Reviews (1)

I wrote this book!
I am a former teacher and school librarian who wrote this book for Franklin Watts several years ago. The book had to fit into a series, so my hands were tied about the content, length, and grade level of the book. Also, a photo researcher chose the photos. Some of the photos are good, and some aren't. And one year after the publisher accepted my manuscript, my editor asked me to consolidate the last four chapters about individual pirates into one short chapter. There is a huge amount of material on pirates that I was unable to include in this book. Since publishing pirates, I have published three young adult fiction novels under K.J. McWilliams. THE DIARY OF A SLAVE GIRL, RUBY JO culminates in the historical event of Blackbeard holding Charles Town, SC hostage in May 1718. I have just completed another young adult novel, THE JOURNAL OF JACK BLACK, a FUGITIVE SLAVE that is about slave children who signed aboard Gentleman Stede Bonnet's pirate ship. Many slaves did join pirate ships and were usually treated well since pirates were democratic. I do not yet have a publishing date for JACK BLACK. I have had all my books reviewed favorably many times. PIRATES is out of print but can be found in libraries and online used bookstores. My young adult books can be found in online bookstores as well as libraries and independent bookstores. The titles of my other two books are: THE JOURNAL OF LEROY JEREMIAH JONES, A FUGITIVE SLAVE and THE JOURNAL OF DARIEN DEXTER DUFF, AN EMANCIPATED SLAVE that won 1st place for YA fiction--2003 Royal Palm Award. The young adult novels also have photos and nonfiction information for teachers. ... Read more

Book Description

Grania O'Malley was born with the mark of a sailor and the light of the sea in her eye. As she grew, tales of her courage and heroic deeds traveled across Ireland. But when she came up against a ruthless governor, even fearless Grania was stymied. So she turns to a woman more powerful than she in this heart-stopping tale that's as big as the Irish Sea."McCully writes with great flair and her sweeping watercolors capitalize on the historical drama....What a woman, what a tale." - Publishers Weekly, starred review"McCully introduces a 16th-century heroine who will offer educators an alternative to what is traditionally presented as a male 'occupation.'" - School Library Journal, starred review"Children intrigued by pirates will enjoy McCully's unusual picture book, which offers some insight into the history behind the legend and illuminates more than the life of Grania O'Malley." - BooklistEmily Arnold McCully lives in New York City and Chatham, New York. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Barn At Gun Lake
The Barn At Gun Lake is very good because they arrest the bad guys. I recomend you read the series because you don't want stop reading.

An excellent book!
I am 17 and have cerebral palsy. I've known Johnnie Tuitel for many years, so I was pleased to see his books. I was even more pleased to see how his sense of humor and adventure shines through in his writing. It's very refreshing to find someone who can express the frustrations and triumphs everyone with CP (or any disability, for that matter) runs into, and Johnnie and Sharon do it in such a way that Johnnie Jacobson (the main character) still seems like just one of the gang at Gun Lake. I recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery and adventure, able-bodied and disabled alike. :) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

a good charming mystery
This book was a good charming mystery. It had just the right amounts of twists and turns to make it a good, curl up by the fire book. The pirates give this book, just the right amount of jazz and the thousand islands in this book, gave it just the right touch of fantasy. Overall I'd rate it 4 stars!

good charming mystery
This book was a very charming mystery. It had just the right amount of twists and turns to make it a good cozy curl-up-by-the-fire book. The pirates gave this book just the right amount of jazz, and the Thousand Islands really gave this book a nice touch of fantasy. Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

First Scripture
This is the sort of book which can speak to ten-year-olds of the things that matter most to them: blood, honor, fear, group cohesion. For all the carefully bowdlerized children's books they fed us at school, this is the one that was engraved on our minds, telling us how the higher life could be lived.

Excellent for Young and Old
My friend has just written me about this book. I LOVED it as a 10 year old--and I loved it when I reread it a year or so after I was 40. And I plan now to buy it for my grand daughter. This is a fun and informative book. I wish more young kid books were like this. ... Read more

Book Description

Shiver me timbers!... A wickedly sinful peek at life on the rolling seas.

Did you know that some pirates are big and strong while others are tall and thin and cunning? Pirates can come in many different shapes and sizes, but all are very, very wicked!!! If you want to be a pirate, you'll need an eye patch, a polka-dot handkerchief, a wooden leg or hook, earrings...and this book!

Did you know that the pirate code stipulates that pirates can never be kind to children? Do you know where pirates work? Actually, pirates sail the Seven Seas looking for ships to rob, so they usually don't make it home for dinner. And sometimes, when the captain gets really angry, a pirate will be thrown overboard, so it's a good idea to take lessons in walking the plank.

Pirates also spend a lot of time looking for treasure. It can be buried deep in the ocean or stashed away on a treasure island. Pirates often meet up with sea monsters or typhoons or marauding buccaneers -- but they don't get danger pay!

Another thing about pirates: they don't even buy their own ships! They usually just steal other people's. That's why their ships have nice names like Saucy Sue.

There's so much more to say about pirates (not the least of which is that they like to drink lots of grog and then sing pirate songs). Children will devour the information in this book. It is funny and entertaining, amusingly twisted, and will appeal to that insatiable interest in the wicked world of pirates. With such a warped take on the topic, only an irreverent illustrator like Lucy Blackheart could do it justice. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cute and Light Hearted
Factual content is nearly non-existent, but so what; this is a very fun book. The artwork is bright and glittery, styled in the manner of something drawn by a grade school child. The text makes light of the pirate life, while not making it seem like fun and games (rule number one of the Pirate Code is Never be kind to children). The content is laced with the various myths of pirate life, everything from walking the plank to buried treasure.

All in all this is a fun book for young children, and I emphasize young, with an interest in pirates. For reading of a slightly more factual nature I recommend Eyewitness: Pirate.
P-) ... Read more

Book Description

With his long black curls, a shadowy family tree, and an affinity for pet spiders, James Matthew bears little resemblance to his starched-collar, blue-blooded peers at Eton. Dubbed King Jas., he stops at nothing to become the most notorious underclassman in the prestigious school's history. For James, sword fighting, falling in love with an Ottoman Sultana, and challenging the Queen of England are all in a day's skullduggery. But when he sets sail on a ship with a mysterious mission, King Jas.' dream of discovering a magical island quickly turns into an unimaginable nightmare.

Screenwriter J. V. Hart traces the evolution of J. M. Barrie's classic villain from an eccentric outcast to the scourge of Neverland.