“Billy Turner lives on the Isle of Man with his Aunt and Uncle. He is a boy of the sea, but this sea faring town is desperate for help. For some mysterious reason, the fishermen haven’t been able to catch any fish, nets are empty as if the sea has been emptied. Pirates disguised as Navy officers come to collect taxes to take advantage of the sea folk. Billy’s Uncle happened to secure one ticket aboard the Sea Star for Billy to sail to America. To make a living. Billy was to promise that he’d send for his poor Aunt and Uncle when he makes money. Sad to leave the only home he knew, Billy boarded the Sea Star…
When the Captain tells Billy his ticket is counterfeit, he agrees to take him aboard as a deck-hand. Unfortunately, Billy isn’t assigned to the deck, but to the cooking quarters with Mr. Hawk. Billy already had a confrontation with Mr. Hawk back home, but he actually seemed to take him under his wing. Until they got to land and completely sold-out Billy to the actual Navy as a stowaway. Billy was to be hanged.
A chance encounter with a beautiful Arabella Smith, while she was trying to rob the boat where Billy had been locked up, changes the course of Billy’s life. He decides that the pirates of the Fleur de la Mort are the most respectable and trustworthy that he’ll find on the sea and he begins the pirate life! Billy learns what it is like to be aboard a mystical, disappearing ship, battle sea monsters, the Navy, and of course, other pirates.
After Billy’s stories, five short stories follow about the life of Jack Sparrow, the famous pirate of the Black Pearl. Readers will love the adventure, magic, and action.
*This is an excellent series for reluctant readers, girls and boys alike. Students can read the screen story and screen play and compare to the short stories found in this collection. They can also compare the characters that come up in this series with those in all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
*This book explores many sea-stories and myths that could be researched by students and presented to the class in terms of the historical significance. At the end of the book, each character is highlighted. The book identifies the first appearance, known relatives, nicknames, boat allegiance, history and key stories. Students can model this write-up for other pirates and/or characters that students have researched themselves.
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Jamie McDevitt wrote this review Sunday, March 3, 2013.
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