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The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found
The exciting true story of the captaincy, wreck, and discovery of the Whydah the only pirate ship ever found and the incredible mysteries it revealed.
The 1650s to the 1730s marked the golden age of piracy, when fearsome pirates like Blackbeard ruled the waves, seeking not only treasure but also large and fast ships to carry it. The Whydah was just such a ship, built to ply the Triangular Trade route, which it did until one of the greediest pirates of all, Black Sam Bellamy, commandeered it. Filling the ship to capacity with treasure, Bellamy hoped to retire with his bounty but in 1717 the ship sank in a storm off Cape Cod. For more than two hundred years, the wreck of the Whydah (and the riches that went down with it) eluded treasure seekers, until the ship was finally found in 1984 by marine archaeologists. The artifacts brought up from the ocean floor are priceless, both in value and in the picture they reveal of life in that much-mythologized era, changing much of what we know about pirates."
The 1650s to the 1730s marked the golden age of piracy, when fearsome pirates like Blackbeard ruled the waves, seeking not only treasure but also large and fast ships to carry it. The Whydah was just such a ship, built to ply the Triangular Trade route, which it did until one of the greediest pirates of all, Black Sam Bellamy, commandeered it. Filling the ship to capacity with treasure, Bellamy hoped to retire with his bounty but in 1717 the ship sank in a storm off Cape Cod. For more than two hundred years, the wreck of the Whydah (and the riches that went down with it) eluded treasure seekers, until the ship was finally found in 1984 by marine archaeologists. The artifacts brought up from the ocean floor are priceless, both in value and in the picture they reveal of life in that much-mythologized era, changing much of what we know about pirates."
176 pages, Hardcover
First published March 14, 2017
88 people are currently reading
1248 people want to read
About the author
Martin W. Sandler
88 books56 followersMartin W. Sandler has written more than seventy books for children and adults and has written and produced seven television series. He has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and has won multiple Emmy Awards. He lives in Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
August 7, 2018
Who doesn't like to read about pirates? I'd never heard of Black Sam Bellamy, though, or his ship, the Whydah. The Whydah was originally a slave ship, and Bellamy and his crewmen captured it because slave ships were bigger and roomier than merchant ships, and he wanted plenty of storage room for all the booty he intended to capture in his pirating. I guess he decided to rob the rich merchant ships to give to the poor--himself and his crew! At any rate, Bellamy became highly successful, and the Whydah was filled with riches when it sank in a storm off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, killing Bellamy and most of his crew. The first two thirds of the book is all about Bellamy, his career, and the sinking of the ship. The last three chapters describe how treasure hunter Barry Clifford found the wreck, recovered thousands of artifacts, and established a museum to house them all. It was all so interesting that I hated to see the book end. Clifford has written several other adult books about the Whydah and other wrecks he's found, all of which are now on my reading list. This book is bound to grab the interest of any kid who loves pirates. Highly recommended, me hearties!
December 14, 2017
Okay, so this book had two of my pet peeves within the first two chapters, which irritated me enough that I didn't want to dedicate my reading time to finish it. But I did. First, the author had word choice issues, like on page 13, "He had to get to know that girl." I know this is a children's/young adult nonfiction book, but I would still like to think that kids are smart enough to know that there are better ways to write that sentence, especially as it's closing out the paragraph.
I also wasn't a fan of the huge sidenotes and I've noticed this in other nonfiction. A sidenote should be just that--a snippet of information located off to the side of the main text. Set it apart with a textbox or something! But when a snippet lasts three complete pages, that, my friend, is a chapter. All it does is disrupt the text and piss readers like me off. The first snippet was used correctly--at the end of Chapter 1. But the next one, "The Articles of Agreement," were just thrown into the middle of Chapter 2 with no rhyme or reason other than the author had mentioned the agreement in the text. That's all and good, but "The Articles" take up three pages in the middle of a sentence of the text--horrible placement. Did the author even have a say in where that went? or was that a book designer's decision?
I also wanted more visuals. The author stressed that the Whydah's uniqueness was a "long platform on its deck for captives who could not..." Well, then, what did that long platform look like? Because I can't picture it. Surely there is an illustration somewhere of it? Or one like it?
There are source notes at the end, as well as a MLA 7th edition bibliography, and photo credits.
I also wasn't a fan of the huge sidenotes and I've noticed this in other nonfiction. A sidenote should be just that--a snippet of information located off to the side of the main text. Set it apart with a textbox or something! But when a snippet lasts three complete pages, that, my friend, is a chapter. All it does is disrupt the text and piss readers like me off. The first snippet was used correctly--at the end of Chapter 1. But the next one, "The Articles of Agreement," were just thrown into the middle of Chapter 2 with no rhyme or reason other than the author had mentioned the agreement in the text. That's all and good, but "The Articles" take up three pages in the middle of a sentence of the text--horrible placement. Did the author even have a say in where that went? or was that a book designer's decision?
I also wanted more visuals. The author stressed that the Whydah's uniqueness was a "long platform on its deck for captives who could not..." Well, then, what did that long platform look like? Because I can't picture it. Surely there is an illustration somewhere of it? Or one like it?
There are source notes at the end, as well as a MLA 7th edition bibliography, and photo credits.
May 14, 2021
Another book read in my aspirations of learning everything there is to know about pirates! This is a short, children's, nonfiction book about the Whydah, a famous and feared pirate ship.
There were a few things I liked about this book, and a few things I didn't, the rating is somewhere around a 3.5.
I enjoyed each venture that Sandler shared, capturing many important moments as Sam Bellamy and his crew sailed the seas in search of treasure instead of just the Whydah's discovery. He also covered all conspiracies which I really appreciate. He clearly put much effort into researching this. There were also a few photos scattered throughout the book, especially upon the discovery point in this novel.
Sandler also included in random places throughout the novel a few pages of information on different pirate conspiracies and facts, which used different font and page formatting, I enjoyed most of that, but it would often interrupt the text in the middle of a sentence or quote. There were also two or three opinions in the novel which also nagged at my knowldege-needing brain.
Another part I loved, was how Sandler included smaller details in his 'mythbuster' parts of this novel like how pirates treated everyone on their ships as equals, even the slaves they held captive on the ships the commandeered who joined their pirate crews.
I did enjoy this, it was a fun and short nonfiction on a group of people I would love to know more about!
There were a few things I liked about this book, and a few things I didn't, the rating is somewhere around a 3.5.
I enjoyed each venture that Sandler shared, capturing many important moments as Sam Bellamy and his crew sailed the seas in search of treasure instead of just the Whydah's discovery. He also covered all conspiracies which I really appreciate. He clearly put much effort into researching this. There were also a few photos scattered throughout the book, especially upon the discovery point in this novel.
Sandler also included in random places throughout the novel a few pages of information on different pirate conspiracies and facts, which used different font and page formatting, I enjoyed most of that, but it would often interrupt the text in the middle of a sentence or quote. There were also two or three opinions in the novel which also nagged at my knowldege-needing brain.
Another part I loved, was how Sandler included smaller details in his 'mythbuster' parts of this novel like how pirates treated everyone on their ships as equals, even the slaves they held captive on the ships the commandeered who joined their pirate crews.
I did enjoy this, it was a fun and short nonfiction on a group of people I would love to know more about!
October 14, 2020
I haven't read a nonfiction book about pirates in quite a while so this was a nice change of pace. I also really enjoyed that the author discusses the wreck itself and its recent discovery.
August 1, 2024
Forget everything you ever learned about pirates, they were well dressed and civilized at meal times. Well, some things were true, like peg legs and keel-hauling.
This book encompasses the story of the ship Whydah from its maiden voyage, through the short pirated trips to capture other ships, its sinking, its first retrieval attempts in the 1700's to recent (and ongoing) successful recovery off Cape cod.
This book encompasses the story of the ship Whydah from its maiden voyage, through the short pirated trips to capture other ships, its sinking, its first retrieval attempts in the 1700's to recent (and ongoing) successful recovery off Cape cod.
March 12, 2018
More of a 3.5 but gets the extra half star for writing something boys will pick up and read. I disagree with it being considered YA as well. It certainly can be YA and the reading may be a bit challenging for grade 5-6, but that is all to the good if the kid is interested. This is a description of an infamous pirate ship that foundered off of Cape Cod, apparently a notoriously treacherous area for ships. It tells about the events leading up to the shipwreck; how one person stubbornly kept looking for the wreckage and his method for seeking it; and about what was found and what the found items tell archeologists. What I love about Sandler is that he finds exciting stuff that boys especially will pick up and then quietly lead them into an exploration of related academic fields such as archeology and marine exploration. There is a fascinating section about the development of sea bells for underwater diving. They are considerably older than I had any idea!
