Cute, a little awkward. ( )

LOVED it on tape. ( )

C, E, and I loved this book. We listened to the audiobook which is outstanding and won an Audie. This is the first book in the series and tells of Jacky's life in London and her adventures when she disguises herself as a boy and becomes part of the British Navy. It is the beginning of her romance with Jaime. The book is more for middle or high school students. Historical fiction

This book was one of those brilliant surprise reads that I simply did not expect and then did not want to put down. The historical details are rich, realistic, and wonderfully compelling, and the character is more than lovable, she is strong, inquisitive, and has a great first person narrative voice. The writing is splendid. I can't wait to read the rest of the series! ( )

Very cute story about an orphan girl who, disguising herself as a boy, makes her way onto a British naval ship and proceeds to sail the seven seas as a ship's boy. Interesting, fun characters who have you cheering for them all the way through. Good storyline involving pirate battles, dishonest sailors, and Jacky's struggles with being a girl sailor. Also, Meyer creates a very believable voice in his narrator, with changing lingo and ways of speaking as Jacky grows and learns new things. Definitely a worthwhile read. ( )

Bloody Jack is the nickname given to Jacky (Mary) Faber by her fellow sailors, and bloody, as in bloody good, aptly describes this book. The story of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl (she’s not sure of her age) orphaned in 1797 London following the death of her parents and sister from pestilence, Mary has spent the following four years with a gang of street children begging and stealing for sustenance. When the gang is broken up, Mary dresses up as a boy and gets taken on as a ship’s boy in the British Navy. While there, she gets tattooed, learns to play pennywhistle, avoids the unwanted attention of several disreputable sailors, falls in love, kills a pirate (earning her sobriquet), gets stranded following an experiment with a kite gone awry, and nearly hanged. The first book in a series now up to seven, the story ends with Mary safe but discovered as a young woman and put off in Boston for boarding school.

The great strength of this book is the first person narration by Jacky. Meyer gives his lead a jovial, conversational Cockney full of black humor and world-weariness, but Jacky never comes off as whiny despite her tragic life. This is a female character that is strong, resourceful, sharp as a tack, and hilarious to boot, full of gallows humor and salty sea language. Meyer’s attention to nautical detail never comes across as mere instruction, but is slowly introduced through Jacky’s asides and plot movement, making this an ideal first nautical adventure for teen readers. Plenty of bloody action and the blossoming of a sweet but forbidden love between Jacky and a fellow ship’s boy help, too. Try this on teens that enjoyed The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle or are Jack Sparrow fans. Some mildly explicit language throughout, several scenes of moderate violence and gore, and suggestive dialogue throughout including discussions of sodomy and prostitution. Ages 12+.

Mary "Bloody Jack" Faber has had it tough. After her family died of the pestilence, she finds herself on the street and part of Charlie's gang of homeless kids. When Mary finds Charlie killed in the street, she takes his clothes and pretends she is a boy name Jack and gets a place as a ships boy on a royal Navy ship, the Dolphin. During her time on the dolphin, Mary has to do all sorts of things to keep up her "deception". She ends up fighting pirates, getting shipwrecked, and falling in love.
I listened to the audio book which was really well done and fun to listen to the accents! ( )

I listed to this on audiobook instead of reading and I have to say, it was amazing. I usually prefer to read the text, but the wonderful accent that the narrator gave to Jack made the story so much richer. The story itself is interesting, nuanced, and never predictable. The author is willing to kill off characters, which is always a sign of a good writer for me. I look forward to listening/reading the rest of the series. ( )

Jacky Faber is a terrific character. She really comes to life in the audio book . ( )

Mary, age unknown, but maybe 12 disguises herself as a boy and signs on as a ship's boy on the HMS Dolphin, where she finds danger and adventure across the seas.
The street slang was a little tedious at first, but eases off. I felt the story was a little rushed, but I enjoyed Jacky's voice, and I'll look out for the next book in the series.
I'd give this to people looking for stories about pirates, orphans, adventure stories, or girls-in- disguise stories. Maybe to Tamora Pierce fans, depending on how the series progresses. ( )

A good tale weaved about a young girl born to privilege in the 1700's, who loses everything due to illness, family, money, name and is forced to live as a street urchin. Deciding not to sit with the lot in life dealt to her, she decides to "become" a boy. This is due to the fact that boys are treated better, given small jobs, etc... where as girls are not allowed anything more than to beg. She soon takes up a job offering on a ship due to her ability to read. Her life onboard involves everything a child coming of age would deal with; her menses setting in, young love, troubles with bullies, but having to do such and keep her guise as a boy adds a bit of a twist.
I think it's an excellent book for kids, especially young girls, since she faces her trials brilliantly and bravely. ( )

A young orphan girl becomes a ships boy in order to survive. She finds adventure and love on the ship and learns many times over the social limitations of being a girl. Funny and moving story, with a wonderful characters. ( )

