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Pirate Queens: Dauntless Women Who Dared to Rule the High Seas
This wow-worthy book proves that women have been making their mark in all aspects of history―even the high seas!
Meet Ching Shih, a Chinese pirate who presided over a fleet of 80,000 men (by contrast, Blackbeard had some 300). Get the scoop on Anne Bonny who famously ran away from an arranged marriage to don trousers and brandish a pistol in the Bahamas. And there are more!
Each pirate profile includes a dramatic original poem presented against a backdrop of gorgeous full-color art by award-winning illustrator Sara Gómez Woolley. Each profile is followed by fascinating information about the real life and times of these daring (and dangerous!) women.
Vetted by the world’s leading pirate experts and historians, this book is a cool and edgy gift. It’s also perfect for any curious kid who dreams of adventure and for parents who are eager to show their tweens and teens that history is more diverse, daring, and surprising than what is typically found in textbooks.
Meet Ching Shih, a Chinese pirate who presided over a fleet of 80,000 men (by contrast, Blackbeard had some 300). Get the scoop on Anne Bonny who famously ran away from an arranged marriage to don trousers and brandish a pistol in the Bahamas. And there are more!
Each pirate profile includes a dramatic original poem presented against a backdrop of gorgeous full-color art by award-winning illustrator Sara Gómez Woolley. Each profile is followed by fascinating information about the real life and times of these daring (and dangerous!) women.
Vetted by the world’s leading pirate experts and historians, this book is a cool and edgy gift. It’s also perfect for any curious kid who dreams of adventure and for parents who are eager to show their tweens and teens that history is more diverse, daring, and surprising than what is typically found in textbooks.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 11, 2022
3 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Lewis
3 books11 followersLeigh Lewis is the author of Pirate Queens: Dauntless Women Who Dared to Rule the High Seas, released by National Geographic. This wow-worthy book proves that women have been making their mark in all aspects of history―even the high seas! Meet Ching Shih, a Chinese pirate who presided over a fleet of 80,000 men (by contrast, Blackbeard had some 300). Get the scoop on Anne Bonny who famously ran away from an arranged marriage to don trousers and brandish a pistol in the Bahamas. And there are more! Each pirate profile includes a dramatic original poem presented against a backdrop of gorgeous full-color art by award-winning illustrator Sara Woolley Gomez. Each profile is followed by fascinating information about the real life and times of these daring (and dangerous!) women. Vetted by the world’s leading pirate experts and historians, this book is a cool and edgy gift. It’s also perfect for any curious kid who dreams of adventure and for parents who are eager to show their tweens and teens that history is more diverse, daring, and surprising than what is typically found in textbooks.
She is the co-author of It’s Not the Baby, a board book Kirkus called, “I-spy reading fun for little eyes.” About it's sequel, It’s Not the Puppy, Kirkus says, "expect a request to “read it again.'"
Leigh is nothing if not an explorer. She left her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, for college and kept going. She has lived in New York, California, England, Greece, back to Ohio, Turkey, Massachusetts, Japan, back to Massachusetts, back to Turkey, back to England, Texas, and finally, full circle, home to Columbus. She received a B.A. in Speech Communication at Syracuse University and an MBA at Boston University in their International Management Program. Leigh spent most of her career in marketing before realizing that her heart was in creating worlds with words.
Leigh lives with her husband Serdar and their three daughters who inspire her to write multicultural, girl-power, and/or quirky picture books.
She is the co-author of It’s Not the Baby, a board book Kirkus called, “I-spy reading fun for little eyes.” About it's sequel, It’s Not the Puppy, Kirkus says, "expect a request to “read it again.'"
Leigh is nothing if not an explorer. She left her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, for college and kept going. She has lived in New York, California, England, Greece, back to Ohio, Turkey, Massachusetts, Japan, back to Massachusetts, back to Turkey, back to England, Texas, and finally, full circle, home to Columbus. She received a B.A. in Speech Communication at Syracuse University and an MBA at Boston University in their International Management Program. Leigh spent most of her career in marketing before realizing that her heart was in creating worlds with words.