I have to admit I wasn't entranced by the subject but that was more my personal lack of real interest in pirates than because of any deficit in the writing. I do wish that Sandler had annotated the various maps more since I had trouble following the maps.
I have to admit I wasn't entranced by the subject but that was more my personal lack of real interest in pirates than because of any deficit in the writing. I do wish that Sandler had annotated the various maps more since I had trouble following the maps.
March 22, 2017
After reading this book, I know that Martin W. Sandler, with so many other historical non-fiction authors, has written TRUTH, with sources, footnotes of explanation and extraordinary care to point out stereotypes that are not true.
For example, the notion that pirates buried their treaure and created maps to remember where was created by Robert Louis Stevenson in his book Treasure Island, and has been kept alive in other books through the years as well as in movies. It is a myth that has never been proved.
Another myth also shown to be incorrect is the way pirates spoke. The book states; "It's simply not true. . .one man can be credited for having created the fictitious pirate speak--the British actor Robert Newton. In 1950, he played Long John Silver in the movie version of Long John Silver and went on to play him in a television series in which he popularized the accent and many of the sayings that are commonly associated with pirates today." No more "ahoy, matey" or "Arrrrr".
Not only is this a wonderful look at pirates of long ago, how they became pirates and how they really lived, but it traces the history of the pirate who acquired the biggest fortune
ever with his fleet of ships, and it carries the history forward with the exciting find of this large ship, the Whydah which sank in the treacherous waters of Cape Cod. This was a ship with a treasure so large it is hard to believe the tales. Archaeologists use the artifacts to show the lives of pirates on board and to see the goods stolen. They were not only gold, but goods transported to the new world that were needed, like fabric, tea, spices and wine.
Sandler begins with a description of this famous ship that started its career as a slave ship and then tells the tale of its final owner, Black Sam Bellamy. Some of his actions earned
him the name Robin Hood of the Seas, but he was not only that. He began with a love of the sea and joined the British Navy, but soon became a bigger adventurer because his higher goal in life was to become rich. With some compatriots, he went off to find the treasures from ships.
Within various chapters lie “extra” pieces that add to the pirates’ tales and later to modern day treasure hunters. One of these extra parts explains the “Articles of Agreement”
that all pirates signed in order to be on a ship’s crew. If you agreed, you were “on the
account” and expected to follow all the rules. If not, you could lose your life or be put ashore
on a deserted island.
Another part explained what historians believe is the origin of the “Jolly Roger” that pirate’s flag we all know. Toward the end of the book, we are moved to modern times and
talk of the artifacts and how they are preserved, what they tell us of the "truth" of pirate life.
The book is an extraordinary look at this early part of our history in America, the lives of various parts of society, but especially how people lived as pirates and what people thought of them. Thanks to Candlewick Press for this advanced copy!
How wonderful it would be to have a student read this book, or to read parts of it with a class and to discuss the research to discover the truth of pirates. And then to extend that to what they hear, what they read and how to find their own truths.
For example, the notion that pirates buried their treaure and created maps to remember where was created by Robert Louis Stevenson in his book Treasure Island, and has been kept alive in other books through the years as well as in movies. It is a myth that has never been proved.
Another myth also shown to be incorrect is the way pirates spoke. The book states; "It's simply not true. . .one man can be credited for having created the fictitious pirate speak--the British actor Robert Newton. In 1950, he played Long John Silver in the movie version of Long John Silver and went on to play him in a television series in which he popularized the accent and many of the sayings that are commonly associated with pirates today." No more "ahoy, matey" or "Arrrrr".
Not only is this a wonderful look at pirates of long ago, how they became pirates and how they really lived, but it traces the history of the pirate who acquired the biggest fortune
ever with his fleet of ships, and it carries the history forward with the exciting find of this large ship, the Whydah which sank in the treacherous waters of Cape Cod. This was a ship with a treasure so large it is hard to believe the tales. Archaeologists use the artifacts to show the lives of pirates on board and to see the goods stolen. They were not only gold, but goods transported to the new world that were needed, like fabric, tea, spices and wine.
Sandler begins with a description of this famous ship that started its career as a slave ship and then tells the tale of its final owner, Black Sam Bellamy. Some of his actions earned
him the name Robin Hood of the Seas, but he was not only that. He began with a love of the sea and joined the British Navy, but soon became a bigger adventurer because his higher goal in life was to become rich. With some compatriots, he went off to find the treasures from ships.
Within various chapters lie “extra” pieces that add to the pirates’ tales and later to modern day treasure hunters. One of these extra parts explains the “Articles of Agreement”
that all pirates signed in order to be on a ship’s crew. If you agreed, you were “on the
account” and expected to follow all the rules. If not, you could lose your life or be put ashore
on a deserted island.
Another part explained what historians believe is the origin of the “Jolly Roger” that pirate’s flag we all know. Toward the end of the book, we are moved to modern times and
talk of the artifacts and how they are preserved, what they tell us of the "truth" of pirate life.
The book is an extraordinary look at this early part of our history in America, the lives of various parts of society, but especially how people lived as pirates and what people thought of them. Thanks to Candlewick Press for this advanced copy!
How wonderful it would be to have a student read this book, or to read parts of it with a class and to discuss the research to discover the truth of pirates. And then to extend that to what they hear, what they read and how to find their own truths.
July 20, 2024
Found this book on a ferry to gay town (Provincetown) in cape cod. Made piracy sound awesome and was super fun and easy to read. 5 stars for the ocean breeze and beautiful sunset
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April 20, 2019“The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked & Found” by Martin W. Sandler (NCTE Orbis Pictus Award: 2018)
The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked & Found, would be an excellent nonfiction text to incorporate into a social studies unit, concerning the following goals: map skills, comparing and contrasting the differing lifestyles of cultures, as well as how communication and transportation has drastically changed in comparison to the present date. It is rich in history, providing readers with an in-depth look into the world of piracy, as well as describes the events leading up to the discovery of the only fully verified and authenticated shipwreck during the “Golden Age of Piracy.”
Discussion questions in relation to Bloom’s Taxonomy:
Remembering: Who was the Whydah originally built for, and what was its main purpose? Why did the pirate Samuel Bellamy desire it so?
Understanding: Summarize the event that caused the destruction of the Whydah.
Applying: If you were able to schedule and conduct an interview with Barry Clifford, what questions would you ask, not only of the Whydah, but in order to gain insight into marine archaeology?
Analyzing:Pretend you are given the choice to become a pirate in the late 1600s/ early 1700s. What are the pros and cons of pirate life? What would you choose?
Evaluating: Take a stand on whether or not you agree with Clifford’s decision to continuously blast pits in the ocean floors in order to recover artifacts from shipwrecks.
Creating: Design your own “Articles of Agreement,” code of laws, for your own modern pirate ship.
Applying:
Within The Whydah text, it was stated that you and your crew were becoming increasingly downcast early spring of 1984. Funds were running out, and the entire project was in jeopardy. Then you decided to complete one more dive, as you were having a television crew visit and observe your actions. I would like to ask, did you ever consider canceling the visit, as well as the project entirely? How do you believe that single decision would have changed your life?
What is your theory on why the pirate Samuel Bellamy changed his course on that fateful night?
Many of your findings from the only fully verified pirate shipwreck from the Golden Age of Piracy, supplied the nation with insight into the culture of piracy. Can you recall at least one artifact, that contradicted a past belief that you thought to be true about pirates?
There is quite a bit of controversy surrounding your method of blasting pits to discover artifacts. Can you explain your reasoning on selecting this method? What are the benefits of it compared to other methods?
It was stated that you placed all of the Whydah treasure into a museum. Can you recall at least one artifact that you were tempted to keep for your own? Why that artifact?
What does one must do, in order to become a marine archaeologist? Do you have any advice for any future “treasure hunters?”
What is your latest project that you are working on?
Creating:
Boardman Vessel Articles of Agreement
All men and women have equal rights, shares, and provisions on the ship.
All crew members will be able to collaborate and vote with the captain on all decisions. The captain will solely make a decision in the event a tie is the result of a voting.
Stealing or harming a crew member will lead to the following, depending on the severity of the crime: banishment or turned into the authorities.
The individuals on board will not harm people during the process of collecting income.
Income will occur, not in the act of stealing, but the crew will trade or make deals with those they encounter on the sea.
The pirates will be permitted to leave and cease being part of the crew at any point in their lives.
Each crew member will take part in helping run the ship. If ill, or in the case of an emergency, you must inform the captain as soon as possible, as to cover your position.
Conflicts on board will be mediated by the captain.
All will be afforded the right to leave the ship on holidays. Additional holidays based upon your religion will need to be made known to the captain, as to recognize your reason of personal leave.
