Book Review: Bloody Jack

A fine gift from Randy, finally read during my Mumbai sojourn.

Bloody Jack by L. A. Meyer (2002)

Overall		Story
Re-Readability		Characters

Great YA tale, “Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary ‘Jacky’ Faber, Ship’s Boy.” Mary’s a street orphan in 18th Century London, barely keeping body and soul together (and sure she’ll be dissected upon miserable death). So she costumes herself as a lad and signs onto one of His Majesty’s war ships as a ship’s boy. Hillarity — and adventure — ensue, as “Jacky” learns about the glory and terror of warship life, trying to keep her secret while dealing with everything from puberty to pirates.

Solidly good stuff, and I’m jazzed to discover that there are are whole series of these books, further “adventures” of the same character. Putting them on my list …

Thanks, Randy!