BOOK NAME: Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake Carpenter
AUTHOR: Richard Platt

Ever wonder what a true pirate’s life was like? The pirates portrayed in the movies are usually heartless, swashbuckling, and usually sport an eye patch. I believe reading Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake Carpenter, gives the reader a more realistic insight into the life of a pirate.

The story is told from a fictional diary written by a 9-year-old boy named Jake Carpenter. His family has sent him with his uncle to become a sailor. He signs on to sail with the Greyhound and begins his first sea voyage under the command of a brutal and cruel captain. During the voyage, the ship is captured by a band of pirates, and now Jake is forced to become one of them. Jake learns how to live like a pirate. He has to abide by their rules, assist in their raids, and repair their ship. Pirates are considered criminals by the Americans, British, and other European powers; therefore, Jake is now also a criminal. Pirates often have to suffer the death penalty for their criminal actions. There may be no escape from the dangerous and possibly deadly way of life Jake has been thrown into.

The author wrote this book brilliantly. I enjoyed how the book was told in the form of a journal. It was unique to hear the story from the main character’s viewpoint. The journal or diary really gives the reader a sense of what Jake is feeling and experiencing on a day to day basis. I liked the colorful illustrations that make the book more entertaining. The illustrations also vividly portray certain events in the story, making it easier to understand. This book was a short, straightforward, and effortless read, which means that it is perfect for reading in your spare time.

I highly recommend this book to people who like to derive fact from fiction. This book tells the story of true pirate life, versus the Hollywood version seen in movies. Hollywood pirates and real pirates are different in several ways. For example, real pirates are organized bands of raiders that follow a fair system of laws that the crew themselves often create. In fact, many merchant ship captains are crueler and more unjust than pirate captains. Hollywood pirates are often publicized as ruthless, menacing, lawless villains with no respect for each other. The end of the book reports about true pirate, and how they lived. The book also provides an article about some of the most famous pirates that ever lived and revealed some interesting facts. Did you know that Blackbeard’s real name was Edward Teach or that a pirate named Jean Lafitte helped America gain independence by fighting British naval ships? Read this book for “arrr” fascinating adventure, “matey!”