Bloody Jack- L.A. Meyer

"Bloody Jack" by L.A. Meyer is the story of Mary "Jacky" Faber, a feisty orphan turned ship's boy. When her family dies from a disease, Little Mary is taken in and taught by a gang of orphans who teach her how to survive on the streets of London. When Rooster Charlie, the leader of her small group, dies, Mary decides to take her chances on the ocean. She takes Charlie's clothes, cuts her hair, and assumes the name "Jack". Jacky soon gets herself a job as ship's boy on the HMS Dolphin. There, she learns the workings of the ship, gains the affections of the sailors, and has numerous adventures on the high seas (like finding pirate treasure), all while maintaining "The Deception". However, Jacky also has to be wary of her changing body, which might give her away, and to be careful of the malicious people who want to hurt her, like Blifil and Sloane. During all of this, Jacky begins to understand her very confusing feelings for one of her fellow ship's boys, Jaimy Fletcher.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Jacky is a delightful heroine, and she is always getting into amusing situations. The nautical terms are explained very well, and Jacky's language is humorous. This book offers a very realistic portrayal of life on the streets during Jacky's time and a good view of life on the sea. However, the writing and plot may be a little basic for older readers while the content may be a bit mature for younger readers. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good adventure.

<3 Angela

Bloody Jack can be bought here:
http://www.amazon.com/Bloody-Jack-Account-Curious-Adventures/dp/015205085X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225410061&sr=8-2

*The Bloody Jack Series is on the NSCG's List of Favorite Books
**LA Meyer has been added to the NSCG's List of Favorite Authors