Mayr Faber once had a mother, father and sister. However, within a few days her whole world was swept away in illness and death. Mary found herself pulled into the life of a gang of other street urchins. When the leader of her gang is killed, Mary decides to leave her life with the gang and shed her identify as a girl in exchange for a boy by the name of 'Jack.' Within only a few days, 'Jack' finds herself entering in to the greatest adventure of her life as a ships boy. The trouble is, how will she keep The Deception a secret? Life as a ships boy is filled with hardship and danger. However, 'Jack' finds acceptance, friendship and even love onboard. Her various adventures earn Mary the name Bloody Jack. ( )

Mary Faber's parents died when she was 8, leaving her an orphan on the streets of London. When she was 13, she disguised herself as a boy to obtain a positions as a ship's boy on an English warship in search of pirates. ( )

Action! Adventure! A spunky female lead with a brain and self-esteem! How can you not love this book? Plus Meyer is not afraid to go into detail about life on a boat and life in general during the early 19th century. So well written, so fun to read, this is one of the best characters I have met and fell in love with since Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next or Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone. ( )

Life as a cabin boy aboard the pirate hunting ship HMS Dolphin is a dream come true for Jacky Faber. He has food to eat, a place to sleep, and no worries about the dead collector coming around to sell his body to the medical researchers. There's just one small problem with this picture- Jacky is actually a girl, and her very life depends on keeping her gender a secret from everyone.

Hardship, adventures, and triumph abound in this historical novel. You can't help but enjoy Jacky, and her spunky narration is an interesting viewpoint from which to observe the shipboard life in this time period. Jacky turns out to have some talent for her duties as a cabin boy, and it makes for exciting reading as she fights pirates and tries to evade discovery among her peers. There are also a few funny moments, as when Jacky visits a whorehouse in order to get some information about the facts of life and her cronies spot her as she's leaving.

The only downside to this book in my opinion is that the author was a little too effective at capturing the inner ramblings and obsession of a crush-struck teenage girl. Realistic, probably, but I found it slowed the last third or so of the book more than I would have liked.

The final word: I rate this 4, as in four bloodthirsty pirates out of five. Adventure on the high seas and even a marooning. What's not to like? ( )

Fast moving and engaging but ended awkwardly and without much sense. ( )

I loved this book. THere's some romance, a lot of cussin' and some action too! I just loved it and can't wait to start on the next one in the series. I enjoyed how it was written in a way that showed her accent and progressed as she started to talk more properly. A must read for adventure and pirate lovers. ( )

The setting is London, 18th century and the high seas. This gritty, graphic, humorous, and adventurous novel will appeal to boys and girls, as well as, adults. ( )

This book is about a young girl who is orphaned suddenly when her family dies from some kind of plague. She becomes a street urchin, surviving the tough streets of London in a gang of youths, but when her best friend is killed by a body snatcher, she decides to leave. Fortuitously, she lands a job as a helper on a Navy ship, the catch being that she disguises herself as a boy. Since she is going through puberty, this ruse cannot last long, and this story line only enhances the rest of her adventures on the high seas! ( )

Bloody Jack is an adventure book set in the late 18th century. The story follows "Jacky" Faber whose real name is Mary on a life adventure. The reader travels with "Jacky" through the rough and tumble street life of London to the brawny life at sea. We visit port towns and fight pirate battles with "Jacky" and her mates. The real struggle for "Jacky" however is to maintain her disguise as a boy. She must fight her own coming of age to keep her true identity a secret. In order to survive and live the life she wants, she must be "Bloody Jack."

At the turn of the 18th century, destitute orphan Mary poses as a boy to join the crew of a British war ship. Disguised as "Jacky," she uses her courage and wits to protect her secret and the promise of a better life.

A thrilling, fast-paced adventure story that would be perfect for a family road trip! Because it’s about a girl, called Bloody Jack, disguised as a boy on a British warship, I didn't really expect to like this book. But what a girl! She is tough, smart, and resourceful without ever losing her essential female spirit. I was especially impressed that the author was able to convey both her ability to fit in and keep up with the boys, without losing the fact that she has the emotions of a teenage girl. He does an excellent job with character development giving you many to love and even a few to despise. The characters drew me in and before long I found myself caring deeply what happened to them. That coupled with a fast-paced and sometimes surprising plot made this a book I will recommend to many people, girls, boys and adults alike.
I listened to the audio version of Bloody Jack. Katherine Kellgren does a fantastic job with the voices and accents. Her skillful reading adds another layer to the story. I will be listening to all the books in this series! ( )

Puberty ahoy!

A girl disguised aboard ship.

Tomboy on the masts. ( )

When Mary Faber is orphaned at age 8, she joins a gang of street urchins, but when the leader is killed she strikes out on her own disguised as a boy. She ends up as a ship's boy on a British warship and quickly falls in love with one of the other ship's boys, even as she keeps up The Deception. A rip-roaring adventure story complete with daring sea battles, the audio recording of this title is excellent. Katherine Kellgren's expert narration really brings the story to life. ( )