Reference:
Sandler, M. W. (2017). The Whydah: A pirate ship feared, wrecked, and found. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked & Found, would be an excellent nonfiction text to incorporate into a social studies unit, concerning the following goals: map skills, comparing and contrasting the differing lifestyles of cultures, as well as how communication and transportation has drastically changed in comparison to the present date. It is rich in history, providing readers with an in-depth look into the world of piracy, as well as describes the events leading up to the discovery of the only fully verified and authenticated shipwreck during the “Golden Age of Piracy.”
Discussion questions in relation to Bloom’s Taxonomy:
Remembering: Who was the Whydah originally built for, and what was its main purpose? Why did the pirate Samuel Bellamy desire it so?
Understanding: Summarize the event that caused the destruction of the Whydah.
Applying: If you were able to schedule and conduct an interview with Barry Clifford, what questions would you ask, not only of the Whydah, but in order to gain insight into marine archaeology?
Analyzing:Pretend you are given the choice to become a pirate in the late 1600s/ early 1700s. What are the pros and cons of pirate life? What would you choose?
Evaluating: Take a stand on whether or not you agree with Clifford’s decision to continuously blast pits in the ocean floors in order to recover artifacts from shipwrecks.
Creating: Design your own “Articles of Agreement,” code of laws, for your own modern pirate ship.
Applying:
Within The Whydah text, it was stated that you and your crew were becoming increasingly downcast early spring of 1984. Funds were running out, and the entire project was in jeopardy. Then you decided to complete one more dive, as you were having a television crew visit and observe your actions. I would like to ask, did you ever consider canceling the visit, as well as the project entirely? How do you believe that single decision would have changed your life?
What is your theory on why the pirate Samuel Bellamy changed his course on that fateful night?
Many of your findings from the only fully verified pirate shipwreck from the Golden Age of Piracy, supplied the nation with insight into the culture of piracy. Can you recall at least one artifact, that contradicted a past belief that you thought to be true about pirates?
There is quite a bit of controversy surrounding your method of blasting pits to discover artifacts. Can you explain your reasoning on selecting this method? What are the benefits of it compared to other methods?
It was stated that you placed all of the Whydah treasure into a museum. Can you recall at least one artifact that you were tempted to keep for your own? Why that artifact?
What does one must do, in order to become a marine archaeologist? Do you have any advice for any future “treasure hunters?”
What is your latest project that you are working on?
Creating:
Boardman Vessel Articles of Agreement
All men and women have equal rights, shares, and provisions on the ship.
All crew members will be able to collaborate and vote with the captain on all decisions. The captain will solely make a decision in the event a tie is the result of a voting.
Stealing or harming a crew member will lead to the following, depending on the severity of the crime: banishment or turned into the authorities.
The individuals on board will not harm people during the process of collecting income.
Income will occur, not in the act of stealing, but the crew will trade or make deals with those they encounter on the sea.
The pirates will be permitted to leave and cease being part of the crew at any point in their lives.
Each crew member will take part in helping run the ship. If ill, or in the case of an emergency, you must inform the captain as soon as possible, as to cover your position.
Conflicts on board will be mediated by the captain.
All will be afforded the right to leave the ship on holidays. Additional holidays based upon your religion will need to be made known to the captain, as to recognize your reason of personal leave.
Reference:
Sandler, M. W. (2017). The Whydah: A pirate ship feared, wrecked, and found. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
August 21, 2019
Awesome- I’ve always been obsessed with pirates and shipwrecks. This book about the first pirate shipwreck ever uncovered felt like an adventure from beginning to end.
January 23, 2018
I love nonfiction books, especially young reader nonfiction books because they pack in a lot of information and are much shorter. This is a very cool account and I learned a lot about pirates during the late 17th/early 18th centuries. - Miss Angela
January 29, 2023
"Typically, the pirates slept in hammocks--but only if there were enough hammocks for everyone. If there were not, everybody slept on the deck. For men who could be incredibly cruel and violent, pirates went well out of their way to take care of their own."
Very interesting. I don't know why the small chapter segments interjected in the middle of the story in the traditional chapters. My only complaint. I learned a lot.
Very interesting. I don't know why the small chapter segments interjected in the middle of the story in the traditional chapters. My only complaint. I learned a lot.
April 5, 2017
There was only one thing that annoyed me reading the book and that were the excerpts that were usually 2-4 pages long and interrupted the chapter text. And if they went on for more than two whole pages, I lost track of where I was in the narrative, so either the additional information needed to be smaller and align at the top or bottom or be added at the end of a chapter because it was distracting otherwise. I had to choose between stopping to read the addition and lose my place or flipping the pages until I finished the chapter to be able to go back and read the addition.
Otherwise, what an awesome story to be able to share why pirates have gotten a bad reputation and are so often misunderstood. But it's also about the quest to discover the remains deep in the ocean of the Whydah itself and the men who toiled to discover even pieces. It's about the process for excavation. It's about the quest to know about a time that we don't know much about, but we do know pirates generally liked to dress well, were kind to one another unless someone violated their or didn't give up easily enough, and liked their gold right where they could see it-- not buried and identified on a map.
Pages 20-22: The Articles of Agreement for a pirate
"Sam Bellamy's onetime shipmate and arguable the fiercest pirate captain of them all once interrupted a friendly game of cards to shoot his first mate for no apparent reason. Asked why, Blackbeard replied that if he didn't shoot one or two of his crewmen now and then, they'd forget who he was."
"Historical documents indicate that pirate ships were the only vessels on which men of color were treated as equal members of the crew, and although records vary, it is safe to say that as many as fifty black crewmen served aboard the Whydah."
Page 47 about the orchestra that during battle played loud aggressive music to intimidate the enemy.
Temporary masts were fashioned when lost in a storm. They were called jury masts, and their use gave rise to the term jury-rigged, an expression used to indicate something built in a makeshift way.
Otherwise, what an awesome story to be able to share why pirates have gotten a bad reputation and are so often misunderstood. But it's also about the quest to discover the remains deep in the ocean of the Whydah itself and the men who toiled to discover even pieces. It's about the process for excavation. It's about the quest to know about a time that we don't know much about, but we do know pirates generally liked to dress well, were kind to one another unless someone violated their or didn't give up easily enough, and liked their gold right where they could see it-- not buried and identified on a map.
Pages 20-22: The Articles of Agreement for a pirate
"Sam Bellamy's onetime shipmate and arguable the fiercest pirate captain of them all once interrupted a friendly game of cards to shoot his first mate for no apparent reason. Asked why, Blackbeard replied that if he didn't shoot one or two of his crewmen now and then, they'd forget who he was."
"Historical documents indicate that pirate ships were the only vessels on which men of color were treated as equal members of the crew, and although records vary, it is safe to say that as many as fifty black crewmen served aboard the Whydah."
Page 47 about the orchestra that during battle played loud aggressive music to intimidate the enemy.
Temporary masts were fashioned when lost in a storm. They were called jury masts, and their use gave rise to the term jury-rigged, an expression used to indicate something built in a makeshift way.
November 19, 2017
Review of: The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked and Found, by Martin W. Sandler
by Stan Prager (11-19-17)
I don’t typically read or review “Young Adult” books, but The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked and Found, by Martin W. Sandler, came my way via an Early Reviewer’s program and—full disclosure—I did not realize it was YA when I requested it! Of course, the “Young Adult” genre has come a long way since my own youth, when it tended to only run to the lowest common denominator of the youngest readers. In contrast, just about any adult non-specialist could peruse The Whydah and perhaps not even realize it was written for a YA audience.
Pirates are the stuff of both myth and history, an enduring legend that dominates the imagination in pulp fiction, swashbuckling films, and even Halloween costume parties and amusement park rides. The reality, of course, was starkly different from the romanticism, as revealed through both historical scholarship and—especially in recent decades—its partnership with the increasingly sophisticated technology of underwater archaeology. Sandler, a prolific author of books for adults and children (his Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad was previously reviewed on the Regarp Book Blog.*), artfully brings this marriage of history and archaeology to bear in this well-written work that focuses on noted pirate captain Black Sam Bellamy, his flagship vessell Whydah, and the culture of early eighteenth century piracy—as well as the recovery of the wreck and interpretation of the artifacts.
Born in England, like many young men of his era Sam Bellamy went to sea in the British navy. A veteran of naval combat in the War of Spanish Succession, at twenty-four Bellamy found himself out of a job when that conflict ended in 1714, and tens of thousands were released from service. His next stop was Provincetown, on the tip of Cape Cod, where he partnered up with a fellow-adventurer and returned to sea, this time on his own terms. When a promising salvage venture went sour, Bellamy instead turned to piracy, where he proved himself a highly successful raider along the east coast of America. One of his greatest prizes was the Whydah, a slaver that had recently traded its human cargo for vast riches that became the bountiful plunder of Sam Bellamy and his crew, and was transformed into Bellamy’s flagship. In what amounted to but a single year, Black Sam distinguished himself as one of the most successful pirates of all times—before he fell victim to equal parts greed and the treacherous seas off of Cape Cod that sank the Whydah in 1717, and drowned Bellamy and most of his mates. The wreck—and a bounty of artifacts—were not recovered until 1984.
