Privateer's Apprentice

by Susan Verrico

Set in Charles Towne, Carolina Territory in 1712, Privateer's Apprentice tells the story of thirteen-year old Jameson Cooper, son of a printer, who has been thrown in jail after the death of both of his parents. Sold to the town baker, Jameson is kidnapped by a brigand of privateers working for Queen Anne before he can even begin his indentured servitude. Adventures on the high seas follow, and Jameson must prove his worth to the men who eventually become his "family." In the end, it is up to Jameson to use his wits and education to save his captain from death.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Adventure, Fiction, Pirates

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Donna]

PRIVATEER'S APPRENTICE Sadly, I wouldn't have known of this book if it hadn't been for the recommendation of a neighbor. I'm SO glad she mentioned it to me.

From the very first page, the Prologue (a journal entry), I was drawn into Jameson Cooper's story. Being a book of historical fiction, much like time-travel, the author, Susan Verrico, transports us to the early 1700s. Through rich imagery, the perfect choices in which details to include, and obviously painstaking research, the reader becomes immersed in Jameson's world and predicament, envisioning everything so clearly and caring about him from the get-go. The descriptions were so vivid, I sometimes found myself cringing at meals that were eaten, but OH, the joys of fiction! No upset stomach here, and I was able to journey on this seafaring voyage having never actually gotten seasick during treacherous storms.

If you are fascinated by tall ships, this is a tall adventure in which I sometimes found myself at the edge of my seat, having come to love and hate the characters and circumstances, just as the author intended. This is definitely a worthwhile read! As a stand-alone book, it ends with no important threads hanging so you feel satisfied as a reader, BUT---the author has definitely left the story open for a sequel, should there be one!

An aside: I apologize for having mistakenly included "The" in the title when I added this title here.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little nervous starting this book because I was afraid of being bogged down in sailor's terms, but Verrico did a great job of keeping the story flowing without feeling the need to pull out a ship schematic! I really enjoyed how the story went, it really kept me interested throughout the whole thing. If this book gets a film adaptation, count me in to give it a watch!
The reason it doesn't get a full 5 stars from me is that Jameson is a little too annoying for my personal tastes. He's a little too confident in the things he says with little to no repercussions. Granted, this is a YA book so I understand that route. Overall a decent book! Not one of my favorites but a good one nonetheless!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. Great descriptive writing. I started reading it and couldn't put it down. I loved the perspective of a young boy "exploring" the coast of FL. My only "issue" was that it ended with a few questions, but then again, isn't that what that time frame was like. The great unknown?

Highly recommend for upper 4th-middle school. It would make a GREAT read aloud, and even a book for reluctant readers. I ended up purchasing a few copies for my classroom library!