Leigh lives with her husband Serdar and their three daughters who inspire her to write multicultural, girl-power, and/or quirky picture books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 30, 2022
Take a trip around the world - there are pirates in every corner! I didn't realize how many female pirates there are in history. Yes, I have heard of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, but I had never heard of the Chinese pirate Ching Shih, who could outmaneuver any man. This is a fascinating look at those ladies who ruled the sea throughout history. The illustrations bring a modern twist to each character and the quick biographies will put a smile on your face.
November 5, 2021
Thank you to author, Leigh Lewis, and National Geographic Kids for an e-ARC of this fantastic book!
In the introduction when the author poses the question “When you think of a pirate, who comes to mind?” I hate to admit it but I could only come up with a few male fictional characters, including Captain Hook and Dread Pirate Roberts. I didn’t even know that there were any female pirates!!! Turns out (as per this wonderful book), “Female pirates have thrived since the dawn of piracy: penniless vagabonds and Viking warriors, governors and merchant sailors, sea captains and Islamic queens. In fact, the most powerful pirate ever to have lived was a woman named Ching Shih…”
Kids (and adults) will not only love the eye-catching cover, stunning illustrations—including a generalized route map for each pirate featured, and various photographs, but also the fascinating facts shared (and some myths exposed) throughout. Using both poetry and prose, the author tells fun and engaging real-life tales of six powerful female pirates, reclaiming their space in HERstory. As an older sister, Sela’s story is my absolute favorite. I also enjoyed the note at the end discussing the different forms of poetry used and how to write your own.
I highly recommend this amazing collection be added to every library, classroom, and home bookshelf. And I see many awesome female pirate Halloween costumes happening in our future!
In the introduction when the author poses the question “When you think of a pirate, who comes to mind?” I hate to admit it but I could only come up with a few male fictional characters, including Captain Hook and Dread Pirate Roberts. I didn’t even know that there were any female pirates!!! Turns out (as per this wonderful book), “Female pirates have thrived since the dawn of piracy: penniless vagabonds and Viking warriors, governors and merchant sailors, sea captains and Islamic queens. In fact, the most powerful pirate ever to have lived was a woman named Ching Shih…”
Kids (and adults) will not only love the eye-catching cover, stunning illustrations—including a generalized route map for each pirate featured, and various photographs, but also the fascinating facts shared (and some myths exposed) throughout. Using both poetry and prose, the author tells fun and engaging real-life tales of six powerful female pirates, reclaiming their space in HERstory. As an older sister, Sela’s story is my absolute favorite. I also enjoyed the note at the end discussing the different forms of poetry used and how to write your own.
I highly recommend this amazing collection be added to every library, classroom, and home bookshelf. And I see many awesome female pirate Halloween costumes happening in our future!
December 31, 2021
What a unique and informative book! I loved the graphics, the poems, the stories. It was amazing. I also really enjoyed learning about powerful women pirates from our past. This would be a great book for classrooms to encourage more nonfiction reading in a non traditional format.
Thank you to the creators Leigh Lewis and Sara Gómez Woolley as well as National Geographic for sharing this with me in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the creators Leigh Lewis and Sara Gómez Woolley as well as National Geographic for sharing this with me in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2021
Wow! Leigh Lewis takes her readers on a creative and historical journey as she adeptly steers us through the unchartered waters of female piracy. Pirate Queens is an interesting and informative blend of poetry and nonfiction set against a stunning backdrop of vibrant art. I'm on board!
*This was read as an online ARC.
*This was read as an online ARC.
April 24, 2022
Meet the six most recognized pirates, filled with facts, songs/poems written about them:
-Artemisia 1 of Caria: Famous Queen who became an admiral and was never caught!
-Sela-Sibling rivalry gets taken too far; the predecessor to the first Vikings, hated her brother so much that she joined with another pirate to kill him!