Sandler’s thin volume is rich with detail, not only for his subjects but the milieu of piracy these inhabited. Pirates, it turns out, could indeed live up to the lore that has portrayed them as brutal and ruthless, but they also lived by a code of honor that was rigorously upheld. Most extraordinary in this code was its stark element of democracy. In a time when all the world was organized by hierarchy and class, all pirates, regardless of their specialized roles aboard ship, were essentially equals; the captain was little more than a first among equals, although he received two shares of plunder rather than the one due to an ordinary seaman. Nearly every aspect of their communal existence was governed by consensus, and determined by an equal vote from each member of the crew. When they raided other ships, their treatment of those who manned the prize was determined largely by the level of resistance. If the ship under attack surrendered without a fight, pirates typically showed great lenience, sparing the lives of officers and crew alike, who would be released to the sea with provisions on small boats if the ship was taken. Those who gave battle, on the other hand, often saw no quarter, ending their lives in a sometimes-horrific fashion marked by outsize cruelty. Thus, it was little wonder that the majority of ships beset by pirates often promptly surrendered. More surprising, perhaps, was that the surrendered crew was frequently offered a chance to join up with the very pirates that had overrun them—and that many availed themselves of this opportunity!
The last third of the book is devoted to finding and excavating the Whydah—which has continued for decades—as well as exploring the art and technology of diving and underwater archaeology. Here too the author presents the material in a competent, engaging fashion that holds the interest of the reader of all ages. Sandler aptly demonstrates how the artifacts recovered from the Whydah have contributed to a renaissance in the interpretation of what life must have been like on a pirate vessel three centuries ago.
Yet, this otherwise laudable work is unfortunately marred when it credulously repeats the fanciful notion that has Alexander the Great as an early pioneer in underwater exploration, here depicted in a medieval painting being lowered beneath the sea in a primitive glass diving bell, in the fourth century BCE! [p125] This ahistorical myth belongs to the literature of the so-called “Romance of Alexander” that was imagined many centuries after his death, and that to my knowledge has no scholarly support. (Endnotes include a reference to a defunct URL, but further research on the reference itself lends it little credence.) There was also a glaring error of historical interpretation in Sandler’s Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation, this one regarding slavery and the Civil War, which makes me wonder about his reliability as a historian.* Sandler has many books and projects and awards to his credit, much of them focused on history, as well as a background as an educator, so these uncharacteristic flaws seem especially incongruous. Of course, both author and publisher should be taken to account for such carelessness.
Despite this imperfection, The Whydah has much to recommend it overall to a popular audience of both the young adult and their parents. This is fascinating material, and Sandler’s skill as a writer who can weave multiple themes into a coherent account shines throughout the narrative. All of this is further enhanced in the presentation, which includes a number of sidebars, illustrations and maps. The Whydah demonstrates that the real story of pirates can be as enthralling as their swashbuckling legends.
[*See my review of Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad, by Martin W. Sandler, at: https://regarp.com/2015/11/29/review-...]
My latest review, of "The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked and Found," by Martin W. Sandler, is live on the Regarp Book Blog at: https://regarp.com/2017/11/19/review-...
by Stan Prager (11-19-17)
I don’t typically read or review “Young Adult” books, but The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked and Found, by Martin W. Sandler, came my way via an Early Reviewer’s program and—full disclosure—I did not realize it was YA when I requested it! Of course, the “Young Adult” genre has come a long way since my own youth, when it tended to only run to the lowest common denominator of the youngest readers. In contrast, just about any adult non-specialist could peruse The Whydah and perhaps not even realize it was written for a YA audience.
Pirates are the stuff of both myth and history, an enduring legend that dominates the imagination in pulp fiction, swashbuckling films, and even Halloween costume parties and amusement park rides. The reality, of course, was starkly different from the romanticism, as revealed through both historical scholarship and—especially in recent decades—its partnership with the increasingly sophisticated technology of underwater archaeology. Sandler, a prolific author of books for adults and children (his Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad was previously reviewed on the Regarp Book Blog.*), artfully brings this marriage of history and archaeology to bear in this well-written work that focuses on noted pirate captain Black Sam Bellamy, his flagship vessell Whydah, and the culture of early eighteenth century piracy—as well as the recovery of the wreck and interpretation of the artifacts.
Born in England, like many young men of his era Sam Bellamy went to sea in the British navy. A veteran of naval combat in the War of Spanish Succession, at twenty-four Bellamy found himself out of a job when that conflict ended in 1714, and tens of thousands were released from service. His next stop was Provincetown, on the tip of Cape Cod, where he partnered up with a fellow-adventurer and returned to sea, this time on his own terms. When a promising salvage venture went sour, Bellamy instead turned to piracy, where he proved himself a highly successful raider along the east coast of America. One of his greatest prizes was the Whydah, a slaver that had recently traded its human cargo for vast riches that became the bountiful plunder of Sam Bellamy and his crew, and was transformed into Bellamy’s flagship. In what amounted to but a single year, Black Sam distinguished himself as one of the most successful pirates of all times—before he fell victim to equal parts greed and the treacherous seas off of Cape Cod that sank the Whydah in 1717, and drowned Bellamy and most of his mates. The wreck—and a bounty of artifacts—were not recovered until 1984.
Sandler’s thin volume is rich with detail, not only for his subjects but the milieu of piracy these inhabited. Pirates, it turns out, could indeed live up to the lore that has portrayed them as brutal and ruthless, but they also lived by a code of honor that was rigorously upheld. Most extraordinary in this code was its stark element of democracy. In a time when all the world was organized by hierarchy and class, all pirates, regardless of their specialized roles aboard ship, were essentially equals; the captain was little more than a first among equals, although he received two shares of plunder rather than the one due to an ordinary seaman. Nearly every aspect of their communal existence was governed by consensus, and determined by an equal vote from each member of the crew. When they raided other ships, their treatment of those who manned the prize was determined largely by the level of resistance. If the ship under attack surrendered without a fight, pirates typically showed great lenience, sparing the lives of officers and crew alike, who would be released to the sea with provisions on small boats if the ship was taken. Those who gave battle, on the other hand, often saw no quarter, ending their lives in a sometimes-horrific fashion marked by outsize cruelty. Thus, it was little wonder that the majority of ships beset by pirates often promptly surrendered. More surprising, perhaps, was that the surrendered crew was frequently offered a chance to join up with the very pirates that had overrun them—and that many availed themselves of this opportunity!
The last third of the book is devoted to finding and excavating the Whydah—which has continued for decades—as well as exploring the art and technology of diving and underwater archaeology. Here too the author presents the material in a competent, engaging fashion that holds the interest of the reader of all ages. Sandler aptly demonstrates how the artifacts recovered from the Whydah have contributed to a renaissance in the interpretation of what life must have been like on a pirate vessel three centuries ago.
Yet, this otherwise laudable work is unfortunately marred when it credulously repeats the fanciful notion that has Alexander the Great as an early pioneer in underwater exploration, here depicted in a medieval painting being lowered beneath the sea in a primitive glass diving bell, in the fourth century BCE! [p125] This ahistorical myth belongs to the literature of the so-called “Romance of Alexander” that was imagined many centuries after his death, and that to my knowledge has no scholarly support. (Endnotes include a reference to a defunct URL, but further research on the reference itself lends it little credence.) There was also a glaring error of historical interpretation in Sandler’s Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation, this one regarding slavery and the Civil War, which makes me wonder about his reliability as a historian.* Sandler has many books and projects and awards to his credit, much of them focused on history, as well as a background as an educator, so these uncharacteristic flaws seem especially incongruous. Of course, both author and publisher should be taken to account for such carelessness.
Despite this imperfection, The Whydah has much to recommend it overall to a popular audience of both the young adult and their parents. This is fascinating material, and Sandler’s skill as a writer who can weave multiple themes into a coherent account shines throughout the narrative. All of this is further enhanced in the presentation, which includes a number of sidebars, illustrations and maps. The Whydah demonstrates that the real story of pirates can be as enthralling as their swashbuckling legends.
[*See my review of Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad, by Martin W. Sandler, at: https://regarp.com/2015/11/29/review-...]
My latest review, of "The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked and Found," by Martin W. Sandler, is live on the Regarp Book Blog at: https://regarp.com/2017/11/19/review-...
January 22, 2018
Some interesting information about pirates in general and Black Sam Bellamy in particular but I was annoyed with the author and publisher for the book’s design. The 2-3 page “side bars” would have been better at chapter ends. I was frustrated by the awkward positioning of them, sometime falling mid-sentence.
