Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 3
February 19, 2025
Blackbeard: review of graphic biography
Blackbeard, Feared Pirate Captain by Jessica GundersonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
When England is at war with France, a youth named Edward Teach joins a crew of privateers, but when peace comes, he signs aboard a pirate ship captained by the infamous Benjamin Hornigold, who teaches Edward how to be a pirate. Before long, he becomes famous in his own right and earns a moniker that instills fear in anyone who crosses his path: Blackbeard.
Rather than farm the land, John Roberts joins the British Navy and seeks adventure. Later, he joins the crew of a merchant ship, which encounters pirates. He is forced to join their ranks, but soon discovers that the perks of plundering other ships will make his life richer. When his captain is ambushed and slain, the crew elects Roberts to be their commander. He chooses a new name and wreaks havoc everywhere he sails in Black Bart.
Daughter of a chieftain and pirate, Grace O’Malley chops off her hair and hides aboard her father’s ship until they are so far out at sea that he can’t tell her to go home. The day eventually comes when her mother puts her foot down and Grace must follow the traditional role of a woman in 16th-century Ireland. Later, she returns to the sea to become a pirate leader and dares to meet face-to-face with the English queen to save her son in Grace O’Malley.
To survive, young Ching Shih serves men who visit her place of work. She overhears men talking, and she offers the information to a pirate for a price. They marry and she becomes his partner. Their success garners them many riches and much power. When her husband dies, she finds a way to continue to lead the Red Fleet and to instill fear in the heart of the Chinese emperor in Ching Shih.
Notorious Pirates is a series of four graphic novels geared toward pirate apprentices. Each pirate’s life unfolds from earliest days to the end of his or her piratical career. Fact is entwined with legend, sometimes to fill in gaps, sometimes to further entice readers. Each book is divided into five chapters and includes additional facts about the pirate, a glossary, and several internet sites where additional information can be found. The text combines dialogue and narrative to provide a cohesive tale from start to finish. The artwork grabs the reader’s attention and the artists incorporate a variety of techniques to instill emotion into the scenes. Those found in Blackbeard are particularly good at portraying victims’ terror and Blackbeard’s fearsomeness. I particularly like how the artists of this book depict the final battle between Blackbeard and Lieutenant Maynard; it’s visually stunning without being bloody and gory. Equally compelling is how the artists depict a duel between a pirate and a sailor in Black Bart.
There are some issues with the books that may or may not bother readers. Unfortunately, the inclusion of websites is problematic. It’s great to provide additional information, but not all of the URLs are current. For example, the last one listed in Grace O’Malley – Twinkl: Who Was Grace O’Malley? – is no longer viable. I did a search to see whether the URL had changed, but the information that answers the question is no longer there. Instead “Grace O’Malley” turned up a variety of visuals and activities for use in the classroom.
While most of the artwork vividly depicts scenes and action, the graphics do have some shortcomings. The clothing in Grace O’Malley is that of a later period than the one in which she lives. Vessels of the 1500s do not have staircases – nor do those of Blackbeard’s days – and the types of cannons used on the ships differ from those of later centuries. The vessels Ching Shih and her pirates sail are junks, yet those pictured show them as being predominately Western-style ships. This detracts from the setting and misleads the reader.
There are also a few historical inaccuracies. One graphic perpetuates the myth of walking the plank. The golden age of piracy does not begin in 1701; it occurs after the War of the Spanish Succession ends in the next decade. This is supposedly why Blackbeard turns to piracy. While the depiction of how he meets Stede Bonnet is humorous, in actuality, Bonnet is gravely injured and on the mend at the time Blackbeard commandeers Bonnet’s ship.
Since this series is geared toward younger pirates in training (Reading Level: grades 2-3, Interest Level: 4-6), these books will be popular with this age group and the reinforced library bindings of the hardback editions guarantee they will stand up to frequent usage. They serve as good introductions to the pirates, and the inclusion of two females and two males ensures that the books will interest girls and boys equally. The stories do gloss over some of the seamier aspects of these pirates’ lives, so parents and teachers need not worry about this. I recommend that further investigations into these pirates be paired with these books so readers receive a fuller and more accurate picture of who Grace O’Malley, Blackbeard, Black Bart, and Ching Shih really were.
