Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "graphic-novel"

Pirate Queen: The Legend of Grace O'Malley by Tony Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Strife is a byword during the time in which Grace O’Malley grows up. As a young girl, England ravages her homeland: ransacking churches, oppressing the people, and taking land from the Irish to give to Englishmen. But the O’Malleys are a proud clan and they are determined to fight for Ireland, which gains them enemies among the English.

Often away on sailing voyages, Grace’s father arranges for her to foster with a neighboring clan, the O’Flahertys. The idea doesn’t sit well with Grace, who would much rather follow in her father’s footsteps than do what is expected of girls. And she’s not about to live with Donal O’Flaherty, a young lad who always mocks her because she is a girl. Unbeknownst to her father, Grace stows away on his ship. Donal intercepts her, but rather than stop her, he gives her a gift in hopes that it will keep her safe. Another who turns a blind eye to her disobedience is Finn, her dad’s most trusted man.

One journey takes them to Scotland where an earl requests their assistance in getting five-year-old Mary Queen of Scots to safety. The English try to stop them – an encounter that brings Grace face-to-face with her future nemesis, a man named Bingham. He slays Finn, but Grace, her father, and the queen escape his clutches. Bingham’s wrath knows no bounds. As Grace matures and gains the moniker “Pirate Queen of Ireland,” he employs other Irishmen to assassinate her father and betray her. Bingham even tries to murder Grace with the help of someone within her own castle, but the murderer’s arrow strikes a man she rescued from a shipwreck. Grace is determined to unearth the traitor and exact revenge. Bingham is equally intent of stopping her no matter what it takes or who he must kill.

This graphic novel blends legend and fact to recount Grace’s life from her early years to her final days. It begins in 1546 and ends in 1603, the same year in which another famous queen dies. The story deftly portrays the “battle” between Grace and Bingham – a struggle that ultimately forces Grace to risk her own life to meet with Elizabeth I on that queen’s home turf. Also portrayed is the birth of Grace’s son while she is at sea and how she rallies her men during an attack. Here the pirates are English and in league with Bingham, but most historical accounts identify them as Barbary corsairs. The only time in the novel where the author asks readers to suspend belief is in her ability to control the weather.

Both author and illustrator do commendable jobs showing readers that Grace is a woman who looks at the big picture and knows her enemies well. Never once do they portray her as superhuman. Yes, she is successful, but her actions always have consequences, and sometimes those consequences endanger her loved ones. The artwork captures the action and the subdued colors fit the mood of the story. For readers who enjoy graphic novels or who want a quick recap of Grace’s life, Pirate Queen is a good introduction to this woman who dared to defy those who wished to stamp out a culture and whose story is remembered because the bards followed her example to keep her memory alive in spite of her enemies.




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Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, a Princess, and Her Crew of Lady Pirates by Cassandra Federman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


FFSs. Stands for forever-fighting sisters, according to Kennedy. Nor does it help that she and Devon are total opposites with only three commonalities: stories, pizza, and a baby sister named Eve. She shares their room. She cries at night.

Kennedy and Devon’s arguing comes to a head when they break the television. Mom takes away their phones and electronics. She does not want to hear any noise from their room. They must learn to get along or else they will never get their items back!

Even with the door closed, the fighting continues until they decide to tell the perfect fairy tale. Of course, that leads to more bickering since Kennedy, who likes math, has her own formula for what does and does not belong in a fairy tale. Devon, on the other hand, loves danger. Eventually, they join forces to tell Eve a bedtime story so she will sleep. Kennedy will do the traditional parts while Devon adds the “COOL parts” – which leads to more clashes and a story involving a princess pirate who goes in search of someone or something to kidnap her so Prince Charming will rescue her and they will live happily ever after. Except, this princess isn’t the only one looking for true love.

The majority of this graphic book is in black and white, but there are fifteen pages in color. These may denote that change is in the air, although that’s a guess rather a known fact. There are multiple chapters, each with a specific focus that leads toward Princess Sparklepuff’s goal. Devon’s “Dangery” parts include lady pirates, dragons, a mermaid, spiders, a shark, and garbage.

More important than the princess’s quest, the sisters learn to communicate and realize what it means to be sisters. Readers are never quite sure what’s coming next, which keeps them invested in both tales. Geared toward girls ages seven to ten, the sibling rivalry is something many will readily identify with and Kennedy and Devon’s solution may just give them ideas of their own so that their parents can have some peace and quiet.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/YA-graphic...)



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