How to Be a Pirate

First Line: Thor was seriously annoyed.

Now, I really know that pirates were a scurvy lot, not to be trusted. I really, really do know this. But something deep inside me has always wanted to sharpen my cutlass and hoist the Jolly Roger. A friend and I even co-wrote a story in which we were pirates, and the name of our ship was the PMS Hellborn Strumpet. (That has a ring to it, doesn't it?) Knowing all this, is it any wonder that when I first heard of Cressida Cowell's series of books about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, young Viking and Pirate-in-Training, I simply had to have one of the books to read right now? Of course not!

Hiccup is a bit on the small side and completely unmemorable. His small dragon, Toothless, is a cowardly show more hypochondriac. Together they attend the Pirate Training Program, learning about Spitting, Senseless Violence, Frightening Foreigners, Weaponry, Pointless Graffiti, and other important pirate tasks. Being the son of Stoick the Vast, Chief of the Hooligan tribe, great things are expected of Hiccup, but it looks as though Snotlout (Hiccup's arch enemy and the resident bully) has other intentions.

School is interrupted by Alvin the Poor-But-Honest-Farmer who claims to know where the fabulous treasure of Grimbeard the Ghastly is located. Hiccup doesn't trust the handsome, smiling stranger, but of course he's outvoted and everyone boards a ship and starts counting their share of the treasure before it's found.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Lessons about deceptive appearances and inner worth, for example, are given in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek manner that takes away any medicinal sting. The illustrations are a delight-- looking like the pencil sketches of a grade school boy, hunched over his paper with the tip of his tongue clenched between his teeth. The book can easily be a hit with both children and adults.

Will I be reading other books in this series? You bet! Dragons, Vikings, pirates, swordplay-- I wouldn't miss all this for the world! show less

It's hard to say whether I was just disappointed with the first book for not being like the movie, or whether it's because I realized that the narrator of the audio book is David Tennant, but regardless of reasons, I enjoyed this book more than the first. I expected a formulaic rehash of the previous book's plot, but the author surprised me by developing characters and plot. In this installment, Hiccup is trying to learn swordplay when his tribe embarks on a mission to recover buried pirate treasure.

Hiccup thinks it's all a silly and dangerous waste of time, but if he ever hopes to become the leader of his people he will have to learn how to have and adventure. A fun and lively read with a surprisingly sophisticated moral.

Nem esti mesének való, de nagyon élvezetes olvasmány, remek karakterekkel és fordulatokkal (A filmekkel köszönőviszonyban sincs, kb a szereplők neve azonos, és ennyi. Azok is jók, meg ez is, teljesen másképp). A függővégek és a sodró lendület miatt önálló olvasás megszeretésére nagyon jó lehet, a további részeket megpróbálom a Kicsinek is majd erre tartogatni. A Nagy úgyis alig bírja, hogy ne spoilerezzen megállás nélkül.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book suitable for anyone elementary age and up.

***SPOILER ALERT***

PARENT PERSPECTIVE: Rated PG, some mild violence and language, but nothing scary or offensive. This book, more than the first in the series, has a good moral lesson. Part of the plot is the Hooligan Vikings go on an adventurous quest to find the long lost treasure of Hiccup’s great, great grandfather. After witnessing his father and friends become blood-hungry for found treasure and then finding an even bigger treasure himself, accompanied by a letter from his long-lost ancestor detailing how the treasure was not worth the cost to soul and relationships, Hiccup must decide if he is willing to risk the same cost for his tribe by revealing show more the location of the treasure—though not revealing it may result in great personal cost. I won’t spoil his decision, but it lends to great conversation with your children about real heroism and character. It also subtly teaches children that one doesn’t have to fit it with what other “expect” in order to be strong, courageous, and intelligent. Rather, an ordinary, left-handed, somewhat geeky boy (or girl) can be a true, selfless hero.

TEACHER PERSPECTIVE: As with the first installment of the series, this book is also fairly different from the movies and Netflix show. This is something I love, actually. When the book and movies are fairly different, it causes children to pay better attention and to interact with the text more, and more deeply, than if they were reading it cold. It has a fairly good amount of higher level vocabulary that can be used for instruction and to discuss the nuances of similar words. The story also lends itself to being used for character development lessons (bullying, making decisions for the greater good, helping a friend, selfish/lessness, etc.) Again, the fact that capitalizes on good, clean, reading fun allows it to be read with multiple ages and reading abilities. show less

Hiccup, Fishlegs, Toothless, and friends are back. This time, they're in the process of training to be Viking pirates, when a coffin stating very clearly "DO NOT OPEN" carries the very much alive Alvin, the Poor but Honest Farmer, to the Hairy Hooligan tribe with a tale of pirate treasure to be had, if only they would follow in the footsteps of Hiccup's ancestor, Grimbeard the Ghastly. Shenanigans and over-the-top adventures ensue. These are amusing, and David Tennant does a fabulous job as narrator. The only thing I could wish is for the sound to be mixed a little better, as the quiet parts are very quiet and then a Viking leader bellows, and it's rather difficult commuting listening.

The continuing adventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III whose Viking training brings him in contact with a pirate's treasure and the unsavory characters who want to find it. Very cute children's book about pirates, Vikings, and dragons (albeit not the kind you can ride around on) with high stakes and some nice morals. It's clearly a series for the younger reader, but it's entertaining enough for adults so that you're not completely bored when you're asked to read it for the eleventh time. Vikings are always good in my book and so, of course, are pirates.

Personal Response:
The humorous narration and illustration of this story make the book a pleasure to read and discuss with kids. Both boys and girls enjoy this story of Hiccup's awkward coming-of-age story. The dragon, Toothless, while preferring to be cowardly and lazy, often comes through as the hero, setting the children to ponder what really makes an admirable character.

Curricular Connections:
This book would be great for a children's book club discussion on pirates, a theme most children enjoy, as well as discussion on what viking life was really like. This book is laced with references to viking mythology and sagas, opening the door for a presentation on viking life, including an introduction to stories from viking sagas, nonfiction show more books on viking life and connecting the viking way of life to the lives of other ancient groups. show less