(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/YA-biograp...)
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Black Bart: review of graphic biography
Black Bart, Daring Pirate of the Atlantic by Jessica GundersonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Rather than farm the land, John Roberts joins the British Navy and seeks adventure. Later, he joins the crew of a merchant ship, which encounters pirates. He is forced to join their ranks, but soon discovers that the perks of plundering other ships will make his life richer. When his captain is ambushed and slain, the crew elects Roberts to be their commander. He chooses a new name and wreaks havoc everywhere he sails in Black Bart.
Daughter of a chieftain and pirate, Grace O’Malley chops off her hair and hides aboard her father’s ship until they are so far out at sea that he can’t tell her to go home. The day eventually comes when her mother puts her foot down and Grace must follow the traditional role of a woman in 16th-century Ireland. Later, she returns to the sea to become a pirate leader and dares to meet face-to-face with the English queen to save her son in Grace O’Malley.
When England is at war with France, a youth named Edward Teach joins a crew of privateers, but when peace comes, he signs aboard a pirate ship captained by the infamous Benjamin Hornigold, who teaches Edward how to be a pirate. Before long, he becomes famous in his own right and earns a moniker that instills fear in anyone who crosses his path: Blackbeard.
To survive, young Ching Shih serves men who visit her place of work. She overhears men talking, and she offers the information to a pirate for a price. They marry and she becomes his partner. Their success garners them many riches and much power. When her husband dies, she finds a way to continue to lead the Red Fleet and to instill fear in the heart of the Chinese emperor in Ching Shih.
Notorious Pirates is a series of four graphic novels geared toward pirate apprentices. Each pirate’s life unfolds from earliest days to the end of his or her piratical career. Fact is entwined with legend, sometimes to fill in gaps, sometimes to further entice readers. Each book is divided into five chapters and includes additional facts about the pirate, a glossary, and several internet sites where additional information can be found. The text combines dialogue and narrative to provide a cohesive tale from start to finish. The artwork grabs the reader’s attention and the artists incorporate a variety of techniques to instill emotion into the scenes. Those found in Blackbeard are particularly good at portraying victims’ terror and Blackbeard’s fearsomeness. I particularly like how the artists of this book depict the final battle between Blackbeard and Lieutenant Maynard; it’s visually stunning without being bloody and gory. Equally compelling is how the artists depict a duel between a pirate and a sailor in Black Bart.
There are some issues with the books that may or may not bother readers. Unfortunately, the inclusion of websites is problematic. It’s great to provide additional information, but not all of the URLs are current. For example, the last one listed in Grace O’Malley – Twinkl: Who Was Grace O’Malley? – is no longer viable. I did a search to see whether the URL had changed, but the information that answers the question is no longer there. Instead “Grace O’Malley” turned up a variety of visuals and activities for use in the classroom.
While most of the artwork vividly depicts scenes and action, the graphics do have some shortcomings. The clothing in Grace O’Malley is that of a later period than the one in which she lives. Vessels of the 1500s do not have staircases – nor do those of Blackbeard’s days – and the types of cannons used on the ships differ from those of later centuries. The vessels Ching Shih and her pirates sail are junks, yet those pictured show them as being predominately Western-style ships. This detracts from the setting and misleads the reader.
There are also a few historical inaccuracies. One graphic perpetuates the myth of walking the plank. The golden age of piracy does not begin in 1701; it occurs after the War of the Spanish Succession ends in the next decade. This is supposedly why Blackbeard turns to piracy. While the depiction of how he meets Stede Bonnet is humorous, in actuality, Bonnet is gravely injured and on the mend at the time Blackbeard commandeers Bonnet’s ship.
