Bloody Jack [Sound Recording]

Meyer, L.A.  2007.  Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy.  Read by Katherine Kellgren. New Jersey: Listen and Live Audio, Inc..  ISBN 9781593160944

In a plague-ravaged London, Mary Faber finds herself without home or family. Adopted by a gang of street urchins, she finds camaraderie, though no comfort, until a villain destroys that comfort, as well. Striking out on her own, she disguises herself as a boy and is lucky to find a sea-faring home on the HMS Dolphin. Jack Faber, as she has renamed herself, finds adventure, terror and pleasure in her new role.

L.A. Meyer allows the potentially weak Mary to come of age under questionable influences, but is able to believably maintain the moral beliefs, naiveté and exuberance of a young girl. The narration and dialogue are believable and authentic for the time-period, which only adds to the sense of thrilling escape.

In this unabridged recording of Bloody Jack, Katherine Kellgren introduces a voice that matches the mood, context, pace and genre without fault. Read with all the inflections of a vivid imagination, the reader is transported onto the streets of London, Her Majesty’s Ship Dolphin and a sea-faring adventure. Readers of all ages and genders will easily identify with and applaud Mary as she comes to terms with her independence, station and love of life.

This is truly an engaging, well-written work of historical fiction, and the subsequent adventures are on my must read list.

“...Bloody Jack is the perfect audiobook to make those long family car trips fly by.” (Publishers Weekly/May 2007)

"...this rousing historical tale is an appealing choice for fans of adventures, sea stories, and gutsy girls." (Booklist/2007)

Possible Activities:
1. Use book as a dialogue starter for English history and the treatment of women in past societies.
2. Open discussion to include agreements and disagreements for decisions made by Jacky throughout the story.