Overview / 简介: |
Kristiana Gregory's swashbuckling tale of a young boy's encounter with a true pirate is being repackaged with a new cover. This high seas adventure is full of historic facts and nefarious characters.
The year is 1818, and the coastal village of Monterey, California, is a peaceful home for 11-year-old Carlito and his family ... until pirate ships appear on the horizon. Carlito and his friends are excited at first. They can't wait to see what real pirates look like. But once the ships drop anchor, they attack. And on one terrible night, Carlito witnesses a murder - his father's. When Carlito climbs on the pirate ship in search of revenge, the ship sets sail and he becomes a stowaway. Can Carlito bring his father's murderer to justice? Or will he suffer the same horrendous fate? |
From Organization / 国外机构评价: |
| Grade 5-8?As she has done in several previous historical novels, Gregory brings to life events and perspectives not often found in the standard history texts. In this exciting novel based on the actual exploits of 19th-century pirate captain Hippolyte de Bouchard, 11-year-old Carlito, who lives in the settlement of Monterey, watches his father die at the hands of the pirates and becomes an unwilling stowaway on their ship when he seeks to avenge his death. While some of the dialogue is stilted, especially in emotional scenes, the sharks, the various cruelties of the pirate band, the bloody battles, and the suspenseful tone of the short, cliffhanger chapters will keep most readers involved. Meanwhile, Gregory provides insights into life in Alta California and nicely integrates Spanish words into the text. Historical notes, a glossary, a bibliography, and maps add to this novel's utility as a starting point for history lessons as well as for leisure reading.?Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie
|
Foreign Customer Review / 国外客户评价: |
| Kristiana Gregory includes maps, a glossary of Spanish and English words and a note on the historical facts of this work. I listed all Challenging vocabulary in this novel and found 334 words to know! The novel is apt for those studying Alta California, the Spanish settlement of the New World, and the attacks of Bouchard the pirate on these settlements. The characterization is realistic. The protagonist struggles with himself over poor decisions and his determination to avenge his father's death. Life on a pirate ship is vividly described. Real life in the beginning of California is clearly portrayed. Danger and cooperation keep the reader fully engrossed in the adventure. Give it a try. It is a short read and adds to the imagination for what could be a dry subject. |
 |