Since this series is geared toward younger pirates in training (Reading Level: grades 2-3, Interest Level: 4-6), these books will be popular with this age group and the reinforced library bindings of the hardback editions guarantee they will stand up to frequent usage. They serve as good introductions to the pirates, and the inclusion of two females and two males ensures that the books will interest girls and boys equally. The stories do gloss over some of the seamier aspects of these pirates’ lives, so parents and teachers need not worry about this. I recommend that further investigations into these pirates be paired with these books so readers receive a fuller and more accurate picture of who Grace O’Malley, Blackbeard, Black Bart, and Ching Shih really were.
(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/YA-biograp...)
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January 21, 2025
Cassandra James's Capitana
Capitana by Cassandra JamesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
“From preparation comes perfection.” This principle guides everything that Ximena Reale does, including executing Captain Salvador Domínguez. He is a pirate guilty of murder and treason, just like her parents, and the only way to wash away the stain on her family is to be the best and to achieve the rank of cazadora. Everything on this day goes without a hitch, except that her sister fails to appear for the execution and for the pirate’s dying words, “¡Viva Gasparilla! ¡Viva la Libertad!”
For every step forward that Ximena achieves toward her goal, her sister demonstrates weakness that threatens it. Like failing to attend the hanging with all the other archivists. Each disobeyance endangers Marquessa, and makes Ximena fear that she will not be able to keep her safe as she promised the day their parents died.
Ximena does not understand why the executed pirate dared to speak such treasonous words, especially since Gasparilla died two centuries ago. He is not and cannot be alive, and yet rumors, roses, and tattoos suggest the impossible. If she can discover where his long-lost stolen treasure and the pirates’ hideout are, she will have all she needs to surmount her parents’ transgressions and attain her dream. With the help of one of the archivists, this is possible, but convincing the admiral without proof positive is highly unlikely . . . until pirates attack the city and kidnap the queen. Then the admiral re-evaluates Ximena’s treasure map, and selects her, as well as the archivist and her nemesis, to pursue the pirates. Going on this mission is her dream, but it also means that she must leave behind her sister who now languishes in prison under a sentence of death. Her only chance to save Marquessa is to return triumphant, but will Ximena do so in time?
Knowing fellow classmate Dante de Léon, he will do his best to prevent her from succeeding. He is her nemesis and gets away with every disgrace possible, but he is also untouchable. She must work for every iota she achieves, whereas he merely needs to smile because his mother is the high minister of Luza. As the most powerful member of the realm aside from the queen, she is the one person who can and will prevent Ximena from attaining her dream.
Capitana is written for ages 14 and up, but even adults will be captivated by this fantasy romance that expertly weaves piratical details, including a mock pirate trial, into a story that asks one essential question: Are you brave enough to fight for the things that are worth fighting for? Ximena Reale has foibles and strengths that enrich her as a character and make us readily identify with her. James intricately intertwines elements of realism with fantasy that ebb and flow as each successive wave crests higher and higher. At the same time, death-defying twists leave you guessing and your heart pounding as Ximena faces difficult dilemmas and truths and must decide whether the true path to follow is the same as when she begins her journey.
(Review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/James.html)
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Mark Piggott's Corsair and the Sky Pirates
Corsair and the Sky Pirates by Mark PiggottMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Inspired by the writings of Jules Verne and having discovered a new source of power, Nikola Tesla collaborates with the author to create new machines that combine imagination and science. Within two decades the course of human history has changed and it pits Tesla against Thomas Edison. Tesla wishes to make life easier for the common man. Edison craves wealth and power. Theirs is a struggle that leads to many confrontations, one of which takes place over the English Channel in 1907.
Corsair, one of several infamous pirates who work for Tesla, and John Kreusi, Edison’s number two man, both seek the same thing. A pure and large fragment of Uriel, remnants of a comet that provide constant heat that never dies and have allowed the two inventors to create innovations that allow people to travel by air, land, and sea. Kreusi also knows a terrible secret about Uriel, and he’s determined to acquire this larger power source no matter the cost. If he succeeds, his boss and the powerful people who work with him can finally achieve the maniacal scheme that will lead to world domination.