A different format for a book for upper elementary and middle school would be better. Larger and with more photos and better maps. Maps were often illegible. Photo of a syringe but not the Akan gold jewelry, not even a good description other than “The finest treasure found in the wreckage...’ (p 151)? I imagine drawings of the ship exist but not here. We don’t even get a generic illustration of a ship from the time. Show me some of the pirate flags.
Also, the lore of Bellamy’s love includes her selling her soul to the devil but Cotton Mather is presented as a great man with no mention of his connection with the Salem witch trials?
How did cloth survive in the water? No explanation (p 146)
Author seems to be equating Clifford, the treasure hunter, with marine archaeologists. Criticism of Clifford is mentioned but Sandler ends with the discussion of marine archaeology and use of same scientific integrity as those who work on land, making it appear as a defense.
There are good source notes and bibliography although many quotes seem to be attributed to Clifford.
A different format for a book for upper elementary and middle school would be better. Larger and with more photos and better maps. Maps were often illegible. Photo of a syringe but not the Akan gold jewelry, not even a good description other than “The finest treasure found in the wreckage...’ (p 151)? I imagine drawings of the ship exist but not here. We don’t even get a generic illustration of a ship from the time. Show me some of the pirate flags.
Also, the lore of Bellamy’s love includes her selling her soul to the devil but Cotton Mather is presented as a great man with no mention of his connection with the Salem witch trials?
How did cloth survive in the water? No explanation (p 146)
Author seems to be equating Clifford, the treasure hunter, with marine archaeologists. Criticism of Clifford is mentioned but Sandler ends with the discussion of marine archaeology and use of same scientific integrity as those who work on land, making it appear as a defense.
There are good source notes and bibliography although many quotes seem to be attributed to Clifford.
January 16, 2019
I didn’t hold my interest. I didn’t like the book format.
June 20, 2017
Originally constructed for a member of parliament involved in the slave trade, the Whydah was bound for England when Samuel Bellamy and his fellow pirates attacked her in February 1717. In 1984 Barry Clifford and his team of divers discovered what remained of her off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Born in 1689, Englishman Samuel Bellamy found himself unemployed after his stint in the Royal Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession. He eventually journeyed to New England, where he hoped to seek his fortune. He met Paulsgrave Williams, son of an influential Rhode Island family, and the two decided to try their hand at diving on the Spanish treasure fleet that had sunk off the Florida coast in 1715. The fortune both sought failed to materialize, so they went on the account in hopes of finding adventure and wealth. Along the way they encountered other infamous pirates, such as Benjamin Hornigold, Olivier Levasseur, and Edward Teach. Bellamy also came to captain his own pirate ship, which led him to acquire new crew members. Among these were John King (the youngest known pirate), John Julian (a Moskito Indian), and Tom Davis (a carpenter forced to join). They captured many vessels, but the Whydah finally delivered what Bellamy desired most – an ideal pirate ship loaded with treasure. But tragedy struck when she and all but two of her crew sank during a violent storm.
In the aftermath of the wreck, many sought the treasure, but locating the Whydah proved elusive. Centuries passed before she finally gave up her secrets. This volume, written for middle-grade readers, recounts the story of this ship, the pirates who attacked her, and the hunt to locate the first verified pirate shipwreck. Sandler also includes the legends surrounding Bellamy; what the recovered artifacts have taught us about piracy during the early eighteenth century; and the establishment of a museum to showcase these artifacts.
This fascinating tale is recounted in twelve chapters, each of which includes a feature that further illuminates some facet pertaining to the information in the chapter. Among these historical sidepieces are discussions on the slave trade, pirate life and tactics, the history of diving, and preserving artifacts. To further enhance the reading experience, Sandler incorporates quotations from period documents or people involved in the hunt and discovery of the shipwreck, black-and-white illustrations, and maps.
The inclusion of an index makes this history of the Whydah more accessible than Clifford’s own books that often lack this important feature. Sandler clearly mentions any alterations he makes, such as rewording passages from Captain Johnson’s A General History of Pyrates into modern-day language for easier reading, and points out when the historical record remains silent about a particular aspect of the story, such as the legend of Maria Hallett. The inclusion of lesser-known facts, such as two of the divers who helped in the search, will surprise many. The chronological unfolding of events and the smooth flow of the narrative make this an inviting tale that snares the reader’s attention. This might be a book aimed at young pirate readers (ages ten and up), but adults will find it an equally intriguing adventure.
Born in 1689, Englishman Samuel Bellamy found himself unemployed after his stint in the Royal Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession. He eventually journeyed to New England, where he hoped to seek his fortune. He met Paulsgrave Williams, son of an influential Rhode Island family, and the two decided to try their hand at diving on the Spanish treasure fleet that had sunk off the Florida coast in 1715. The fortune both sought failed to materialize, so they went on the account in hopes of finding adventure and wealth. Along the way they encountered other infamous pirates, such as Benjamin Hornigold, Olivier Levasseur, and Edward Teach. Bellamy also came to captain his own pirate ship, which led him to acquire new crew members. Among these were John King (the youngest known pirate), John Julian (a Moskito Indian), and Tom Davis (a carpenter forced to join). They captured many vessels, but the Whydah finally delivered what Bellamy desired most – an ideal pirate ship loaded with treasure. But tragedy struck when she and all but two of her crew sank during a violent storm.
In the aftermath of the wreck, many sought the treasure, but locating the Whydah proved elusive. Centuries passed before she finally gave up her secrets. This volume, written for middle-grade readers, recounts the story of this ship, the pirates who attacked her, and the hunt to locate the first verified pirate shipwreck. Sandler also includes the legends surrounding Bellamy; what the recovered artifacts have taught us about piracy during the early eighteenth century; and the establishment of a museum to showcase these artifacts.
This fascinating tale is recounted in twelve chapters, each of which includes a feature that further illuminates some facet pertaining to the information in the chapter. Among these historical sidepieces are discussions on the slave trade, pirate life and tactics, the history of diving, and preserving artifacts. To further enhance the reading experience, Sandler incorporates quotations from period documents or people involved in the hunt and discovery of the shipwreck, black-and-white illustrations, and maps.
The inclusion of an index makes this history of the Whydah more accessible than Clifford’s own books that often lack this important feature. Sandler clearly mentions any alterations he makes, such as rewording passages from Captain Johnson’s A General History of Pyrates into modern-day language for easier reading, and points out when the historical record remains silent about a particular aspect of the story, such as the legend of Maria Hallett. The inclusion of lesser-known facts, such as two of the divers who helped in the search, will surprise many. The chronological unfolding of events and the smooth flow of the narrative make this an inviting tale that snares the reader’s attention. This might be a book aimed at young pirate readers (ages ten and up), but adults will find it an equally intriguing adventure.
July 24, 2017
What I Liked:
-It is interesting nonfiction (especially the first half).
-Some of the things we believe about pirates are actually MYTHS thanks to the book Treasure Island. Most pirates didn't bury their treasures. A lot of their booty was actually ordinary trade items - not gold and jewels. Walking the plank wasn't actually a thing. Pirates probably spoke the same way most other lower-class sailors spoke. Those fun phrases like "Ahoy, matey," Shiver me timbers," and "Arrrr?" Myths. I wish I would have known this when I taught Treasure Island!
-Source notes, bibliography, photography credits, and primary sources!
-What they learned from the artifacts of the Whydah. Unlike merchant of navy ships, these pirates enjoyed more diverse diets, they had plates and silverware, and they dressed in wealthy and stylish clothes.
-The author presented the arguments that some have against Barry Clifford's methods. This would be nice to use as a mentor text for argumentative writing with upper middle school or high school.
-They have been recovering the Whydah since the year before I was born, and they are still doing it. Wow.
What I Didn't Like:
-The multiple page SIDEBAR texts that interrupted mid-sentence and story and continued for sometimes multiple pages. Yes, they were interesting, BUT it made for some awkward reading. I would skip them, finish the chapter, and come back to them. If it was awkward for me, you can bet it'll be awkward for its intended audience of middle school students as well. Yikes. I don't understand why they couldn't put them at the end of each chapter.
-The second half kind of fizzled at times. The recovery efforts just didn't interest me as much.
-This book probably won't have universal appeal. It will take the right reader - probably someone with an interest in nonfiction or pirates. I will definitely need to push this book with a few kids that I think might like it, or it could sit on our nonfiction shelves too long.
Overall, a strong nonfiction selection minus the sidebar text issues.
3.5 stars. Rounded up to a 4 because I'm a sucker for interesting nonfiction for middle school kids, and I think it would be awesome to read with Treasure Island for a nonfiction/fiction unit in a high ability class. But then again...most of my students didn't appreciate Treasure Island like I thought they should, so it probably wouldn't be that awesome in reality...Still, I can dream, right?
