On the Shelf

Header Right Social

FacebookInstagramYoutubeMeetupOn the Shelf Blog

Header Right Search

Pirates

Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao

by Leave a Comment

Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao by Helaine Becker and Liz Wong
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Kids

Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao by Helaine Becker (illustrated by Liz Wong) is about a young woman who would become the most powerful pirate in history.

When pirates raid her city, Zheng Yi Sao boldly makes the pirate captain an offer: she will marry him only if she gets an equal share in his enterprise. He agrees. Years later, her husband has died, and at thirty-two years old Zheng Yi Sao has 70,000 men and 1,800 ships under her command. Her power would eventually come to rival the emperor himself.

In Pirate Queen, Becker takes what little is known about Zheng Yi Sao and weaves together an exciting and intriguing story of her accomplishments and what her life may have been. Wong’s illustrations are simple and muted, yet effective in highlighting Zheng Yi Sao’s cleverness, bravery, and ferocity. I would recommend Pirate Queen for children ages 6-12, or for any adult with an interest in pirate queens.

Find Pirate Queen in the catalog here!

Dark Shores

by Leave a Comment

Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen
Format: Book
Who’s It For: Teens

Jensen’s sea faring adventure is set in a Romanesque world inhabited by forgotten gods and greedy empires. We have two main characters the story follows; Teriana and Marcus.

Marcus is the young leader of a ruthless legion, the Thirty-Seventh, with a brutal reputation of conquering nations in the name of the empire. He is hiding a secret that could not only strip him of his title but cost him his life.

Teriana was born on the mysterious Dark Shores and is heir to the Maarin ship, Quincense. The Maarin are not only traders but have vowed to never allow anyone from the Empire to discover the Dark Shores existence. Then Teriana and Marcus are both faced with what seem to be impossible decisions and are forced together on a mission neither of them wants.

Find it on the catalog.

 

 

Pacifica

by Leave a Comment

Title: Pacifica by Kristen Simmons
Format: Book
Who’s It For: Teens and Adults

Perhaps Ross Torres started it.  Tall, athletic, good-looking, the son of the President of the United States, Ross wanted for nothing.  And yet he was curious about the Shorelings rioting down at the docks.  Ross persuaded Adam, his best friend and the vice-president’s son, to slip out of the Torres’ political party. They’d ditch Ross’ bodyguard and see the riots firsthand.

Marin Carey was transporting jars of tar in her backpack through the crowds of the riot.  Her friends and the children they’d taken in depended on Marin.  She had to sell the addictive substance to afford food and water.  Surely she would find a buyer among the crowds at the docks?

The Shorelings rioted because their land was being confiscated.  What else did they have left?  Many hoped to win the lottery and to be transported to Pacifica, a land somewhere out among the rising waters.  However, Marin had been raised at sea.  She’d never seen unoccupied land or an ocean unmired by floating trash.  Was Pacifica real?

The Limpieza, the police, pushed against the growing masses at the docks.  “Curfew! Go home!”

In the confusion, Marin’s bag of contraband was jostled and the jars broke on the ground.  Phew!  She had to get away from its dizzying smell.

“Adam!  Let’s go!” shouted Ross as blood dripped from his black hair.  Marin stumbled into Ross and Adam.  As the police raised their billy clubs, the three fled from the growing threat.

Would Ross, Marin, and Adam solve the mystery of Pacifica and stop the riots?

I was intrigued by this tale of teen friendship, loyalties, and love.  Also, I found the issues of trash, recycling, and resources very real.

Would you like to read it?

Pajama Pirates

by Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Shannon!

Get ready for an exciting tale of adventure on the salty seas! Pajama Pirates written by Andrew Kramer and illustrated by Leslie Lammle encourages readers to use their imagination and transform the world around them. As the pajama pirates prepare for bedtime, they see beds transform into boats and carpets become rippling seas. Enchanting watercolor illustrations bring the story to life as the pajama pirates set sail and encounter rival ships. By thinking hard and working together, they are able to outwit their foes and return safely to shore. I love an opportunity to use my pirate voice and this book does not disappoint! Pirate encounters on the stormy seas also offer great moments to engage readers with exciting sound effects including splashing waves, cannon balls, and thunder. Although the story is full of excitement, it is also written in rhyme which can be easily transformed into a gentle, singsong story that works perfectly for bedtime. See this book listed in our catalog

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read

by Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Josie!

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley and Kate Berube. One summer day, Nick decides to teach his two best buddies, Stevenson and Verne, how to read. There’s just one problem–Stevenson and Verne are cats! They don’t know how to read! Nick, who loves doing everything with his cats, persists with his idea anyway. If he could learn to read, so could his furry friends! Nick plans out a thorough lesson plan starting with the basics of spelling. He first tries to teach his cats words that might appeal to them like “ball,” “food,” and “nap.” The cats continually ignore him. But Nick doesn’t give up! After a few trials, his cat Verne becomes interested in books about fish and is soon reading all by himself. Stevenson, on the other hand, becomes more and more agitated by the idea of reading (*gasp*) and hides from Nick and Verne. Stevenson’s reluctance to read worries Nick. Will he ever be able to share his love of reading with Stevenson? One afternoon, Nick and Verne discover a pile of colorful drawings under the bed–Stevenson has illustrated an entire story about pirates! So Stevenson was interested in reading after all! But instead of using words, he preferred to use pictures to tell a story. Nick and Verne decide to add to Stevenson’s story by writing in words. For the first time, Stevenson seems intrigued by words. The very next day, Stevenson is found with his whiskers in another book about pirates. Through understanding and encouragement, Nick is able to assist both of his cats as they build their individual reading skills. During this process, the cats even discover subjects that enhance their love of reading. This story kindly reminds us that each reader is unique and that building reading skills comes more easily to some than to others. With a bit of patience and persistence, young readers can attain a strong foundation for early literacy skills as well as a lifelong love of reading. See this book listed in our catalog 

Pirate Vs. Pirate: The Terrific Tale of a Big Blustery Maritime Match

by Leave a Comment

Submitted by Mr. Eric!

Yo ho mateys! Gather round, and let me spin you a yarn about the two most ferocious, fearsome, downright naughty pirates I’ve ever had the misfortune to read about. In this here book, Pirate vs. Pirate: The Terrific Tale of a Big Blustery Maritime Match (shiver me timbers what a mouthful!) by Mary Quattlebaum, we be learning a tale about what happens when two o’ the toughest sea dogs meet at sea and what they do to out-tough the other! Ye see, there be this one pirate who was the biggest, burliest pirate this side o’ the Atlantic. His name be Bad Bart and he could swim with sharks for so long that those ol’ sharks grew tired o’ the chase and would leave him be. Now, there be this other pirate, the maddest, mightiest pirate this side o’ the Pacific. This lass was named Mean Mo and she was so strong that she could hurl cannon balls out to sea with her mighty arms for four whole days without getting tired. When these two meet at sea they ‘ave a contest to see who be the toughest one o’ the seven seas, but instead of out-toughing the other, they learn that they may just have met the love o’ their lives.  Pirate vs. Pirate be a terrific tale of what happens when two o’ the toughest pirates around turn into mushy mewling kittens when they find true love at sea. See this book listed in our catalog