The odds may be against Corsair and his sky pirates, but they always have several unexpected tricks up their sleeves. These come in handy when they drop in on the Zeppelin Valiant, where their nemesis has set a trap. They manage to evade the trap and gain the plunder they come for, as well as a few items (including a Hollerith Thinking Machine) that turn out to have unexpected dividends once they return to Tesla’s secret base in an Icelandic volcano. Both the pirates and the enemy know this encounter aboard the pride of the White Star fleet is but the first engagement in an ever-escalating game of high stakes and deadly consequences.
This steampunk adventure has an intriguing cast of characters. The enemy includes such historical personages as Edison, Wilhelm Röntgen, Mata Hari, the Pinkertons, and Marjorie Meriweather Post. The sky pirates are unique individuals with singular talents, including a blind navigator, a female spy who blends into any background, a garage mechanic turned engineer with a penchant for taking Verne’s ideas and making them a reality, and an Apache warrior. They also have an assortment of colleagues who have made their mark on history, like Sam Cody, Pancho Villa, and Geronimo. Filled with unexpected twists, betrayal, and nail-biting danger, Corsair and the Sky Pirates visits Egyptian pyramids, French caves, and the desert of the American southwest in a race to acquire what may be the only surviving pure remnant of a comet that has the potential to enrich or destroy the world. The questions are who will triumph and what will happen next?
(Review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-scif...)
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William C. Hammond's A Return to Duty
A Return to Duty by William C. HammondMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Separated when their ship wrecks, followed by desperate struggles to survive, Richard and Anne Cutler reunite in New South Wales in the fall of 1845. The reasons that originally brought them to this part of the world have been successfully concluded without them. The British Royal Navy will work with the United States Navy to suppress piracy in Asian waters with Imperial China’s approval. Now, the Cutlers return home to family and friends, and to decide what course their lives will take after their ordeals.
Richard secures leave from the Navy, while he and Anne work on a joint writing venture that will share their story with American readers. He also steps into the role of director of Cutler & Sons, after his predecessor was lost at sea while in the Far East. In his new role, he agrees with the older members of the family that under no circumstances will Cutler ships import opium into the United States. Some younger family members don’t agree with this since the importation is legal.
Before he decides whether to resign his commission and take full control of the family business, Richard needs to return to the Far East and confer with their agents there. He will also work with the American and Royal Navies in their attempt to stop the pirates from seizing merchant ships and to rescue their captives, many of whom are American sailors. His journey reunites him with two of his men from the shipwreck, both of whom played crucial roles in their survival after the disaster. One is Lieutenant Jonathan “Jonty” Montgomery, who now serves aboard Columbia. He’s become smitten with Daisy Cutler, whose father is the director of the Asian segment of the company. An encounter with pirates leads to a severe injury, but Jonty is determined not to let it end his naval career. He’s just as certain that he and Daisy will marry one day.
The other survivor is Jack Brengle, Richard’s former executive officer and now a captain in his own right. He commands the steamship that will take Richard to the Far East. First, though, the pair must track down Richard’s niece, Lucy Seymour, who has mysteriously disappeared. It’s possible that her disappearance is connected to Harlan Sturgis, who was romancing Richard’s mother until she realized all he wanted was information about the company to use to his advantage.
A Return to Duty is the eighth offering in the Cutler Family Chronicles. It centers around the lucrative trade of the highly addictive opium that resulted in war between China and Great Britain, and the brutal and persistent marauding of Chinese pirates on foreign shipping. The characters are expertly drawn and they pull you into the story with a full gamut of emotions. Hammond deftly weaves his research into his tale without ever allowing you to notice that he’s done so. Instead, he breathes life into a world that no longer exists and yet seems real enough to touch. He masterfully crafts unsettling action involving sharks, fire ships, bomb vessels, and boarders in a gut-wrenching climax that is tempered with love and reunion.
(Review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/WHammond.h...)
