About This Book:
This wow-worthy book proves that women have been making their mark in all aspects of history―even the high seas!
Meet Ching Shih, a Chinese pirate who presided over a fleet of 80,000 men (by contrast, Blackbeard had some 300). Get the scoop on Anne Bonny who famously ran away from an arranged marriage to don trousers and brandish a pistol in the Bahamas. And there are more!
Each pirate profile includes a dramatic original poem presented against a backdrop of gorgeous full-color art by award-winning illustrator Sara Gómez Woolley. Each profile is followed by fascinating information about the real life and times of these daring (and dangerous!) women.
Vetted by the world’s leading pirate experts and historians, this book is a cool and edgy gift. It’s also perfect for any curious kid who dreams of adventure and for parents who are eager to show their tweens and teens that history is more diverse, daring, and surprising than what is typically found in textbooks.
*Review Contributed by Karen Yingling, Staff Reviewer*
Diverse group of women pirates
This was a fascinating look at a wide range of historical female pirates. The most recent being Ching Shi, who lived from 1775-1844. This historical aspects makes it much easier to frame the women’s exploits as adventure and shattering stereotypical gender boundaries, since “pillaging and plundering” seem like activities that everyone is discouraged from these days! I loved the introduction explaining how Lewis and her daughters were fascinated by pirates, and how this led her to research them. The fact that a broad time period and wide range of cultures is represented is wonderful. Artemsia I of Caria, Sela, Sayyida al Hurra, Grace O’Malley, and Anne Bonny, in addition to Ching Shi, all get coverage.
We’re starting to see a wealth of diverse collective biographies, from Shatz’ Rad Women A to Z (2015) to Baptiste’s African Icons (2021), but I have not seen one about pirates! This is a great nonfiction accompaniment to Schulz’ Hook’s Revenge (2014) or Avi’s classic The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (1990)