[Lulu Mu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the best book I've read in over 2 years. I want to read more from this author but it doesnt look like she made other books, this broke my heart learning more about the author. It's very hard to find books that i like aswell, this book really got me into it, the prologue got me hooked.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a while after the release of the first Pirates of the Caribbean swashbuckling sea tales were all the rage in teen literature. It didn’t have to be pirates at the center of the story, but Colonial Era seafaring was definitely a major theme. That has faded away, but this new novel seems to try and draw on that popularity. The story kicks off in Charles Town in the Carolina colony of the new world. Young Jameson Cooper is the son of the town printer. He had every expectation of apprenticing under his father and taking his place, but all of that changed when a plague hits. Charles Town is struck with a fever that leads to the deaths of many, including both of his parents.
With no one to care for him, young Jameson finds himself on the street. He would do anything for food and a place to rest his head. Unfortunately, others believe exactly that. After an awkward moment in a bakery, Jameson is arrested for stealing (though he didn’t) and placed in indenture to the baker. While being sent on an errand, poor Jameson is then shanghaied by a crewman aboard the Destiny, which is a privateering vessel under the command of Captain Attack Jack.
It takes a while to get settled on board the Destiny, but Jameson does seem to accomplish that with the help of Cook, the ship’s mess, and Peeps, the ships second in command. That does not mean that he doesn’t have some trouble, particularly with regard to two of the crewmen, but that only adds to some of the interesting conflict as the ship travels the Caribbean to confront Spanish vessels in the hopes of spreading acclaim for the British Empire.
Jameson’s talent with ink and pen allow him to gain a unique assignment and a place of trust in the Captain’s heart. It is just this that both makes the situation with the crew more awkward while also protecting him.
The book reads fairly quickly and is a nice mixture of storytelling, action, and information about serving in the British navy. It is quite different from the Horatio Hornblower series, but fans of the Bloody Jack series will likely find that this novel will draw them in.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jameson Cooper is the son of the best printer in Charles Towne, South Carolina. He expects to one day take over his father's business, but that was before tragedy strikes. A plague takes the lives of his mom and dad, an unscrupulous man takes the business and Jameson finds himself on the streets. He is accused of theft and sold as an indentured servant. On an errand for his master he is shanghaied by a crewmember of the Destiny, a privateer ship for Queen Anne. Jameson is not ready for life on board a ship, especially one captained by Attack Jack, but he soon learns the ropes. He makes enemies of a couple of the crew, but is championed by the ship's cook and first mate. Jameson learns the ropes of life on a ship and becomes trusted by the Captain, who puts his printing skills to work as ship's artist. There are attacks by a Spanish ship, storms at sea, and so much more in this high-seas adventure.

Who doesn't like sea battles, descriptions of weird food and life on board ship? Jameson is an interesting character who goes through a lot in this book. I'm not sure it is very realistic that the captain would trust him so much after such a short amount of time, but it made for an interesting story.

[V.E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thirteen year old Jameson Cooper is left alone when his parent die from a horrible illness. The son of a well known Printer, Jameson's dreams are over and he is left to the street. During an unfortunate encounter with the baker he is accused of stealing and sent to prison. Before he can start working off his crimes he is kidnapped by the infamous Attack Jack and taken to sea. There he learns how to keep a secret and stay alive on the dangerous waters.

This book reminds me of Treasure Island and Bloody Jack with the high adventure aspect of the story. The day to day life of the crew is interesting and realistic. Jameson has both friends and enemies aboard the ship and has to grow up fairly quickly. However, he does a fair share of complaining which took away from some of the story. The plot is a bit hazy and I am not sure what the author was trying to achieve. There is a building conflict between a few characters that really doesn't go anywhere either.

Other than that it is a fun book with a little bit of adventure to keep the pages turning. I would recommend it to children and teens that are fans of Treasure Island or sea adventure stories. Unfortunately for me it was a bit forgettable.

This book is on the Missouri Mark Twain Nominee list for 2014-2015.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Jameson Cooper is left to fend for himself after the sudden deaths of his parents in the Carolina Territory in 1713. One of the town citizens steals his father's printshop, and Jameson is accused of stealing bread. By a strange turn of events, he is kidnapped and pressed into service aboard a ship whose captain is loyal to the Queen of England. The boy makes a couple of enemies, but he also makes friends and relies on his inner strength and ingenuity to get the captain out of a jam near the end of the story. I don't know how likely the captain would have been to have entrusted him with secret maps or the responsibility for drawing his own maps for the queen or why he seemed so willing to help Jameson, but the story was still fun to read with all the descriptions of animals in the ship's holds, food prepared for the crew by the cook, and adventures both on board and off. In some respects, this book reminded me of The True Adventures of Charlotte Doyle, probably because both protagonists somehow manage to reinvent themselves during trying times and prove to be survivors.