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Philip K. Allan's Clay and the River of Silver
Clay and the River of Silver by Philip K. AllanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Following the Battle of Trafalgar, Britain rules the seas and the Admiralty believes the time has come to take the war to the enemy. Captain Sir Alexander Clay suggests taking the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch, but his plan requires an amphibious attack with the army taking the lead. The squadron commander for this worthy idea will be Captain Home Riggs Popham. Normally, he would be given the honorary rank of commodore, but the Admiralty refuses to do so. They’re wary of Popham and his penchant for recklessness and self-aggrandizing. Clay is to serve as his deputy to rein in those proclivities.
Before leaving England, Popham and Nicholas Vansittart, a diplomat, meet with a gentleman from South America. He represents a group of patriots within the Viceroyalty de la Plata who seek assistance in their bid for freedom from Spain. He tempts the two Englishmen with a large quantity of silver currently awaiting shipment to Spain. The venture entices both men for different reasons, but the cabinet never promises to support the rebels. Still, Popham is not opposed to exploring the venture after the Cape of Good Hope is under British rule. Vansittart’s only reservations involve the diplomatic angles such intrusion may impose and he doubts Clay will be amenable to the whole affair.
Nor does Popham take the Admiralty’s neglect in elevating him to commodore well. It causes friction between him and Clay, and he’s jealous of Clay’s successes and close connections with the First Lord. Still, they must work together, first in southern Africa and then in Argentina. Eventually, Popham’s objectives diverge from everyone else’s and Clay and his men, as well as the army, pay the dearest prices.
Some readers may find this ninth offering in the Alexander Clay series less interesting than previous naval episodes in the Napoleonic Wars. I fall into this category, and this is not the first historical novel I’ve read that portrays these incidents. What intrigues me is the contrast between Allan’s portrayal with his series’ characters and Julian Stockwin’s with his in Betrayal. Thomas Kydd plays a more central role throughout and has a personal stake in his relationship with Popham. Alexander Clay stays mostly on the periphery, and Allan is clearer in how the different events unfold. He also provides more from the army’s perspective than the navy. Having read both versions, I find that the two combined give a unique and greater understanding of why and how these historic events unfolded. When Clay and his men are front and center, the scenes are riveting. Episodes within Clay and the River of Silver have parallels relevant to situations in today’s world.
(Review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Allan.html...)
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Chen Shuoxuan's Fujian in the Sea
Fujian in the Sea: Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road by Shuoxuan ChenMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
During the 1st century BCE, Chinese sailors venture from Guangdong to India. They don’t seek to establish trade relations between the two countries. They seek luxurious treasures and an elixir of immortality for the emperor. Economic development will not become of prime importance until the Bureau of Foreign Shipping is established, and Fujian is well-situated geographically to play a key role in overseas trade and the transportation of envoys and passengers between China and foreign countries.
The mountainous terrain of Fujian insures that the seven tribes living there favor the sea as their primary means of livelihood and sustainability. The forests provide shipwrights with the resources needed to establish flourishing shipyards where the best and most technologically advanced vessels of the day are built. With water covering half of the province, waterways provide the main source of transportation from one location to another, connecting major rivers like Min, Jin, Jiulong, Ting, and Mulan to the sea. In time, corruption, strife, and unrest within Imperial China cause members of the Eight Families of Fujian (Chen, He, Hu, Huang, Lin, Qiu, Zhan, and Zheng) to venture beyond the shores of China, and the Maritime Silk Road is key to this trade and emigration.
Just as people leave China, so do foreigners visit the country via Fujian, allowing for the exchange of culture and information. New crops – corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and tobacco – are introduced in China, while the manufacture of lacquerware and porcelain, the production of paper, and the smelting of iron are just some of the processes shared with other countries. Europeans such as Catholic priests Matteo Ricci and Giulio Aleni share their religious beliefs during their visits to China. The Chinese introduce the compass and gunpowder to Arabs, who teach astronomy, math, and medicine to the Fujianese. What both sides come to realize is that they possess similarities and differences, which lead to both greater understanding and controversy.