-It is interesting nonfiction (especially the first half).
-Some of the things we believe about pirates are actually MYTHS thanks to the book Treasure Island. Most pirates didn't bury their treasures. A lot of their booty was actually ordinary trade items - not gold and jewels. Walking the plank wasn't actually a thing. Pirates probably spoke the same way most other lower-class sailors spoke. Those fun phrases like "Ahoy, matey," Shiver me timbers," and "Arrrr?" Myths. I wish I would have known this when I taught Treasure Island!
-Source notes, bibliography, photography credits, and primary sources!
-What they learned from the artifacts of the Whydah. Unlike merchant of navy ships, these pirates enjoyed more diverse diets, they had plates and silverware, and they dressed in wealthy and stylish clothes.
-The author presented the arguments that some have against Barry Clifford's methods. This would be nice to use as a mentor text for argumentative writing with upper middle school or high school.
-They have been recovering the Whydah since the year before I was born, and they are still doing it. Wow.
What I Didn't Like:
-The multiple page SIDEBAR texts that interrupted mid-sentence and story and continued for sometimes multiple pages. Yes, they were interesting, BUT it made for some awkward reading. I would skip them, finish the chapter, and come back to them. If it was awkward for me, you can bet it'll be awkward for its intended audience of middle school students as well. Yikes. I don't understand why they couldn't put them at the end of each chapter.
-The second half kind of fizzled at times. The recovery efforts just didn't interest me as much.
-This book probably won't have universal appeal. It will take the right reader - probably someone with an interest in nonfiction or pirates. I will definitely need to push this book with a few kids that I think might like it, or it could sit on our nonfiction shelves too long.
Overall, a strong nonfiction selection minus the sidebar text issues.
3.5 stars. Rounded up to a 4 because I'm a sucker for interesting nonfiction for middle school kids, and I think it would be awesome to read with Treasure Island for a nonfiction/fiction unit in a high ability class. But then again...most of my students didn't appreciate Treasure Island like I thought they should, so it probably wouldn't be that awesome in reality...Still, I can dream, right?
May 10, 2018
This is a fascinating book about a ship, The Whydah, which was involved in the triangle trade. After delivering slaves to the West Indies, it was loaded with cargo and headed back to England when it was attacked by on of the most famous pirates of the time, Black Sam Bellamy. A fast and sturdy ship, it was made the flagship of the pirate and his crew, and plied the seas attacking ships and confiscating their cargoes and sometimes their crews as well.
The most interesting part of the book was the description of the lives of the pirates. Many came to the "occupation" voluntarily for the adventure and the riches, neither of which they would have achieved if they had stayed home! Others were coerced, usually because they certain skills needed by the ship and crew, or because they decided a pirates life was better than death. Most stayed. The life on board was remarkably democratic. While there were leaders who made specific decisions, work, food, drink and most importantly, booty, was shared equally. The crew could vote on some aspects of their lives aboard ship.
Crews were generally composed of men of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and races. It was apparently one of the few places where these differences did not affect how they were treated, as long as they abided by the code of conduct as expected and did their jobs. Actually, since the "job" was dangerous, a pirate could easily lose a limb or and eye in conflict, as they attacked other ships. These injured men were given specific amounts of money depending on their level of disability.
Many pirates retired and lived in wealth and comfort as a result of their ill-gotten gains.
Loaded with booty from the capture of several ships off the New England coast, the Whydah ran aground and sank in a storm in 1717. Only two of the crew survived.
Locals tried in vain to find the wreck. Although some booty was recovered from the shore, the ship was not located until 1984, when it was identified by its bell by marine archaeologists.
Priceless artifacts were recovered, and even more important, a wealth of historical evidence that has changed the way most people thought of pirates.
I highly recommend this book!
The most interesting part of the book was the description of the lives of the pirates. Many came to the "occupation" voluntarily for the adventure and the riches, neither of which they would have achieved if they had stayed home! Others were coerced, usually because they certain skills needed by the ship and crew, or because they decided a pirates life was better than death. Most stayed. The life on board was remarkably democratic. While there were leaders who made specific decisions, work, food, drink and most importantly, booty, was shared equally. The crew could vote on some aspects of their lives aboard ship.
Crews were generally composed of men of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and races. It was apparently one of the few places where these differences did not affect how they were treated, as long as they abided by the code of conduct as expected and did their jobs. Actually, since the "job" was dangerous, a pirate could easily lose a limb or and eye in conflict, as they attacked other ships. These injured men were given specific amounts of money depending on their level of disability.
Many pirates retired and lived in wealth and comfort as a result of their ill-gotten gains.
Loaded with booty from the capture of several ships off the New England coast, the Whydah ran aground and sank in a storm in 1717. Only two of the crew survived.
Locals tried in vain to find the wreck. Although some booty was recovered from the shore, the ship was not located until 1984, when it was identified by its bell by marine archaeologists.
Priceless artifacts were recovered, and even more important, a wealth of historical evidence that has changed the way most people thought of pirates.
I highly recommend this book!
March 20, 2018
Sandler, Martin W. The Whydah : A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked & Found, 176 pages. NON-FICTION. Candlewick Press, 2017. $20. Language: PG (2 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (discussion of amputations and wounds).
In the early 1700s, a pirate named Black Sam Bellamy “traded up” to a slave ship called the Whydah. It was a huge pirate ship, with room for lots of men and lots of booty. It was a fast ship, heavily armed and easy to maneuver, so it made pirating (attacking other ships and stealing their stuff) profitable. They plundered as many as 4 ships in a day. Besides telling the story of Bellamy and The Whydah, the reader is educated on the history of pirates, the rules of piracy (called The Articles of Agreement), and jobs on a pirate ship - did you know they had musicians who played aggressive sounding music during battles, to frighten the opponents and urge on the pirates? The Whydah sank and was lost under the ocean off Cape Cod for over 200 years, until it was discovered again in 1984. The final chapters tell of the discovery/recovery process, and the technology used to find the wreck.
I loved all the information about pirates! This was so fun to read, and kids who are Pirates of the Caribbean fans will eat this up. The format had some major issues for me. I felt the historical sections, slipped in when it was happening in the story, broke up the text too much. I found them very informative, but the placement was weird. Also, the period maps were difficult to read - maybe it’s my old eyes but there was so much tiny text in them they weren’t all that helpful except in a general sense. Full of drawings, pictures and maps, this well documented resource includes a long bibliography and an index.
MS, HS - ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
In the early 1700s, a pirate named Black Sam Bellamy “traded up” to a slave ship called the Whydah. It was a huge pirate ship, with room for lots of men and lots of booty. It was a fast ship, heavily armed and easy to maneuver, so it made pirating (attacking other ships and stealing their stuff) profitable. They plundered as many as 4 ships in a day. Besides telling the story of Bellamy and The Whydah, the reader is educated on the history of pirates, the rules of piracy (called The Articles of Agreement), and jobs on a pirate ship - did you know they had musicians who played aggressive sounding music during battles, to frighten the opponents and urge on the pirates? The Whydah sank and was lost under the ocean off Cape Cod for over 200 years, until it was discovered again in 1984. The final chapters tell of the discovery/recovery process, and the technology used to find the wreck.
I loved all the information about pirates! This was so fun to read, and kids who are Pirates of the Caribbean fans will eat this up. The format had some major issues for me. I felt the historical sections, slipped in when it was happening in the story, broke up the text too much. I found them very informative, but the placement was weird. Also, the period maps were difficult to read - maybe it’s my old eyes but there was so much tiny text in them they weren’t all that helpful except in a general sense. Full of drawings, pictures and maps, this well documented resource includes a long bibliography and an index.
MS, HS - ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
August 16, 2018
“The Whydah,” by Martin W. Sandler is a truly adventurous story based on the captaincy, wreck, and discovery of the only pirate ship ever found and excavated, known as The Whydah, and the incredible mysteries it revealed. Sandler begins his book by introducing the golden age of piracy – the 1650s to the 1730s – when fearsome, frightful pirates like Blackbeard ruled the waves seeking treasure, at the same time, large and fast ships to transport it. The Whydah was a similar ship, with a purpose to ply the Triangular route - connecting England and other European countries to the coast of West Africa and to the Caribbean, until one of the greediest pirates of all, Black Sam Bellamy, started to commandeer it. Filling the ship to its maximum capacity with treasure, Bellamy hoped to retire with his bounty, but unfortunately, the ship sank in a storm in 1717. The disaster the storm brought to the ship eluded many treasure seekers for more than two hundred years, until it was finally discovered in 1984 by marine archeologists. The artifacts gathered from the wrecked ship were priceless, both in value and in knowledge, the revelation of life in that significant-mythologized era, changing our perspectives about pirates.