[Emilee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Verrico, Susan Privateer’s Apprentice, pgs. 224, Peachtree Publishers, 2012. $17.99 Language: (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content-G; Violence: PG;
At only 13 years old, Jameson loses his parents to disease, loses his father’s printing shop to man who conned the authorities. Jameson is then imprisoned due to a false accusation, later to be actioned off to pay for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s taken away from all of this by being shanghaied onto to a privateer ship. He distinguishes himself even under these circumstances by being hardworking, spirited and using the printing skills his father taught him. Jameson learns new skills and becomes a valuable member of the crew. This book is worthy of the awards and praise that it and its author received. The writing is compelling and there is enough mystery from the beginning to grab the reader’s attention and then hold it as the feeling of mystery increases. The author is a history buff who has stayed historically accurate. This a story that fans of historical fiction will likely enjoy.
EL, MS, HS, ESSENTIAL Emilee

[Read Ribbet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Verrico's nominee for IRA 2013 Intermediate Fiction Privateer's Apprentice is reminiscent of books like The Slave Dancer where a young boy is taken aboard a ship. Set in colonial times, the boy ends up on a private sailing ship in search of property for the Queen. The sailing adventure takes a turn when they are accused of being pirates. I thought it was a really engaging read with great description of life on the ship through the eyes of the young boy. Good sense of time and place. Intermediate kids will enjoy this.

[Amy Holiday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pirate stories never get old for me, and this one with its sympathetic hero and lovely description, was no exception. I liked Jameson and how made the best of his situation, and found his unique skill as a printer intriguing. But the story was written in present tense, which always feels awkward and makes me a little uncomfortable. But Jameson had pluck, although maybe a little too much sometimes, and is admirable for standing up for what he believes in and, of course, saving the day. I'd probably rather give it 3.5 stars, but its written by a local author so an upgrade rather than down.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there were slow moments, I never lost interest in Privateers Apprentice. It is well written and will reach out to kids who are seeking something short, but intelligent. The main character was slightly annoying and boring, but you can see through this, as the plot was "captiv"ating;)It wouldn't surprise me to find out that Susan Verrico intends to write a follow up, for I do not believe the adventures of Jameson and Captain Jack to be complete.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark twain nominee 2014-2015. I really enjoyed reading this story, and it really held my interest. My main problem with it is the way it ended...the story was really building yet had a very unsatisfying explanation of the climax and resolution. It just kind of fell flat. I had a lot of good things to say about this book..up until its abrupt ending, which was a disappointment. Good book that seemed unfinished or incomplete.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and engaging historical fiction about a boy from Charles Town who finds himself on a ship that claims to be serving Queen Anne under the leadership of Attack Jack and Solitaire Peep. A great adventure with a lot of interesting facts about life on the seas in 1713. Recommended for anyone who enjoys books about pirates and early American history.
ARC provided by publisher.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had an interesting story, but I was unsure what direction it was going. I thought there would be more exciting things going on at the mysterious island, better sea-battles, and some goal or purpose for the story. At the end, I felt that I should have been interested to see what happens next in Jameson's story, but it really wasn't enough to grab my curiosity.

[Cara Cahill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my typical genre but reading because it is a Mark Twain nominee this year. Although I don't typically read pirate books, this book was very fast paced. It was filed with lots of adventure that kept the plot moving forward. I can see several boys really enjoying this book. Grades 4+

[Amy Nolte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my 3rd grader because it is a Mark Twain award nominee. It did keep his interest and it was a great conversation starter, but just when you really start to care about the characters it ends.

[Suzanne Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story that keeps kids reading.

[Faiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

My teacher wrote this book. Lol. Its very desciptive, adventerous, and pirate-like. Great ending. :)

[Joyce Uglow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Verrico's writing in Privateer's Apprentice is powerful and captivating.

[Serina · Rating 1 out of 5]

yuch couldn't get anywhere cuz so disturbingly dirty. I mean I kno water is expensive in 1700s but really?! It was just nasty.

[Ann]

Mark Twain Preliminary Nominee 2015
Mark Twain Nominee 2014-15

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite 2014-2015 Mark Twain nominee.

[Sharon Schlup]

Exciting read!