Fujian in the Seais part of the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series edited by Xie Bizhen. It presents a fair portrait of Fujian’s maritime history and participation in maritime trade, although there are a few occasions where only the Chinese view is presented. What makes both this title and the series unique and of value to maritime and Chinese history collections is that they present glimpses into China and especially Fujian that Western readers rarely see. The inclusion of photographs, artifacts, pages from historical documents, and ancestral halls with the narrative unify the information presented to showcase the important role the Fujianese have played throughout China’s maritime history. It emphasizes that there is more to commerce and the Maritime Silk Road than just trade goods.
(Review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-expl...)
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Xu Bin & Zhang Jinhong's By the Wind
By the Wind: Fujian and Northeast Asia by Jinhong ZhangMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sometimes, it helps to comprehend the past in order to improve the future. This is the premise behind the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series edited by Xie Bizhen. By the Wind examines one aspect of this history – the maritime trade between the province of Fujian, China, and Korea and Japan, ties that date back to the early years of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). The mountainous terrain of Fujian makes the sea a natural point of egress and ingress, which is why Fujianese merchants venture near and far aboard ships.
The earliest exchanges between Fujian and Northeast Asia document the sea routes that lead to thriving ports and renowned shipbuilding, especially during the Tang Dynasty (7th to beginning of 10th centuries). During the 900s, Fuzhou and Quanzhou become the principal ports involved in foreign trade. Among the goods purchased by those living on the Korean Peninsula are ivory, lacquerware, musical instruments, porcelain, tea, and wine. The Japanese favor books, copper coins, medicine, silk, spices, and stationery. Fujian merchants import folding fans, mercury, sulfur, swords, and timber from Japan, while Korean ginseng, horses, and weapons are in demand.
Commercial goods are not the only items that travel to and from Fujian and its trading partners. Buddhist monks sail back and forth, recording religious, cultural, and legal observations. Scriptures are translated and temples are built. Jianzhen sails to Japan six times. Duhou Xingshi, author of the four-volume The Five-cloud Collection, spends thirty-four years there. These monks show the Japanese how to prepare tea, which in turn becomes key components in their rituals. Ideas, customs, and printing techniques are among the other exchanges that occur.
There are periods when maritime trade experiences disruptions. Unrest in 14th-century Japan leads warriors and peasants to invade and plunder the coastal regions of Korea and Fujian, which significantly impacts Fujian socially and economically. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, some Chinese emperors mandate bans on trade with foreigners, which gives rise to smuggling in Fujian.
The book does have a few weaknesses. For example, there is a lack of consistency in capitalization. Assumptions are sometimes made regarding the familiarity of readers with Chinese history and culture. The mention of dynasties without actual dates is one example of this. Another is the reference to tea frying, something I had never heard of even though I enjoy drinking tea.
The strength of this volume is the wealth of information on Fujian during the Imperial period of Chinese history. Although it isn’t presented in great detail, what is shared serves as a good introduction on a variety of topics related to maritime trade, much of which is unfamiliar to English readers. Equally compelling are the illustrations, which allow readers to glimpse the rich history and culture without being able to explore either firsthand. I particularly enjoy the array of ships and close-ups of ship models that allow me to visually study the differences between vessels from Fujian, Northeast Asia, and Europe. I also like the ancient nautical charts, such as Nautical Charts of the Imperial Envoys to Ryukyu drawn by Zhe Henian and the double-page spread of a dragon dance in front a temple devoted to Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea.
As with the other titles in the series, By the Wind is a stimulating and immersive overview of Fujian’s role in the Maritime Silk Road, specifically as it regards China’s commercial and cultural exchanges with Korea and Japan.
(Review originally posted at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-expl...)
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Nie Dening & Zhang Yuan's Across the Sea
Across the Sea: Fujian and Southeast Asia by Yuan ZhangMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Silk Road was a land route that established trade between China and Europe. Imperial China also traded with eleven countries in Southeast Asia via the sea, with Fujian being the principal Chinese point of contact with foreigners. These routes were part of the Maritime Silk Road, and this volume of the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series examines trade within this network of countries.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), Governor Wang Shenzhi lays the groundwork for Fujian to play a central role in overseas trade, but the earliest trading ventures between China and Southeast Asia date back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). The port of Fuzhou will play such a key role that it becomes one of three where trade with foreigners is permitted by imperial decree. Admiral Zheng He will begin his seven treasure expeditions from Fujian beginning in the 15th century.