-Sayyida al Hurra "Lady who is free and independent" : Hell hath no fury like a woman's wrath! A once happy young woman is forced out of her home due to religious bigotry so she exacts her revenge, ruling the Mediterranean Sea for 24 years pillaging against her oppressors to fund her activism for Muslim support!
Grace O-Malley: One fierce mama! She was a force to be reckoned with: I mean she had a baby onboard and then came on deck to join a gun fight, and she had meetings with Queen Elizabeth! because Grace was Queen of the Pirates
-Anne Bonny, the real Pirate of the Caribbean; Irish teen Anne was disowned, fell in love with famed pirate Calico Jack (arguably the credited pirate for the "Jolly Roger" skull and cross bones flag), united with Mary Read and the two (dressed like men) ruled the Caribbean for 2 years!
-Ching Shih, a widow who took over her husband's successful pirating business, and her flag became more recognized than the Chinese Navy and was granted amnesty to stop piracy...
-Artemisia 1 of Caria: Famous Queen who became an admiral and was never caught!
-Sela-Sibling rivalry gets taken too far; the predecessor to the first Vikings, hated her brother so much that she joined with another pirate to kill him!
-Sayyida al Hurra "Lady who is free and independent" : Hell hath no fury like a woman's wrath! A once happy young woman is forced out of her home due to religious bigotry so she exacts her revenge, ruling the Mediterranean Sea for 24 years pillaging against her oppressors to fund her activism for Muslim support!
Grace O-Malley: One fierce mama! She was a force to be reckoned with: I mean she had a baby onboard and then came on deck to join a gun fight, and she had meetings with Queen Elizabeth! because Grace was Queen of the Pirates
-Anne Bonny, the real Pirate of the Caribbean; Irish teen Anne was disowned, fell in love with famed pirate Calico Jack (arguably the credited pirate for the "Jolly Roger" skull and cross bones flag), united with Mary Read and the two (dressed like men) ruled the Caribbean for 2 years!
-Ching Shih, a widow who took over her husband's successful pirating business, and her flag became more recognized than the Chinese Navy and was granted amnesty to stop piracy...
April 1, 2022
It purports to be the first book doing this work, but it isn't. I read about many of these pirates in a children's book at least a decade ago. It also purports to be honest about the damage wreaked by pirates, but it doesn't really examine that or problematize it at all. Instead, it's just the typical celebration of power. Some of the artifacts depicted are genuine and relevant, while others are adjacent at best. Sometimes it just wasn't clear what was true -- who wrote that poem exactly? -- and what was invented just for this book, and the use of certain types of poems with certain historical figures seemed arbitrary. If it wasn't, that was also not explained. The artwork is lovely throughout.
May 15, 2025
Me gustó la combinación de las historias personales con los datos históricos. Pero siento que podrían explayarse más, sé que es un libro dirigido hacia infancias y jóvenes pero no significa que tienen que ser tan breves.
May 3, 2022
Great dramatic illustrations, fantastic facts in verse!
November 25, 2021
This book is a wonderful combination of history, poetry, and artwork.
I had the best time reading this book! I loved learning about the six fascinating women featured in this book, many of which I’d never read about before, like Ching Shih, the strong leader and negotiator with a crew of 80,000 or Sayyida Al Hurra, fierce defender of her Moroccan city. I also found it interesting how these Pirate Queens spanned the globe, from the Caribbean to Pacific to the Mediterranean to the Irish and North Seas.
I especially loved the poetry aspect of this book, something you don’t often see in nonfiction. Each poem paired beautifully with the information given about each Pirate Queen, creating vivid imagery and emotion.
I will definitely be recommending this book to students and teachers. It is engaging, fun, and informative, and as written in the poem titled “Kismet” for Sayyida Al Hurra:
“HER story is not captured like his story, as HIStory. Demand its future.”
I had the best time reading this book! I loved learning about the six fascinating women featured in this book, many of which I’d never read about before, like Ching Shih, the strong leader and negotiator with a crew of 80,000 or Sayyida Al Hurra, fierce defender of her Moroccan city. I also found it interesting how these Pirate Queens spanned the globe, from the Caribbean to Pacific to the Mediterranean to the Irish and North Seas.