In this book, Sandler has woven a timeline of The Whydah and by focusing on one ship, he is able to dive in deep into every detail of piracy and has the opportunity to share insights into contemporary underwater research techniques. The structural organization of this book has made it more comprehensive/understandable to the audience and more captivating with the suspense it evokes, earning a greater level of interest with every page. The way myths and legends about pirates have been debunked with logical proofs, it makes me question about other legends we all have been hearing since childhood.
Despite its thin volume, the book is an entire library of knowledge and shocking facts. "The Whydah," is a true, historical narrative of the ship's journey. This book is highly recommended to an audience who loves the history of pirates and piracy.
In this book, Sandler has woven a timeline of The Whydah and by focusing on one ship, he is able to dive in deep into every detail of piracy and has the opportunity to share insights into contemporary underwater research techniques. The structural organization of this book has made it more comprehensive/understandable to the audience and more captivating with the suspense it evokes, earning a greater level of interest with every page. The way myths and legends about pirates have been debunked with logical proofs, it makes me question about other legends we all have been hearing since childhood.
Despite its thin volume, the book is an entire library of knowledge and shocking facts. "The Whydah," is a true, historical narrative of the ship's journey. This book is highly recommended to an audience who loves the history of pirates and piracy.
September 17, 2020
Book 122 of 2020. The Whydah was, in its day, considered an infamous pirate ship. Captained by Sam Bellamy, the ship wrecked in a storm and sunk to the bottom of the ocean in 1717 in a storm in Cape Cod. In 1982, the search began for the wreckage of the pirate ship, and by 1985, the searchers had begun to recover treasure and wreckage from the ship. Over 30 years later, the excavation is still ongoing.
This Non-fiction YA book explores the history of the Whydah, the story of Sam Bellamy, and the story of the Whydah’s discovery. This book includes sidebars on pirates that help provide general information about them as well as correct myths that the reader might have picked up about pirates.
It’s September, so I read this book as a teacher, prepping it for my 15 and 13-year-old for history reading. (My 13-year-old is interested in pirates.) it will make a good study for them. The writing style is simple enough that an interested 10-11 year old could handle it, but at times the subject matter, including the detailing of pirate brutality, makes this a better read for older children.
I also admit I found myself caught up in the story of a ship I had never heard of. I learned some about pirates as I went, correcting some of my misconceptions. I also found the discussion of wreckage recovery interesting. I had never considered what a long-term commitment that a project like that would be. I also really now want to visit The Whydah museum (a 16 hour drive from my house).
As a teacher, one thing that irked me is the layout. Information sidebars that are 3-4 pages long are simply placed in the middle of the chapter. This is something that will confuse my 13-year-old a bit when she starts reading it. The layout could be a little clearer or the sidebars could be at the end of the chapters.
This Non-fiction YA book explores the history of the Whydah, the story of Sam Bellamy, and the story of the Whydah’s discovery. This book includes sidebars on pirates that help provide general information about them as well as correct myths that the reader might have picked up about pirates.
It’s September, so I read this book as a teacher, prepping it for my 15 and 13-year-old for history reading. (My 13-year-old is interested in pirates.) it will make a good study for them. The writing style is simple enough that an interested 10-11 year old could handle it, but at times the subject matter, including the detailing of pirate brutality, makes this a better read for older children.
I also admit I found myself caught up in the story of a ship I had never heard of. I learned some about pirates as I went, correcting some of my misconceptions. I also found the discussion of wreckage recovery interesting. I had never considered what a long-term commitment that a project like that would be. I also really now want to visit The Whydah museum (a 16 hour drive from my house).
As a teacher, one thing that irked me is the layout. Information sidebars that are 3-4 pages long are simply placed in the middle of the chapter. This is something that will confuse my 13-year-old a bit when she starts reading it. The layout could be a little clearer or the sidebars could be at the end of the chapters.
February 8, 2018
This is a fascinating account of the life and times of 18th century pirates, specifically Black Sam Bellamy and the ship they Whydah. Black Sam Bellamy was an infamous pirate of the Atlantic and Caribbean. His ship the Whydah was full of treasure when it sunk off Cape Cod. Bellamy and most of his crew drowned in the shipwreck and treasure hunters looked for his sunken treasure for almost 300 years. It wasn't until the 1980s that Barry Clifford finally located the wreck and found part of the treasure.
This story is fascinating and Sandler did a great job researching. There are some really interesting bits here like the Articles of Agreement all pirates signed and the myths about pirates. What I didn't like was the format of this book. Kids nonfiction books should be really readable and eye-catching. The story here is readable and exciting, but this book is not set up to catch the reader's attention. The illustrations are all black and white and they are few and far between. This book could have been really helped by some color and a lot more illustrations. When Sandler talked about the different kinds of ships or the ports of call for pirates some pictures would have been helpful. There are also really long sidebars that take up multiple pages just stuck in the middle of chapters. There is no rhyme or reason for where these are placed and almost every single one is in the middle of a sentence or paragraph. Sidebars should be short bits of information. These are basically small chapters within chapters and the format should have been redone. It was annoying to say the least.
This story is fascinating and Sandler did a great job researching. There are some really interesting bits here like the Articles of Agreement all pirates signed and the myths about pirates. What I didn't like was the format of this book. Kids nonfiction books should be really readable and eye-catching. The story here is readable and exciting, but this book is not set up to catch the reader's attention. The illustrations are all black and white and they are few and far between. This book could have been really helped by some color and a lot more illustrations. When Sandler talked about the different kinds of ships or the ports of call for pirates some pictures would have been helpful. There are also really long sidebars that take up multiple pages just stuck in the middle of chapters. There is no rhyme or reason for where these are placed and almost every single one is in the middle of a sentence or paragraph. Sidebars should be short bits of information. These are basically small chapters within chapters and the format should have been redone. It was annoying to say the least.
February 16, 2018
In the early 1700s, a pirate named Black Sam Bellamy “traded up” to a slave ship called the Whydah. It was a huge pirate ship, with room for lots of men and lots of booty. It was a fast ship, heavily armed and easy to maneuver, so it made pirating (attacking other ships and stealing their stuff) profitable. They plundered as many as 4 ships in a day. Besides telling the story of Bellamy and The Whydah, the reader is educated on the history of pirates, the rules of piracy (called The Articles of Agreement), and jobs on a pirate ship - did you know they had musicians who played aggressive sounding music during battles, to frighten the opponents and urge on the pirates? The Whydah sank and was lost under the ocean off Cape Cod for over 200 years, until it was discovered again in 1984. The final chapters tell of the discovery/recovery process, and the technology used to find the wreck.
I loved all the information about pirates! This was so fun to read, and kids who are Pirates of the Caribbean fans will eat this up. The format had some major issues for me. I felt the historical sections, slipped in when it was happening in the story, broke up the text too much. I found them very informative, but the placement was weird. Also, the period maps were difficult to read - maybe it’s my old eyes but there was so much tiny text in them they weren’t all that helpful except in a general sense. Full of drawings, pictures and maps, this well documented resource includes a long bibliography and an index.
Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!
I loved all the information about pirates! This was so fun to read, and kids who are Pirates of the Caribbean fans will eat this up. The format had some major issues for me. I felt the historical sections, slipped in when it was happening in the story, broke up the text too much. I found them very informative, but the placement was weird. Also, the period maps were difficult to read - maybe it’s my old eyes but there was so much tiny text in them they weren’t all that helpful except in a general sense. Full of drawings, pictures and maps, this well documented resource includes a long bibliography and an index.
Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!
July 13, 2017
Pirates! I learned so many interesting things about pirates from reading this book. In fact, I guess I knew almost nothing about pirates before reading it, since it turns out that most everything from Pirates of the Caribbean and popular culture is wrong. The Whydah was one of the most famous pirate ships of its time (the early 1700s, the golden age of pirates), and it is the only pirate shipwreck every to be recovered. It was shipwrecked off the coast of Cape Cod (even though it spent most of it's time plundering in the Caribbean, of course) and was finally discovered in 1984 with treasure from the ship still being excavated today.
The bottom line is that pirates are awesome. They were rebels who rejected the corrupt monarchs who ruled over Europe and were expanding into Africa and the Americas, and found their own way in the world by stealing from wealthy merchants, slavers, and empires. Sure they perhaps killed a few more people than necessary along the way, but they also had pretty awesome adventures, stole from a lot of wicked people, and lived like princes on the high seas ruled only by their own code of conduct that was actually a lo t fairer than most people were treated on land.
If I'm ever up near Cape Cod, I would definitely stop into the Whydah museum to take learn more about the pirates that lived on this ship and see the amazing plunder that they've pulled out of the wreck.
The bottom line is that pirates are awesome. They were rebels who rejected the corrupt monarchs who ruled over Europe and were expanding into Africa and the Americas, and found their own way in the world by stealing from wealthy merchants, slavers, and empires. Sure they perhaps killed a few more people than necessary along the way, but they also had pretty awesome adventures, stole from a lot of wicked people, and lived like princes on the high seas ruled only by their own code of conduct that was actually a lo t fairer than most people were treated on land.
If I'm ever up near Cape Cod, I would definitely stop into the Whydah museum to take learn more about the pirates that lived on this ship and see the amazing plunder that they've pulled out of the wreck.
September 12, 2017
Born in 1689 in Plymouth, England, Sam Bellamy loved the sea. He learned to sail from an early age and was not yet twenty when he joined the British Navy. But by the age of twenty-four, the War of Spanish Succession had ended and Sam found himself unemployed. He sailed for America and decided to make his fortune as a treasure hunter. But when that scheme failed, he found his true calling as a pirate. He became known as Black Sam. His success as a pirate made him legendary and his capture of the slave ship Whydah made him rich.
This title recounts both the story of the pirate Black Sam and the history of his ship the Whydah. When it sunk off the coast of Cape Cod in 1717, it was carrying a fortune in gold and looted goods from merchant ships. After searching historical documents and much research, Barry Clifford and his crew of the Vast Explorer began their search for the wreck of the Whydah. The search and eventual discovery of the Whydah is documented along with the thirty-year process of reclaiming from the sea what was once lost. Sandler recounts a riveting tale but is quick to differentiate the realities of sea/pirating life from the romanticized version. Sidebar information that is sometimes two to three pages long does slow the flow of the text. Otherwise, this is a well-researched, quick read. Maps, photographs, source notes, and a bibliography are included.
This title recounts both the story of the pirate Black Sam and the history of his ship the Whydah. When it sunk off the coast of Cape Cod in 1717, it was carrying a fortune in gold and looted goods from merchant ships. After searching historical documents and much research, Barry Clifford and his crew of the Vast Explorer began their search for the wreck of the Whydah. The search and eventual discovery of the Whydah is documented along with the thirty-year process of reclaiming from the sea what was once lost. Sandler recounts a riveting tale but is quick to differentiate the realities of sea/pirating life from the romanticized version. Sidebar information that is sometimes two to three pages long does slow the flow of the text. Otherwise, this is a well-researched, quick read. Maps, photographs, source notes, and a bibliography are included.
December 6, 2017
Pirates have been romanticized for a long, long time in movies, books, and other media. This book goes a long way towards revealing the truth about so many of the myths that exist around pirates and how they lived. I appreciated greatly how straight forward Sandler is about piracy and the reasons behind it and how those who really lived it actually lived. This book does focus specifically on the experiences related to one specific ship, first as a slave ship and then as a pirate ship. Details about the ship itself, what made it remarkable, and the people who sailed on her fascinated me. Short segments about slaver, piracy and artifact conservation added greatly to my understanding of the rest of the narrative.
I admired the way the author worked hard to make it clear the details about the ship and the people, especially Black Sam Bellamy, have been truthfully documented and which stories are still legend or rumor. The clear, well-written narrative was easy to follow and the story told in a compelling way. The book is beautifully designed with the first part of the book focusing on the Whydah before it sank and the end of the book focusing on it's ongoing recovery. I found the parts about the search for the Whydah's remains just as compelling as the parts about the pirates.
The book demonstrates what is so powerful about narrative nonfiction while also including source notes, a bibliography, and an index. A fabulous book for both leisure reading and teaching.
I admired the way the author worked hard to make it clear the details about the ship and the people, especially Black Sam Bellamy, have been truthfully documented and which stories are still legend or rumor. The clear, well-written narrative was easy to follow and the story told in a compelling way. The book is beautifully designed with the first part of the book focusing on the Whydah before it sank and the end of the book focusing on it's ongoing recovery. I found the parts about the search for the Whydah's remains just as compelling as the parts about the pirates.
The book demonstrates what is so powerful about narrative nonfiction while also including source notes, a bibliography, and an index. A fabulous book for both leisure reading and teaching.
May 15, 2018
I'm sort of obsessed with Cape Cod. So when I saw the Dallas Museum of Art had a $5 lecture last month about the recovery of the Whydah off the coast of Provincetown, I had to go check it out. It was amazing. THE VERY NEXT DAY, someone turned in this book at my library, and it ended up in my hands. (I guess I forgot about buying it!) Of course, I had to read it! The guy who did the talk at the DMA, Chris Macort, is even in some of the pictures!
I can't wait to share this with students next year when they come to check out nonfiction. The Whydah (pronounced wid-dah), originally a slave ship, had already dropped off its human cargo and traded it for jewelry, gold, and more, before Black Sam Bellamy captured it. Then he proceeded to load it up with all sorts of goodies from other vessels. Then he stupidly trusted a guy that he had recently captured to lead them to safety in a storm, and ended up at the bottom of the ocean. Sandler gives us lots of info on pirate culture and breaks up some common myths. The last third of the book is about the recovery and conservation efforts, which are fascinating. (JFK Jr. was on the first dive team in the 80's!)
I was a little annoyed by the placement of the side notes. A few were a couple of pages long, which really disrupts the reading experience, but I assume that's an editorial issue.
Informational, interesting, and a great length for middle graders.
I can't wait to share this with students next year when they come to check out nonfiction. The Whydah (pronounced wid-dah), originally a slave ship, had already dropped off its human cargo and traded it for jewelry, gold, and more, before Black Sam Bellamy captured it. Then he proceeded to load it up with all sorts of goodies from other vessels. Then he stupidly trusted a guy that he had recently captured to lead them to safety in a storm, and ended up at the bottom of the ocean. Sandler gives us lots of info on pirate culture and breaks up some common myths. The last third of the book is about the recovery and conservation efforts, which are fascinating. (JFK Jr. was on the first dive team in the 80's!)
I was a little annoyed by the placement of the side notes. A few were a couple of pages long, which really disrupts the reading experience, but I assume that's an editorial issue.
Informational, interesting, and a great length for middle graders.
March 16, 2018
This was actually a much more interesting book than I expected. It was just as entertaining as it was informational. This is the long story of the Whydah, its captains, and its treasures. The Whydah was originally meant for the Triangular Trade route carrying slaves and goods alike in the early 1700’s. It was large and fast in order to get its job done as quickly as possible. Its first captain, Captain Prince was returning the Whydah to England when the ship was taken over by pirates. He willingly surrendered to Black Sam Bellamy, the most famous and successful pirate of their time. Black Sam Bellamy took the Whydah for himself as the ship he had been dreaming of. He took over many ships and plundered them all along the East Coast of America. The magic ended though, with the ship wrecking off Cape Cod. Cape Cod residents scavenged the wreckage leaving nothing on land to be found other than the bodies that washed ashore. The ships artifacts were not touched again until 1984 when marine archaeologists finally found the ship wreck at the bottom of the sea. All the artifacts from the Whydah tell us more about what it was like to be a pirate in the early 1700’s, and it is not like what we think know about pirate life from movies.
November 12, 2018
Summary:
The Whydah was a sunken pirate ship that was later investigated by scientists. In the book "Whydah" the author talked about the sunken ship, but also about the life of several pirates. This chapter book went into detail about how pirates became pirates and why. The book told the story of Black beard and other infamous captains of the sea. One story that the author told was a story about a ten-year-old boy who, against his mother's wishes, joined a group of pirates and later died at sea. They actually found a part of his leg at the bottom of the sea years later when investigating the sunken ship.
Opinion: One of my favorite parts in the book was a section where they went over the Pirate rules. Even the pirates set rules for themselves such as when all the lights on the ship should be blown out, how gambling should be illegal and other practical rules.
Teaching Idea:
I'm not sure how you could fit this book into some kind of content area standard, but I'm sure a boy in my 5th-grade class would enjoy reading a book about pirates for fun. Maybe if I found other books about pirates that are a little lighter I could add this book into the mix and have students that found the topic interesting read it during an independent reading time.
The Whydah was a sunken pirate ship that was later investigated by scientists. In the book "Whydah" the author talked about the sunken ship, but also about the life of several pirates. This chapter book went into detail about how pirates became pirates and why. The book told the story of Black beard and other infamous captains of the sea. One story that the author told was a story about a ten-year-old boy who, against his mother's wishes, joined a group of pirates and later died at sea. They actually found a part of his leg at the bottom of the sea years later when investigating the sunken ship.
Opinion: One of my favorite parts in the book was a section where they went over the Pirate rules. Even the pirates set rules for themselves such as when all the lights on the ship should be blown out, how gambling should be illegal and other practical rules.
Teaching Idea:
I'm not sure how you could fit this book into some kind of content area standard, but I'm sure a boy in my 5th-grade class would enjoy reading a book about pirates for fun. Maybe if I found other books about pirates that are a little lighter I could add this book into the mix and have students that found the topic interesting read it during an independent reading time.
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