval acquaintance turned pirate.

The two friends start their journey as female pirates on the high sea, running from The Brazilian, pillaging, acting, working, fighting, and learning secrets about each other that will bind them together forever.

The book was difficult for me. The whole premise seemed like it would be a very thrilling and adventurous book, but it ended up feeling very dull and mechanical.

It is written from Nancy's perspective as if she were writing in a diary. Which is ironic. You would think then that the book would be heartfelt and you'd find insights into Nancy's mind and thinking. But I felt like I didn't know her at all.

The dialogue was hopelessly void of emotion. The plot seemed to go nowhere but everywhere at once. The love story between William and nancy was nonexistent and frustrating. Nothing was developed as it should have been. Disappointing.

I strongly recommend Rees' book Witch Child over Pirates! It was leaps and bounds more interesting than this one.

-Reading Level: ages 13& up
-A few swear words. A scene of attempted rape. But nothing graphic.
-Themes of sisterhood, courage, ethics, slavery.