I especially loved the poetry aspect of this book, something you don’t often see in nonfiction. Each poem paired beautifully with the information given about each Pirate Queen, creating vivid imagery and emotion.
I will definitely be recommending this book to students and teachers. It is engaging, fun, and informative, and as written in the poem titled “Kismet” for Sayyida Al Hurra:
“HER story is not captured like his story, as HIStory. Demand its future.”
June 15, 2022
The facts mixed with some speculation do make for an interesting read although I feel like this book could have been condensed quite a bit.
The first four chapters drag by. It is excessively wordy and repetetive. A few examples of this are:
Stating that illegitimate sons could inherit property twice within the space of a few paragraphs.
Stating that Anne's mother died of a fever and then stating a few paragraphs later that she became ill and died.
Also, how many times must if he stated that Mary and Anne fought with their hair flowing freely and their breasts out?
The first four chapters drag by. It is excessively wordy and repetetive. A few examples of this are:
Stating that illegitimate sons could inherit property twice within the space of a few paragraphs.
Stating that Anne's mother died of a fever and then stating a few paragraphs later that she became ill and died.
Also, how many times must if he stated that Mary and Anne fought with their hair flowing freely and their breasts out?
November 7, 2022
Public Library Copy
I'm not sure how I missed this innovative collective biography by a graduate of Blendon Middle School, but I was glad that Ms. Lewis e mailed me and brought it to my attention.
This was a fascinating look at a wide range of historical female pirates. The most recent being Ching Shi, who lived from 1775-1844. This historical aspects makes it much easier to frame the women's exploits as adventure and shattering stereotypical gender boundaries, since "pillaging and plundering" seem like activities that everyone is discouraged from these days! I loved the introduction explaining how Lewis and her daughters were fascinated by pirates, and how this led her to research them. The fact that a broad time period and wide range of cultures is represented is wonderful. Artemsia I of Caria, Sela, Sayyida al Hurra, Grace O'Malley, and Anne Bonny, in addition to Ching Shi, all get coverage.
And what interesting coverage it is! The artwork by Sara Gomez Woolley, in typical National Geographic full color, is vibrant and rich in period details. There are poems for the women, and there are notes on the poetic forms at the back of the book, which was much appreciated, and not surprising given Ms. Lewis' lineage. There is a prose overview of the life and work of each pirate, and lots of sidebars on fashion, other historical figures, and pirating details. This all adds up to concise but well-rounded and complete pictures of the life and times of each woman.
We're starting to see a wealth of diverse collective biographies, from Shatz' Rad Women A to Z (2015) to Baptiste's African Icons (2021), but I have not seen one about pirates! This is a great nonfiction accompaniment to Schulz' Hook's Revenge (2014) or Avi's classic The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (1990).
I'm not sure how I missed this innovative collective biography by a graduate of Blendon Middle School, but I was glad that Ms. Lewis e mailed me and brought it to my attention.
This was a fascinating look at a wide range of historical female pirates. The most recent being Ching Shi, who lived from 1775-1844. This historical aspects makes it much easier to frame the women's exploits as adventure and shattering stereotypical gender boundaries, since "pillaging and plundering" seem like activities that everyone is discouraged from these days! I loved the introduction explaining how Lewis and her daughters were fascinated by pirates, and how this led her to research them. The fact that a broad time period and wide range of cultures is represented is wonderful. Artemsia I of Caria, Sela, Sayyida al Hurra, Grace O'Malley, and Anne Bonny, in addition to Ching Shi, all get coverage.
And what interesting coverage it is! The artwork by Sara Gomez Woolley, in typical National Geographic full color, is vibrant and rich in period details. There are poems for the women, and there are notes on the poetic forms at the back of the book, which was much appreciated, and not surprising given Ms. Lewis' lineage. There is a prose overview of the life and work of each pirate, and lots of sidebars on fashion, other historical figures, and pirating details. This all adds up to concise but well-rounded and complete pictures of the life and times of each woman.
We're starting to see a wealth of diverse collective biographies, from Shatz' Rad Women A to Z (2015) to Baptiste's African Icons (2021), but I have not seen one about pirates! This is a great nonfiction accompaniment to Schulz' Hook's Revenge (2014) or Avi's classic The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (1990).
April 27, 2022
In most pirate literature, the main character is usually a male, even in historical stories. It's nice seeing some female representation, especially how Leigh Lewis lays everything out to give you a little bit of everything. There are both cartoon-style illustrations and real photos which is more appealing. The only female I was familiar with was Grace so it was nice seeing women from all over the world rising up to be fierce.
As for the writing, it's so lyrical and well written that it feels more like a novel than a history lesson. There's a healthy mixture of poetry and facts that it holds my interest even as an adult. It's one I'll keep on hand for when my daughter gets older. My favorite one, because I'm a fan of Greek Mythology, was Artemisia and how she pretty much told her brother that she's coming for him. It's refreshing to read about strong female pirates who didn't care what other people thought about them. There's a lesson in that.
Final Verdict: Overall, this is a fascinating and educational collection of of strong female women who took charge on the raging seas. This is perfect for and of history, especially for those as equally intrigued by pirates as me!
As for the writing, it's so lyrical and well written that it feels more like a novel than a history lesson. There's a healthy mixture of poetry and facts that it holds my interest even as an adult. It's one I'll keep on hand for when my daughter gets older. My favorite one, because I'm a fan of Greek Mythology, was Artemisia and how she pretty much told her brother that she's coming for him. It's refreshing to read about strong female pirates who didn't care what other people thought about them. There's a lesson in that.
Final Verdict: Overall, this is a fascinating and educational collection of of strong female women who took charge on the raging seas. This is perfect for and of history, especially for those as equally intrigued by pirates as me!
March 20, 2022
With a fierce flair, Pirate Queens brings to light a selection of awesome sea-faring women from history, including the "cunning queen of the seas" Artemisia, "the revenge-seeking queen" Sayyida Al Hurra, and the "fierce leader and savvy negotiator" Ching Shih". Each brief chapter contains a story, or translated work about the pirate as well as facts about piracy, the culture, or the history from that time period and culture. These are accompanied by brilliant illustrations of what the women may have looked like, as well as photos of artifacts. A cadre of academics provided input on this text so that their legacy will not be buried again.
May 27, 2022
If you are an older kid, tween, and possibly a teen, the layout, illustrations, and design of the book should appeal. As an adult, the way the six entries are written should be engaging, too, partly for the choices that were made. Starting each chapter with a poem, one that in a different style is brilliant; secret education at its finest.
However, as a historian I have to say that one of these six is not technically a pirate.Artemisia was a queen, an enforcer of Persian rule who respected their laws and administration. That is not what pirates do unless forced to by a greater power. If I could deduct only a half star, I would, for this one problem that really stuck out to me.
However, as a historian I have to say that one of these six is not technically a pirate.Artemisia was a queen, an enforcer of Persian rule who respected their laws and administration. That is not what pirates do unless forced to by a greater power. If I could deduct only a half star, I would, for this one problem that really stuck out to me.
October 15, 2022
Pirate Queens: Dauntless Women who Dared to Rule the High Seas by Leigh Lewis, Illustrated by Sara Gomez Woolley – a beautifully written, illustrated and designed nonfiction book filling in a gap in world history. Most people think pirates were always male, Lewis shares the stories of six of the most well-known female pirates to ever sail the seas. Each chapter opens with an illustrated portrait of the pirate, her timeline and world location, a poem and four pages of her story. Included are full color photos, illustrations, sidebars, and more. Makes a great resource for a class project or personal read. Grades 5-9
December 16, 2023
This book is targeted to children based on the author recognizing that her 3 daughters, when playing pirates. did not identify any female pirates. I read this because this short book includes female pirates that I have never heard of which makes this worthwhile. Unfortunately this is not a 'deep dive' as the information is pretty superficial (and this may be because hared documentation is simply not there). This book starts each female pirate's story with a poem and then explains in the end the type of poetry and its structure. This extra poetry lesson did not work for me. My rating is 3 stars although it's important to realize that I'm not a child so I'm not the intended audience.
