Synopsis
Daniel Markham loved his father’s mysterious friends, visiting in the dead of night but always gone by morning. He never imagined they could be pirates. But when the Markhams’ merchant vessel is plundered by the pirate ship Tempest Galley and his father shot dead in an act of revenge, Daniel can’t deny the truth. And now, orphaned and alone, Daniel is trapped and faced with a choice: Join the crew or die.
Unprepared for the temptations of pirate life and for the captain’s inexplicable kindness toward him, Daniel knows only one thing for certain: One false step on a pirate ship could be deadly, and he’ll do anything to stay alive.
Sheryl O'Sullivan - Children's Literature
From the first line of this well-researched pirate tale, "There are few men in this world who can say they have seen their father die twice," the reader is pulled into the fast-paced and exciting story of Daniel Markham and his life among the pirates. Daniel is ostensibly kidnapped by the pirates, so as he joins them in their raids and riotous ways he continues to try to believe he is doing what he does for noble and altruistic reasons. When he is captured and tried for piracy, however, he comes to see that he has actually made many compromises along the way. Based upon the lives of real pirates, and the actual laws and mores that existed about piracy during the early 1700s, this book combines an exciting tale with much factual information. The swashbuckling—literally—story contains enough murder, mayhem and treasure to satisfy the most avid pirate fan, but it also contains an interesting underlying theme about what makes for right behavior. Daniel struggles with the morality of what he is doing even as the action continues to move quickly along. Thoughtful readers will have much to consider about deeper issues involving right and wrong even as they enjoy the suspenseful plot. The book contains many new terms and authentic pirate language, and author notes at the end give background information and explanations for the more puzzling historical parts of the story. A glossary and an extensive bibliography are also included. 2005, Alfred A. Knopf, Ages 9 to 12.