May 1, 2008
Gr 5-8-When Hannah Pritchard's family is killed on their farm by British soldiers and Iroquois Indians, the 14-year-old narrowly escapes to Boston. There, Revolutionary War fever is high, and Hannah vows to avenge the death of her relatives. She eventually makes her way to a privateer ship, where she disguises herself as a boy and works in the kitchen. She has many high-seas adventures while helping to steal loot in the name of the patriots' cause, all the while struggling to keep her identity a secret. This simple, straightforward tale is propelled by a fast-moving plot. Historical and nautical terms are explained well, and a note rounds out the text. This novel is more accessible than L. A. Meyer's more mature and lengthier "Bloody Jack" series (Harcourt)."Kristen Oravec, Stephen S. Wise Elementary School, Los Angeles"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2008
In Jesse, a boy's eagerness to join the Union fight is tempered by the brutality of war. In Hannah, a girl seeking revenge against the British for the murder of her family joins an American privateer ship disguised as a boy. Their adventures occasionally drag. Additional historical facts are appended. Reading list, websites.
(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)