Pirates - John Matthews

Pirate thrills may be too much for some kids.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Read the book?
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Book details
  • Author:John Matthews
  • # of pages: 32
  • Publisher:Atheneum
  • Original Publication Date: 06/01/2006
  • Genre: Non-Fiction - History
  • Hardcover: $19.95
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 6 - 12
  • Read Aloud: 8
  • Read Alone: 10

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this look at historical pirate life includes discussion of torture, execution, and war. Illustrations of weapons include splashes of blood underneath knives and axes. The book also includes a recipe for grog (a rum drink) and a mention of gambling and brothels.

Families can talk about the lure of pirate life and its consequences. Why are pirates romanticized? Can they think of other examples of bad guys who are celebrated in movies and books? Does knowing the truth about pirates make them more or less interesting?

Message

Social Behavior:

Robbing, gambling, drinking, and fighting.

Consumerism:

Two pictures from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise start and end the book.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Inclusion of a recipe for "grog" (a rum drink), a mention of gambling and brothels.

Violence

True tellings of the violent lives of historical pirates, illustrations of weapons include splashes of blood underneath knives and axes.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Dawn Friedman

This historical account of pirate life doesn't skimp on the bloody details.

Is it any good?

4

Capitalizing on Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, this heavily illustrated book is a fascinating investigation into pirate history. However, pirate misdeeds may scare the youngest members of the book's intended audience.

The mixed message -- that pirates are romantic and fun but also extremely bad individuals -- starts right at the front where an actual sealed envelope sits on top of a photograph of a treasure map in flames. Inside is a document for the book's owner to sign, agreeing to come along and participate on a pirate adventure. Parents will want to talk with kids to be sure they get the message that pirates aren't guys to emulate.

The sinister cover featuring a bejeweled skull and crossbones on a rusty black background hides a well-researched history book that may be written over the heads (and vocabularies) of many members of its target audience. Even kids who say they're too old for read alouds might want to sit with a parent to make sure they wring every last detail out of the challenging text. Those kids who skip the bulk of the narrative will still learn something since all the illustrations are captioned and lots of information is tucked away into easy-to-manage charts and lists.

Additional items of interest slipped into envelopes or unfolding from the page are scattered throughout the book. Features include a book of pirate slang (no words that would be unwelcome at most dinner tables), an actual pirate recruitment ad from 1779, and a reproduction of William Kidd's pirate license. The busy extras encourage repeated browsing and the sturdy cardstock pages will stand up to heavy handling.

Parents will definitely want to read through the book themselves first, but kids who are old enough to handle the violent details will be enthralled by the lavish illustrations and interesting exploration of pirate life.

Other choices

Pirate Fiction
Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth by J.V. Hart
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes
Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer

Similarly Packaged Books
Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology Handbook: a practical course in dragons by Dugald Steer
Dragonology by Ernest Drake and Dugald Steer
Egyptology by Emily Sands
Wizardology by Anne Yvonne Gilbert

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