Title: Bloody Jack
Author: L.A. Meyer
First published June 6, 2002
304 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780152050856 (ISBN10: 015205085X)
Rating: 4.11
Overview
Follow the swashbuckling adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, a young girl who finds herself living the life of a ship’s boy aboard the HMS Dolphin. From the treacherous streets of 18th-century London to the high seas, Jacky is finally living her dream of being a skilled sailor.
However, her secret could unravel everything she’s worked for; Jacky is a girl in a man’s world. With her quick wit and boundless courage, Jacky must do everything in her power to keep her true identity hidden.
Join Jacky on her thrilling journey to discover what it means to be a true sailor, and the lengths she’ll go to protect her secret.
About the Author
Louis A. Meyer, renowned for the Bloody Jack novels, was also a talented painter and author of two children’s picture books.
Together with his wife, he owned a charming art gallery called Clair de Loon located in the scenic Bar Harbor. Sadly, Louis A.
Meyer passed away on July 29, 2014 due to refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. However, his legacy lives on through his final book, Wild Rover No More, which was published posthumously in September of the same year.
Editoral Review
Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer is a thrilling adventure novel that takes readers on a journey through the dangerous and turbulent world of the high seas during the 18th century. Meyer, a prolific writer of children’s and young adult literature, has crafted a captivating tale that combines historical accuracy with thrilling action and heartwarming moments of human connection.
Set in the gritty world of London’s slums, Bloody Jack tells the story of Mary “Jacky” Faber, a plucky and street-smart orphan who dresses as a boy and joins a crew of sailors on a ship headed for the high seas. Jacky must learn to navigate life aboard a ship while keeping her true identity a secret and dodging the advances of her fellow shipmates.
Along the way, she encounters danger, romance, and the harsh realities of life in the Royal Navy. Meyer’s writing style is engaging and brisk, with vivid descriptions and fast-paced action that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
The characters are well-drawn and memorable, with Jacky serving as a particularly compelling protagonist. Despite her rough exterior and tough demeanor, Jacky is revealed to be a complex and vulnerable character with a deep sense of compassion and loyalty to those she cares about.
The book also has significant historical and cultural significance, as it explores the harsh realities of life in 18th-century London and the social and economic struggles faced by the lower classes during this time period. Meyer does an excellent job of bringing this world to life, painting a vivid picture of the crowded and dirty streets of London as well as the dangerous and unpredictable world of the high seas.
Overall, Bloody Jack is a well-crafted and entertaining novel that will appeal to readers of all ages who enjoy a good adventure story. While there are some weaknesses in the book – particularly in terms of pacing and plot structure – these are minor quibbles that do not detract from the overall quality of the novel.
For anyone who enjoys historical fiction, action, and memorable characters, Bloody Jack is a must-read.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
