This book is a great stand-alone historical fiction novel for young adults, or the start of an swashbuckling series for eager readers. Jacky Faber is a fresh take on the "girl disguised as boy" adventure. Knitting together some exciting events in the 18th century, this book explores some of the more intimate details of life for sailors in the British Navy through the eyes of the ship's boys - or girl in this case! Characters are richly imagined, the first person narration drops readers right into the times, discovering the hygiene, healthcare, ideology, engineering, and politics of a time when the influence of British Empire was beginning to wane and America evolve into more than a few colonists united, all while our fearless Bloody Jack grows up from child to young woman in unimaginably dangerous circumstances.

Good story of orphan girl who pretends to be a boy on an English Navy ship in the 1800s. 12 and over best...it has some slightly risque parts. Well done slang of the time, etc. ( )

(reread) ( )

Loved it! A young girl living in the 1800's is forced into a life of survival on the streets when her family dies from an epidemic. She lives on the streets with a gang of other children and avoids the body snatchers and other dangers until she is about 12. Then her gang leader is killed and she must make a choice to find her own way out. That choice is to don boys clothes and to volunteer to become a ship's boy aboard the H.M.S. Dolphin. The Mary becomes Jacky and eventually Bloody Jack as he/she is inventive enough to do well on the ship, avoid detection, and avoid the bullies that prey on the younger boys. Being disguised as a boy does not mean that Jacky also gets involved in a bit of romance as well, along with adventures that involve hunting down pirates, avoiding shipwreck, getting tattooed, learning to play the pennywhistle. Highly enjoyable, I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy tales of adventure. I would also say that I would rate it PG-13, as Jacky does not shy away from talking about her developing body (and the problems that it causes her) and she is also preyed upon by a sexual predator. ( )

Bloody Jack is an awesome pirate (and also a girl coming of age). Narrator Katherine Kellgren does an excellent job bringing the characters to life. ( )