Privateer's Apprentice

Gr 4–6—Jameson, an orphaned teen living in colonial Charles Town, South Carolina, loses his father's printing business, is jailed for a theft he didn't commit, faces indentured servitude, and is dragged against his will aboard a privateer's ship. He meets a no-nonsense captain, the first mate, two shifty sailors, and other quirky crew members. It becomes quickly apparent that the captain is wise to the rough sailors and Jameson's plight. When he learns of the boy's printing ability, a skill that saves the captain's life, he commissions Jameson to draw what he sees as the ship navigates contested waters in search of more land for the British crown. The driving plot, including a harrowing battle at sea and an escapade on a mysterious island, whets readers' appetites for more action. Youngsters will gain some awareness of colonial life and the salty world of a ship, but the story lacks much historical context. Jameson's naïveté, especially his confusion when various deceptive flags are raised, endears him to readers, yet his character is not that unique. The bullying sailor and the seasoned first mate seem like stock characters in comparison to the captain, who is the most intriguing person on the ship. Pirate and adventure stories are fairly prolific, and this one is not especially remarkable.—Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY