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Pirate Girl
Ferocious pirate Captain Firebeard THINKS that he and the ruthless crew of the "Horrible Haddock" rule the high seas. But Firebeard and his band meet their match when they kidnap a small but feisty girl named Molly. Even after the pirates threaten Molly with sharks and make her scrub the deck, she is utterly defiant -- and will NOT tell Firebeard who her parents are. All the while, Molly is busy sending secret messages in bottles...but to whom? When her rescuers arrive, the pirates are in for a real surprise! For the TRUE fiercest pirate on the seas is none other than Molly's mother!
Hardcover
First published June 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
May 9, 2016
After reading “The Princess Knight” a couple of years ago, I became more interested in reading Cornelia Funke’s works that have strong female protagonists saving the day through their wits. So, I picked up this interesting book called “Pirate Girl” by Cornelia Funke along with illustrations by Kerstin Meyer that seems right up my alley!
Captain Firebeard was known as the terror of the high seas as everyone ran away in fear from him and his unruly crew of pirates. One day, however, Captain Firebeard ends up meeting a young girl named Molly who was on her way to visit her grandma. Captain Firebeard then captures her and tried to get Molly to tell him what her parents’ names and address were, but Molly refused to tell the pirates anything. So, the pirates decided to make Molly their servant by making her do all the work around the ship until she reveals her parents’ identities. However, Captain Firebeard will soon learn the hard way that Molly is much smarter and resourceful than she lets on, which could lead to his downfall!
Once again, Cornelia Funke has written a truly inspirational and witty book about strong female protagonists that really made me cheer for the lead character throughout this story! I loved the way Cornelia Funke has written Molly as being a resourceful and brave little girl as it made her character extremely inspiring and I loved the fact that even though Captain Firebeard threatened her at every turn, she still stood her ground by refusing to tell him about her parents’ names and address, which I found admirable. Kerstin Meyer’s artwork is cute and simplistic to look at as the pirates truly do look menacing and Molly is drawn in an extremely cute yet tough way as she is shown wearing red pigtails, a pink shirt and black pants which was quite unusual for this type of story.
Parents should know that this story involves a little girl getting kidnapped by pirates and some parents might worry about the idea of a small child getting kidnapped by pirates due to the real world similarities of a young child getting abducted by strangers. Parents might want to discuss about strangers to their children so that way their children can gain a better understanding on the topic of strangers and kidnapping.
Overall, “Pirate Girl” is a truly fantastic book about standing up for yourself and using your wits to get out of terrible situations. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the kidnapping theme might upset some children.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Captain Firebeard was known as the terror of the high seas as everyone ran away in fear from him and his unruly crew of pirates. One day, however, Captain Firebeard ends up meeting a young girl named Molly who was on her way to visit her grandma. Captain Firebeard then captures her and tried to get Molly to tell him what her parents’ names and address were, but Molly refused to tell the pirates anything. So, the pirates decided to make Molly their servant by making her do all the work around the ship until she reveals her parents’ identities. However, Captain Firebeard will soon learn the hard way that Molly is much smarter and resourceful than she lets on, which could lead to his downfall!
Once again, Cornelia Funke has written a truly inspirational and witty book about strong female protagonists that really made me cheer for the lead character throughout this story! I loved the way Cornelia Funke has written Molly as being a resourceful and brave little girl as it made her character extremely inspiring and I loved the fact that even though Captain Firebeard threatened her at every turn, she still stood her ground by refusing to tell him about her parents’ names and address, which I found admirable. Kerstin Meyer’s artwork is cute and simplistic to look at as the pirates truly do look menacing and Molly is drawn in an extremely cute yet tough way as she is shown wearing red pigtails, a pink shirt and black pants which was quite unusual for this type of story.
Parents should know that this story involves a little girl getting kidnapped by pirates and some parents might worry about the idea of a small child getting kidnapped by pirates due to the real world similarities of a young child getting abducted by strangers. Parents might want to discuss about strangers to their children so that way their children can gain a better understanding on the topic of strangers and kidnapping.
Overall, “Pirate Girl” is a truly fantastic book about standing up for yourself and using your wits to get out of terrible situations. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the kidnapping theme might upset some children.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
March 17, 2010
A humorous tale of a little girl who is brave in the face of a ship full of dangerous pirates. It's an inspiring tale of girl power, that's a wee bit silly, a wee bit scary, and a lot of fun to read aloud.
January 24, 2021
A rat and turtle on board to look for on almost every page, and strong redhead females!
September 14, 2011
Molly was on her way to see her grandmother when she was raided by Pirates.
Captain Firebeard and his crew raided every ship that came into sight. So when Molly's ship came into their view it was no surprise when they decided to raid her ship and bring her onto their ship. She was made peel potatoes and cleaned boots. But Molly told Captain Firebeard and his crew they would regret this and they would get their pay back.
This was a cute little book with a nice ending. I really like how it ended, but I don't want to give away any more details. I'll just say that Molly was right; they all got their pay back.
Captain Firebeard and his crew raided every ship that came into sight. So when Molly's ship came into their view it was no surprise when they decided to raid her ship and bring her onto their ship. She was made peel potatoes and cleaned boots. But Molly told Captain Firebeard and his crew they would regret this and they would get their pay back.
This was a cute little book with a nice ending. I really like how it ended, but I don't want to give away any more details. I'll just say that Molly was right; they all got their pay back.
August 20, 2009
This was an amusing pirate tale. I liked how the story didn't go the way you'd imagine it going, but it still kept you entertained. The spirited little girl was a spunky character who I enjoyed seeing interact with the band of ruthless pirates. The ending was a tad bit random, but still interesting. I might recommend.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...
March 20, 2012
This book will appeal to girls and boys alike. The pirates are just as scummy and awful as you hope a pirate will be in a good picture book. Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen's Pirate Princess, soon-to-be-published, reminds me a lot of Funke's charming tale. Both feature girls that sail the seas and serve the every whim of the mean and evil pirates.
June 2, 2011
This story of a brave and resourceful girl captured by pirates is a nice "girl power" story although it didn't strike me as particularly special or memorable in the storytelling or illustrations. It will probably appeal to fans of pirates, though, and is a good choice for boys and girls.
January 28, 2018
Molly the protagonist is unflappable and silent as the sea, but what won me was the honest way people are drawn — bald heads, floppy boobs, plain kids — and there is so much unselfconscious vivacity to them. Unsentimental yet affectionate drawing and everyday fearlessness.
July 17, 2014
the girls and I both loved it; Molly rocks!
March 24, 2017
A girl empowerment story, about how a girl can be a pirate too, and just as good as any pirate. Very enjoyable.
October 12, 2019
Great story. I loved the twist. Well written with lots of teaching potential.
April 14, 2008
I liked when the girl got caught then the girl's mom came and they were like, "Arrr!" hehehe.
I wish there were five hundred spaces for five hundred stars.
I wish there were five hundred spaces for five hundred stars.
February 25, 2009
Didn't love the pictures but liked this story.
August 27, 2011
27 months - a cute story. Nice to see a girl pirate for a change, now that's something my little girl can relate to. ARG!
Read
January 1, 2016Fun story :) Girl power!
December 11, 2023
This is a picture book by Cornelia Funke and illustrated by Kersten Meyer targeted at readers ages 3-5. The story follows the chronicle of the Pirates of the Horrible Haddock, and an unnamed girl whose ship is raided by the Horrible Haddock on her way to her grandmother. The pirates take her aboard their ship and make her do their petty tasks while continuing to ask what her name and address are, so they can force her parents to pay ransom. Little do they know that…her mother is the renowned pirate, Barborus Bertha! Whom the unnamed pirate girl has been sending messages in bottles to when the Horrible Haddock was sleeping as if dead from their “carousing.” The Pirate Girl is reunited with her mother and ends up on the way to see her grandmother at last!
I found this book in its language to have a very bouncy style that was rhythmic and inviting. The alliteration persists in engaging the reader as they see the conflicts of the seafaring sorts. The pages of illustration are full, detailed, colorful and inviting to readers and from my perspective draw in a reader deeper into the world the story builds. As if you’re being taken captive like the Pirate Girl, so when she is retrieved by her mother, it's all the more enjoyable and cathartic.
There is also something to be said about the story’s use of repetition, which for a younger target audience, allows the reader to use the repetition to familiarize themselves with rhetoric patterns and with story comprehension overall.
I found this book in its language to have a very bouncy style that was rhythmic and inviting. The alliteration persists in engaging the reader as they see the conflicts of the seafaring sorts. The pages of illustration are full, detailed, colorful and inviting to readers and from my perspective draw in a reader deeper into the world the story builds. As if you’re being taken captive like the Pirate Girl, so when she is retrieved by her mother, it's all the more enjoyable and cathartic.
There is also something to be said about the story’s use of repetition, which for a younger target audience, allows the reader to use the repetition to familiarize themselves with rhetoric patterns and with story comprehension overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2024
I just read the 'princess knight' before this and I like this book even less. It's about pirates. These rowdy group of pirates go about being pirates when they pick up a girl going to her grandmothers on a boat. The girl seems like she could do something and she chooses to throw letters in bottles into the ocean. It's still effective.
I didn't think the punishment for the pirates was all that great. I didn't think Molly, the girl, had much personality either.
I'm soo not into the art style. It has a William Stieg vibe. It feels sloppy. I'm glad I got it from the library. Not my favorite
I didn't think the punishment for the pirates was all that great. I didn't think Molly, the girl, had much personality either.
I'm soo not into the art style. It has a William Stieg vibe. It feels sloppy. I'm glad I got it from the library. Not my favorite
September 6, 2018
This could have been a cute book about a brave little pirate girl. It could have. But, it wasn’t. This is a picture book that I really don’t find appropriate for the age group it is aimed at. It talks about cursing pirates, calls people nincompoops, and references drunken pirate parties. There was no moral to the story, unless you consider the original pirates being made to do 10x the chores the kidnapped girl was forced to do. Not really the lesson I want to teach.
June 6, 2023
When Captain Firebeard robs a ship, that he should have left alone, he and his crew of cutthroats capture a little girl named Molly, who refuses to tell them who her parents are. Captain Firebeard puts Molly to work on their ship, but at night Molly throws messages in empty rum bottles overboard, and when her family comes to rescue her, Captain Firebeard and his crew instantly regret their previous decisions about capturing Molly.
November 6, 2025
Molly is captured by some powerful pirates. She threatens that they don't know who her parent is and they will be sorry. In the meantime, she does all the work they require of her. Because of Molly's ingenuity, her mom (a bigger, meaner pirate) finds and rescues her and makes the the kidnapping pirates work for her.
Over all it's a silly story with odd, colorful pictures that remind me of Shel Silverstein's drawings.
Warnings: mentions rum, cursing, partying all night, violence.
Over all it's a silly story with odd, colorful pictures that remind me of Shel Silverstein's drawings.
Warnings: mentions rum, cursing, partying all night, violence.
July 12, 2018
Pirates rob the wrong ship and pay the price. I liked Molly, the pirate girl, and her fierce pirate mamma. The illustrations have a lot going on and it'd take a few readings to catch everything. Good for elementary-aged kids.
December 23, 2020
Dreadful pirates come across a girl in a small boat. They kidnap her with plans to ransom her...but she cleverly sends messages in a bottle to her mother. Not long after, the little girl is saved by her pirate mother and her crew.
September 29, 2023
Reading this older "girl power" picture book made me realize how far we have come in the quality of less gender-stereotyped children's literature. This was...fine. Cute, even. And I'm glad it existed at the time. But there are better choices out there now.
February 18, 2026
I'm not sure.
A lot of text for a storytime.
Too much text for PreK
It mentions rum.
Molly is kidnapped by pirates but she's not scared . . . . . . eventually at the end we learn that her mother is Barbarous Bertha, the notorious meanest pirate.
A lot of text for a storytime.
Too much text for PreK
It mentions rum.
Molly is kidnapped by pirates but she's not scared . . . . . . eventually at the end we learn that her mother is Barbarous Bertha, the notorious meanest pirate.
Read
March 24, 2017This is another book that defies stereotypes put on boys and girls about the types of things they can/ cannot be. I would use this book for 1st-2nd grade.
January 8, 2018
FUN PIRATE LOVING GIRLS EAT YOUR HEART OUT WITH THIS ONE!
October 11, 2017
Another family favorite!
November 21, 2017
even though this is a girl book, it still made me laugh (age 5)
January 22, 2018
A pretty funny turning of the tables.
July 20, 2018
Another great picture book, with a more modern message.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews