Bloody Jack Read Alikes
(Note: This list may be changed as I personally get to read each of the titles mentioned below.)
Series Information
- Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy
- Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady
- Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber
- In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber
- Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West
- Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War [Coming 9/1/2008]
A “read alike” is a book that has the same feel, mood, subject, or tone of another book. Although no two books are an exact match, read alikes may have one, some, or most of the characteristics of a book you just couldn’t put down.
The Bloody Jack series follows the adventures of Mary Jacky Faber. The series begins in 1797 (18th Century) in London, England. It’s main genre classification is historical fiction but it’s also an adventure, a survival story, and a romance. The major themes through the series are womens’ roles in society, friendship, courage, making the best of situations, patience, coming of age, and overcoming adversity.
Aside from the humor, historical accuracy and interesting details of sea life, the thing that stands out about this series is Jacky herself. She’s a bit melodramatic and very much larger than life but she’s a character that you can’t help but love. Even though she’s a rebel she’s always trying to do the “right thing.” If you enjoyed the Bloody Jack series by L. A. Meyer, then you might enjoy the following titles. I haven’t personally read all the books below and may revise this list as I get to read though them for myself. In the mean time, they may satisfy your yearning for the sea or the other wonderful aspects of these novels. If you can think of any books to add to our list of Bloody Jack read alikes, or if you don’t agree with an item on our list, leave a comment below.
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, Book 1) by Tamora Pierce
- Time Period: Medieval
- Setting: Fantasy Kingdom of Tortall
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Fantasy
- Historical Fiction
- Humorous
Product Description: In a time when girls are forbidden to be warriors, Alanna of Trebond wants nothing more than to be knight of the realm of Tortall. So she finds a way to switch places with her brother, Thom. Disguised as a boy, Alanna begins her training as a page at the palace of King Roald. The road to knighthood, as she discovers, is not an easy one. Alanna must master weapons, combat, magic — and also polite behavior, her temper, and even her own heart. With stubbornness, skill, and daring, she wins the admiration of all around her, and the friendship of Prince Jonathan of Tortall himself. But she also makes an enemy of the prince’s uncle, the powerful and charming Duke Roger….
Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s first adventure begins — one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land. –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Why You’ll Like (Haven’t Read Yet): Yes, I do realize that this series is not about the water, or pirates, or ships. BUT it IS an adventure of a girl who dresses like a boy so she can fulfill her dreams. If you like the aspect of Jacky’s “deception” and how she doesn’t care that she’s a girl and isn’t supposed to captain a ship then you should enjoy Alanna on her quest to become a knight. The reviews are incredible! If you enjoy Alanna’s story, it’s continued in In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, and Lioness Rampant.
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, The by E. Lockhart
- Time Period: 2007
- Setting: United States
- Genres:
- Humorous Fiction
Description:
Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14: Debate Club. Her father’s “bunny rabbit.”
A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.
Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:
A knockout figure.
A sharp tongue.
A chip on her shoulder.
And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.
Frankie Laundau-Banks.
No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer.
Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society.
Not when her ex boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places.
Not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them.
When she knows Matthew’s lying to her.
And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.
Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16:
Possibly a criminal mastermind.
This is the story of how she got that way. Preview it here.
Why You’ll Like (Haven’t Read Yet): This isn’t historical fiction, nor does it have anything to do with the sea but if you are drawn to Jacky’s trouble making side, and how she always gets one over on the bad guys, then you may love Frankie.
Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Time Period: 1793 – 18th Century
- Setting: Pennsylvania
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Survival
Product Description
During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out.Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie’s world upside down. At her feverish mother’s insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease.
Why You’ll Like (Haven’t Read Yet): The time period is a match for Jacky, but this book is very different in that it isn’t on the sea at all. What drew me to it is that it’s a story of girl trying to survive in during a yellow fever epidemic in America. You’ll remember that Jacky’s parents died in the plague that was sweeping across London during that similar time period. Those who were intrigued by that aspect of book one may enjoy delving into this novel. The reviews on Amazon are fabulous.
Hidden Hand or, Capitola the Madcap, The (American Women Writers Series) by E. D. E. N. Southworth (Available Online)
- Time Period: 1859 – 19th Century
- Setting: United States
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Women
Description: When we first meet sharp and witty Capitola she is living among beggars and street urchins, and dressed as a boy because a boy can get work and be safe, whereas a girl is left to starve for want of “proper” employment. Unknown to her, Capitola has a very rich elderly guardian who finds her at a providential moment and takes her back to his palatial mansion where she finds herself “decomposing above ground for want of having my blood stirred.” But not to fear. There are bandits, true-loves, evil men, long-lost mothers, and sweet women friends in Capitola’s future – not to mention thunder storms, kidnap attempts, and duels. The pace is fast, the action wonderfully unbelievable. This is escape literature at its nineteenth-century best, with a woman at its center who makes you feel strong, daring, and reckless. — From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Erica Bauermeister
Why You’ll Like (Haven’t Read Yet): Although this book was written years ago the reviews remind me of my favorite aspect of the Bloody Jack Series which is Jacky personality. Capitola is described as “spunky,” “disobedient,” “feisty,” “sassy,” “brave,” “daring,” “smart,” “fearless,” and many more adjectives that I would use to describe Jacky’s character. Although the time period is later than Meyer’s series the storyline is similar: female street urchin dressed as boy, eventually made to act “civilized,” which has disasterous results.
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Description: Soon after Peter, an orphan, sets sail from England on the ship Never Land, he befriends and assists Molly, a young Starcatcher, whose mission is to guard a trunk of magical stardust from a greedy pirate and the native inhabitants of a remote island. This is the first book in the Starcatchers series which are prequels to J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan stories.
- Time Period:
- Setting: London, England — Europe, Never Land (Ship), Sea, Tropics
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Fantasy
- Humorous
- Pirates
Why You’ll Like (Haven’t Read Yet): Although Peter, a boy, is the central character of Peter and the Starcatchers, the tale is also the story of a girl named Molly, a Starcatcher. These books are action packed and fast paced. Readers who loved the pirates, humor, and adventure in the Bloody Jack novels will find these themes in the Starcatcher series which is continued in Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon.
Additional Information: Look for Peter and the Starcatchers in theaters in 2009.
Pirates! by Celia Rees
- Time Period: 1722 – 18th Century
- Setting: Jamaica, England, Africa, America
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Nautical
- Survival
- Swashbuckler
Description: The true and remarkable adventures of Minerva Sharpe & Nancy Kington, Female Pyrates. What would make two young women take to the high seas and a life of piracy? Nancy Kington is the daughter of a rich merchant, Minerva Sharpe a slave on her father’s plantation. Divided by birth and fortune, together these two find friendship and break the bounds of gender, race and social position to follow their own destiny.
Why You’ll Like: I listed to audio version of Pirates! and really enjoyed it. What’s interesting is that Nancy and her friend, Minerva, are loosely based on two real women pirates: Mary Read and Anne Bonny. The first few chapters are a little slow, because the author is setting up several story lines, but once you get into it you have to continue on and find out Nancy and Minerva’s fates. There are a lot of similarities to the Bloody Jack series. Nancy is very similar to Jacky in her independence, courage, and her determination to make her own fate in the world. She and Minerva also dress as boys/men in various parts of the novel. Nancy is also saving herself and searching for her love, in her case a young man named William, who serves in the British Navy much as Jamey.
The main differences are that the time period of Pirates! is little earlier and the overall tone is a little darker than that of the Bloody Jack series, this may be because Nancy is a little older that Jacky is in the first few Bloody Jack books.
Pirate’s Son, The by Geraldine McCaughrean
- Time Period: 1717 – 18th Century
- Setting: England, Madagascar
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Nautical
- Pirates
Description: 14-year-old Nathan dreams of fighting pirates in faraway lands. Then his father dies, leaving Nathan penniless. When Tamo, the son of a famous pirate, invites Nathan to join him in Madagascar it seems as if Nathan’s daydreams are coming true. Nathan, his sister Maud, and Tamo seem to find adventure – and danger – everywhere.
Why You’ll Like (Haven’t Read Yet): This brother and sister duo will take you on a high seas adventures filled with exotic locations, action and pirates. Readers who enjoy the action, adventure, and pirates in the Bloody Jack novels will drawn to the similar aspects of the The Pirate’s Son.
Piratica: Being a Daring Tale of a Singular Girl’s Adventure Upon the High Seas by Tanith Lee
- Time Period: 18th Century
- Setting: Alternate World/Britain
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Humorous
- Nautical
- Pirates
- Fantasy
Description: A bump on the head restores Art’s memories of her mother and the exciting life they led, so the sixteen-year-old leaves Angels Academy for Young Maidens, seeks out the pirates who were her family before her mother’s death, and leads them back to adventure on the high seas.
Why You’ll Like (Haven’t Read Yet): Fans of Jacky’s, I can do anything a man can do attitude, and those who enjoyed the humor in the Bloody Jack series should enjoy Piratica. It’s set in a parallel world very close to an 18th century Britain. One of the main differences is the aspects of science fiction and fantasy throughout the book but fans are raving about it. It will especially appeal to pirate lovers since this focuses more on pirates than the Bloody Jack series. Art’s adventures continue in Piratica II: Return to Parrot Island and Piratica III: The Family Sea.
Star Crossed by L. S. Collison
- Time Period: 1760 – 18th Century
- Setting: England, Barbados
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Nautical
- Romance
- Survival
Description: Patricia Kelley has been raised a proper British lady–but she’s become a stowaway. Her father is dead, and her future in peril. To claim the estate that is rightfully hers, she must travel across the seas to Barbados, hidden in the belly of merchant ship.
It is a daring escapade, and the plan works–for a time. But before she knows it, Patricia’s secret is revealed, and she is torn between two worlds. During the day, she wears petticoats, inhabits the dignified realm of ship’s officers, and trains as a surgeon’s mate with the gentle Aeneas MacPherson; at night she dons pants and climbs the rigging in the rough company of sailors. And it is there, alongside boson’s mate John Dalton, that she feels stunningly alive.
In this mesmerizing novel of daring, adventure, tragedy, and romance, Patricia must cross the threshold between night and day, lady and surgeon, and even woman and man. She must be bold in ways beyond her wildest dreams and take risks she never imagined possible. And she must fight for her life–and her love. From the Hardcover edition.
Why You’ll Like: Star-Crossed is an excellent and historically accurate seafaring novel. The story, told in first person, is the account of Patricia Kelley, a young girl who is orphaned, broke, and alone. She stows away upon a ship bound for Barbados where her father’s plantation awaits her to claim, if only she can get there. Although Patricia is discovered as a female stowaway very early on in the novel, she continues to frequently dress as male for freedom and for self preservation. For those who like a little romance, Patricia develops a relationship with a Brian Dalton, a bosun’s mate, but they are star-crossed lovers, as the title suggests. The story is very dark and gritty at times, Collison does not spare the disgusting details of ship life, and Patricia’s experiences are not sugar coated and sweet, but this only enhances the novel. Although L. A. Meyer’s Bloody Jack series is much lighter I think fans will enjoy this immensely.
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
- Time Period: August 1768 to July 1771 – 18th Century
- Setting: England, Australia, New Zealand, Ocean
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Nautical
Description: In 1767, 11-year-old Nicholas Young stowed away on Captain James Cook’s “Endeavour.” Cook’s three-year mission was secret: he was charged by the British Navy to search for a lost continent, believed to be located between the southern tip of South America and New Zealand. Young’s journal charts the voyage and with every port of call a new adventure awaits.
Why You’ll Like: The story of Nicholas Young and his adventures on the Endeavor are told in diary form. Although it’s fiction, the story is based upon actual ships logs and diaries from the voyage of the Endeavor, led by Captain Cook. The author describes this exploratory voyage through the eyes of Nick who is eleven years old at the start of the voyage. It’s filled with details and historical accuracy. My only complaints are that the author doesn’t go into more detail about Nick’s past, or his future and the second half of the book get a little tedious because it drags on. This is probably due to the fact that very little is known about the actual Nicholas Young aside from his association with this voyage and the “dragging plot” towards the end is due to the author staying true to the actual tale. Aside from those frustrations, Stowaway is a great nautical adventure.
Reader’s that love the Bloody Jack series will miss Jacky’s sassy personality but those who loved the descriptions of daily life on a ship will enjoy Nick’s account of his experience on the Endeavor.
True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, The by Avi
- Time Period: 1832- 19th Century
- Setting:England, America
- Genres:
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Mystery
- Nautical
- Survival
Description: A vicious captain, a mutinous crew — and a young girl caught in the middle.
Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I lived it.
Why You’ll Like: When I first read Bloody Jack I completely remember thinking it reminded me of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. The downside: readers might miss the humor of the Bloody Jack series as True Confessions is much darker and violent since mutiny is central to the plot. The upside: It’s very historically accurate, and Avi is an amazing author. Charlotte is very intellectual more refined than Jackie (personally I LOVE how unrefined Jacky is) but she has a strong will, self assured, and will prove herself to any man.
Additional Information: Look for The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle in theaters in 2009. It’s currently in production.
Wreckers, The (The High Seas Trilogy) by Iain Lawrence
- Time Period: 1799 – 18th-19th Century
- Setting: Cornwall, England
- Genres:
- Action
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Mystery
- Nautical
- Survival
Description: There was once a village bred by evil. On the barren coast of Cornwall, England, lived a community who prayed for shipwrecks, a community who lured storm-tossed ships to crash upon the sharp rocks of their shore. They fed and clothed themselves with the loot salvaged from the wreckage; dead sailors’ tools and trinkets became decorations for their homes. Most never questioned their murderous way of life.
Then, upon that pirates’ shore crashed the ship The Isle of Skye. And the youngest of its crew members, 14-year-old John Spencer, survived the wreck. But would he escape the wreckers? This is his harrowing tale.
Why You’ll Like (Haven’t Read Yet): This series begins in England in 1799 so it should be historically similar to the Bloody Jack series. Readers who enjoy the action, adventure, and pirates in the Bloody Jack novels will drawn to the similar aspects of the High Seas Trilogy. It is continued in The Smugglers, and The Buccaneers.
If You Like Bloody Jack I WOULD NOT Recommend:
Captain Mary, Buccaneer by Jacqueline Church Simonds
Description: It is 1721 and aboard the brigantine Fury, Captain Mary and her pirate crew fight their way across the Caribbean creating a financial empire and founding the free nation of Cache Island. While embroiled in her enterprises, Captain Mary also juggles the demands of her three lovers: Dr. Alphonse Coulances, a French doctor and traitor; the first mate, a former slave and master pilot named Petronius; and Elaina Mayhew, at first a hostage to be ransomed, but later, so much more!
Why You WON’T LIKE: The positives are that the book is not sugarcoated at all. Those who want the realistic, not so pretty, side of piracy will enjoy the details of the battles, which are fierce and bloody. Simonds pirate battles are full of blood, gore, and limbs wrenched from bodies. A detailed description of a keel hauling will make you gag.
The negatives mostly relate to Mary, the title character. Her motives are very questionable and she is very self centered. She even mentions how she manipulates her current lovers, there are three, to get her way. Because Mary lies to herself and and you only get her side, you feel like you only get part of the story. She also shows no mercy and can, at times, be very cruel. I loved how Jacky only appears to be a terrible fearsome pirate or captain but truly would not hurt someone just to keep up pretenses. Mary keel hauls a man just to keep other men from stealing. Jacky would pretend to punish the person, teach them a lesson, then let them go.
Central to the story are her afore mentioned lovers (which make the book more of a read for those above 10th grade) which she uses for own pleasure then leaves them to wait for her for months and years, expecting them to be faithful. In addition, there is her child which she abandons with a nursemaid to “keep her safe,” although her motive is not so much to keep the child safe but to keep herself from being tied down with responsibilities and because being a mother will only make her look like a “breeding sow, with no rights.”
It was a quick read because it’s so fast faced but did not leave me wanting for a sequel because I just didn’t LIKE Mary. Fans of the Blood Jack series love the series because they love Jacky. Fans of Jacky will not like Mary because of her personality and I would not recommend this as a read alike at all.
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