December 14, 2022
Just over a picture book, this is a collection of short biographies (each headed by a poem) about women who sailed around in ships robbing and pillaging. The introduction points out that this isn't really heroic, but admits that it's still exciting. The various women had different motives and levels of success, from a few months before capture to a long, profitable career ending in a pleasant retirement, and they cover the Mediterranean, the Pacific, the Caribbean and the Atlantic. It's fun and rollicking, and I enjoyed the poems.
April 21, 2023
Cool concept and info that could have been presented more directly. I'm all for multi-genre works, but here the poetry, the bios, the history, and the artwork are a mishmash. There are paragraphs split by page turns that seem completely unnecessary given the creative format. I'm rarely so nitpicky but it is obvious here that the reader has to halt the flow of information and read the captions and sidebars before turning the page to continue the paragraph. I'd love to hear more about these folks, and I am confident my students would welcome bios of female pirates, but not this way.
January 28, 2022
I'm so glad someone brought to light the stories of these women. Even by today's standards, pirates seem to be off-limits to the play world of a little girl. Not anymore! Girls can be pirates too! I love the way the author uses a different form of poetry to tell the tales of each of these women. So creative and inspiring. And, in true National Geographic form, it is rich with information. Beautiful illustrations as well. A great book to have for a home library or a classroom.
February 20, 2022
What a rush! This entirely unique book is jam-packed with poetry, history, pirates, fierce females, and cultural diversity. The artwork is stunning. I can imagine this being using in a classroom in so many different ways! The poems that introduce the each pirate are each in a different form, which are further explained in an end note. Kids will be too excited by the stories to know how much they're learning. A true treasure.
July 24, 2024
The illustrations in this book are amazing and add to the text. I liked the organization of the book, with each pirate's section starting with a poem, followed by a short history. There wasn't an overwhelming amount of text and this doesn't have to be read as an entire book, so it's perfect for students. I loved learning a little bit more about women pirates. There is so much history we just don't know because it's about women, but this book gives us a little bit of their history back.
January 27, 2022
Fascinating and fun read! Leigh Lewis does a spectacular job weaving long buried historical accounts into poetic tales alongside informative and compelling historical tidbits. The illustrations by Sara Gómez Woolley are gorgeous. Great book that I will be gifting to several young readers in my family!
March 24, 2022
Informative book that shares information about six female pirates who were the best in their times. Readers meet women from various areas of the world and learn about their history and careers. Lewis does an excellent job of piecing together information on these women and sharing it at the middle grade level.
February 9, 2022
This was an interesting, short book that would be a great way to introduce kids to some famous female pirates throughout the world. The information is presented straight forwardly and in a way that I think most kids will be able to understand. On top of that the art is absolutely FANTASTIC.
February 16, 2022
Such an intriguing book full of beautiful poetry paired with informational stories of these historical women. Pirate Queens is definitely worth sharing with the young and old. The gorgeous illustrations add to the beauty of this book. I haven't stopped sharing with others what this book offers!
April 20, 2022
This book is long overdo. It was refreshing to read the stories of the female pirates who ruled the seas! We read of the guys all the time, but some of these ladies really rocked their boats. Great stories to inspire those girls wanting to rise above.
April 9, 2023
Interesting read with engaging illustrations. One of my older children was knowledgeable about many of these women and these stories are pared down a bit to be appropriate for younger readers. I will strongly consider adding this to my collection.
May 7, 2023
I learned a few things I didn’t know. I couldn’t quite appreciate the poetry though. Why follow the strict rules of six different types of poetry in a book about women pirates? Shouldn’t the format also be breaking the rules?
August 28, 2023
I love seeing biography collections because I find they introduce you to a wide range of people and then you can go and do further reading on them. This was an engaging look at the history of female pirates, which I think kids will really like!
March 1, 2022
"Men fight wars. Women win them."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews