Bloody Jack (novel)
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| Author | Louis A. Meyer |
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| Country | United States of America |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Young Adult's, Historical novel |
| Publisher | Harcourt Children's Books |
| Released | September 1, 2002 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 336 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-15-216731-5 |
| Followed by | Curse of the Blue Tattoo |
Bloody Jack is a historical novel by L.A. Meyer. It is centered on a orphaned girl in London in the early 1800's. The story is continued in "Curse of the Blue Tattoo", "Under the Jolly Roger", and the recently released "In the Belly of the Bloodhound".
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
After describing the death of the family of the protagonist and her entrance into a gang, the action starts out with the main character, Mary Faber, struggling to survive on the streets of London with the other children in the gang- led by the quirky redhead Rooster Charlie, a kind but tough young lad who Jacky learns to love as a brother, and as a leader. The gang's life is rough as they try to survive each day on 18th century London streets.
[edit] Explanation of the novel's title
'Bloody Jack' is a nickname recieved by Jacky for killing a pirate.
[edit] Plot summary
When Rooster Charlie is killed by Muck, a corpse seller that all the children despise, Mary takes his clothes and poses as a boy, in order to get a job. Dressed in boy's clothing, she hears a commotion at the docks and ends up being hired as one of six ship's boys on the British warship Dolphin. Cunning and charming, Mary is hired on because she can read, and sign aboard under the alias Jack ("Jacky") Faber. Soon she mets her fellow ship's boys, Willy, Tink, Benjy, Davy, and Jaimy. It is Jaimy with whom she develops feelings for, and with whom she eventually has a secret relationship with. The book follows her exciting, dangerous, and sometimes humorous adventures at sea. Life gets difficult for Jacky as she earns the name "Bloody Jack" after killing a pirate and soon her Deception begins to spin out of control as more and more events take place that threaten her life on the ship.
[edit] Characters in "Bloody Jack"
- Mary 'Jacky' Faber: The main protagonist of the story. She came from a fairly well-off family, who died of the plague. She was cast out into the street. Later, she joined Rooster Charlie's gang. After Charlie is killed, she enlists with the crew of the H.M.S. Dolphin, under the ruse of being a boy. She has sandy blonde hair and is small for her age.
- Rooster Charlie: The leader of the local gang that Jacky joined when her family died. He was a redhead.
- James 'Jaimy' Emerson Fletcher: A fellow ship's boy on the H.M.S. Dolphin. Jacky makes friends, and eventually falls in love, with him. He comes from a wealthy family, and paid his way onto the H.M.S. Dolphin. He is more stable than she is. He promised to marry Jacky.
- Liam Delaney: is Jacky's overseer who gives her tips and saves her honor quite a lot.
- Muck: A corpse seller. He took Jacky's family away when they died and also took Rooster Charlie away too.
- Davy, Willie, Benjy and Tink: Four of Jacky's best mates who she bonds with and forms a brotherhood with them and Jaimy on the Dolphin.
[edit] Release details
2002, USA, Harcourt Trade Publishers ISBN 0-15-216731-5, Trade Paperback