Trade is not one-sided; instead, Chinese go to other countries and mariners of those regions come to China. Copper, iron, and ceramics are traded for currency, jewelry, and spices. Zhao Rushi writes about these cultural exchanges in A Description of Barbarian Nations, Records of Foreign People, just as medieval travelers Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta write of the port of Quanzhou. Gunarata, a monk from Funan (Cambodia), becomes the first to visit Fujian to translate Buddhist scriptures and preach. Over time, emigrants leave China to establish communities in Southeast Asian countries, bringing with them their artisanship, their literature, and their art, as well as techniques for planting sugarcane and building with brick.
There are times when the emperor decrees sea bans against maritime trade with foreigners, which give rise to pirate merchants who engage in smuggling and plundering. One of the most powerful is Zheng Zhilong and later, his son Zheng Chenggong.
There are a few drawbacks to this book. One is the price, but the information provided is unique and rarely found in other English volumes. Consistency in measurements (kilometers versus miles) and the inclusion of dynastic dates would help to better orient readers unfamiliar with Chinese history.
Even so, this series is an engaging combination of narrative and illustration that depicts the history of the Maritime Silk Road and Fujian’s participation. Each volume can be purchased separately, and Across the Sea includes portraits, sample pages of historical documents, architecture, boats and ships, archaeological artifacts, agricultural products, temples, and statues. I am particularly intrigued by artwork showing native costumes, such as those of Bantam and Chinese merchants. Equally fascinating is the information about tea and the history of its exportation, as well as religious beliefs of Chinese who venture overseas. Anyone seeking an introduction to the Maritime Silk Road, and Fujian’s roles in Imperial Chinese maritime history, is richly rewarded in this book.
(Review originally posted at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-expl...)
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Justin Somper's Missing at Sea
Pirate Academy: Missing at Sea by Justin SomperMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Four weeks after the discovery of a traitor and the rescue of Neo Splice, the fifteen Barracudas gather for the Oceans Bound Weekend. Captained by members of their class, they will venture out to sea on their own with specific scavenging goals that test their mettle and skills to one day become leaders of other pirates. Jacoby Blunt is certain he will be one of the five chosen to be a captain. Instead, Jasmine Peacock and others are selected and Jacoby doesn’t take the letdown well.
While Jasmine and the other captains figure out who they want to crew their yachts, the leader of the rebel Lot P pirates escapes from the maximum-security prison. Then Jasmine finds a threatening note slipped under her door. She’s determined to let nothing get in the way of this challenging weekend, but it takes some good leadership abilities to stay on track and to convince Jacoby and Neo to join her as her crew.
Initially, all goes well and the various crews have friendly competitions along the way. Trouble comes when upperclassmen who provide supplies and clues to the Barracudas are infiltrated, and the clues left for Jasmine and her crew take them far from the path laid out by the Pirate Academy leaders. The trio is forced to conquer personal fears, while striving to work as a united team to successfully navigate the deadly challenges they now face. But at what point should they decide enough is enough and summon help?
Book 2 in the Pirate Academy series is rife with danger: rebel pirates, poisonous spiders, venomous vipers, and sharks separating the Barracudas from their yacht to name a few. Readers meet some unique characters, including a rainbow-haired woman with a pet boar, and tantalizing hints eventually lead our heroes to unforeseen reunions and friends in unexpected places. Somper spins a tale that is chock-full of twists and turns that keep pirate apprentices, as well as older sea dogs, riveted until the end. Even then, he hints at the intrigue and dangers that lay ahead for Jasmine, Jacoby, Neo, and all the other Barracudas and their classmates at the Pirate Academy.
(Review originally published at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Somper.htm...)
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