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Booty: Girl Pirates on the High Seas
A treasure trove of high adventure and bad behavior, Booty tells the all-true tales of real women pirates who prowled the seas from the 9th to early-20th centuries in search of easy prey and easy profit. Raiding ships, boozing, brawling, and looting, they struck terror in the hearts of men from the Mediterranean to the South China Sea to the rivers of New York. Meet Rachel Wall, who traded her devout religious upbringing for "lewd and wicked company"; Cheng I Sao, who led a fleet of 2,000 ships and made her men drink cocktails of wine and gunpowder; Mary Read, who killed one pirate for the love of another; and Sadie the Goat, who headbutted her victims before fleecing them of cash. Their exploits and those of many more swashbuckling women fill these pages, along with salty illustrations and an informative look at the finer points of pirate life (grog, flogging, fashion, and more). Arrrrr.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 1, 2018
Interesting! I'll definitely be keeping it for the bibliography in the back.
February 2, 2023
very fun read. i now know how to make turtle soup!!
September 21, 2008
I was hoping to have read this book on September 19th, but, avast, I didn't have much time to read that night.
On account of all my pirating and... and what have you.
Anyone who knows me (Lindsay) is going to know the automatic appeal a book like this is going to have for me. And it didn't disappoint. A fast and entertaining read, Booty (hee) tells the tales of 12 lady pirates from around the globe in a matter-of-fact manner, leaving the reader to form their own opinons of the actions of these distaff bucaneers. My favorite story from the book recounts an anonymous Indian Pirate Queen and how her crew lost nearly half the treasure from a ten-gun English ship. Silly pirates.
One thing I was almost heartbroken to learn from this book was that pirates never really made their captives walk the plank (with the exception of Sadie the Goat, and she only did that because she, like me, thought that that was just what pirates did). Man. So disillusioned.
Susan Synarski's unique illustration style adds a bright touch to the book, although they make the recipe for Pirate Turtle Soup that much more sad.
On account of all my pirating and... and what have you.
Anyone who knows me (Lindsay) is going to know the automatic appeal a book like this is going to have for me. And it didn't disappoint. A fast and entertaining read, Booty (hee) tells the tales of 12 lady pirates from around the globe in a matter-of-fact manner, leaving the reader to form their own opinons of the actions of these distaff bucaneers. My favorite story from the book recounts an anonymous Indian Pirate Queen and how her crew lost nearly half the treasure from a ten-gun English ship. Silly pirates.
One thing I was almost heartbroken to learn from this book was that pirates never really made their captives walk the plank (with the exception of Sadie the Goat, and she only did that because she, like me, thought that that was just what pirates did). Man. So disillusioned.
Susan Synarski's unique illustration style adds a bright touch to the book, although they make the recipe for Pirate Turtle Soup that much more sad.
September 25, 2008
Lorimer profiles twelve female pirates from the 1500s to the 1900s, including women from all around the world, and includes information on the basics of historical pirate life. Their paths to piracy -- some women cross-dressed in order to become pirates, some joined their lovers, others followed family tradition -- were as varied as their ends -- notoriety, respectability, fame, and often death. Piracy, whatever its moral implications, was a path to freedom and self-sufficiency for these women. This is the most engrossing nonfiction book I've read in quite some time. Each profile is a well-researched and well-written portrait of women who took their lives into their own hands, during times when that was the last thing expected from them.
Also, I love the art! It's the perfect complement!
Also, I love the art! It's the perfect complement!
July 30, 2017
The cover makes it look like it's a children's painting book. I remember I got it during a coupon promo some time ago and probably the cover didn't load while I was browsing it or I most likely wouldn't get it.
Anyway, a very short, summarized list and description of the deeds and circumstances of some women that became pirates. Some stories were actually pretty amusing and obviously not for children.
The downside, of course, are the summarizing and length as while it does give us the broader picture of their biographies, it lacks the details.
I would have given this a 4* but at the end there's a very neat list of references for further reading.
Anyway, a very short, summarized list and description of the deeds and circumstances of some women that became pirates. Some stories were actually pretty amusing and obviously not for children.
The downside, of course, are the summarizing and length as while it does give us the broader picture of their biographies, it lacks the details.
I would have given this a 4* but at the end there's a very neat list of references for further reading.
October 18, 2020
This book is awesome! I love pirates and history and this is a nice summary of the most famous female pirates. Loved reading about the background information about alcohol, fashion, and privacy. Sara Lorimer also included the books she read to write this book, very nice touch as I'm looking forward to reading more about these woman and others. But, will also definitely reread this book.
August 24, 2020
This was a short but interesting book of short tales of the lives of female pirates from history. The art was pretty creepy to me, but the writing was good. Wish there had been more to it, but I understand why there wasn't.
May 6, 2017
good.
June 4, 2018
Picked this up for a work project and loved it!
July 6, 2018
Man, I wish I was as badass as these women.
October 19, 2020
Informative with a good balance between keeping things interesting and giving relevant details for context/etc. Colorful content-wise and visually.
April 3, 2022
Fun and entertaining read about female pirates in history - a great starting point to find out more. Loved the illustrations 👍
March 10, 2025
I am trying to write a pirate story about a female pirate so it's interesting to know about real female pirates
August 16, 2010
(Goodreads is showing me a Target ad I can't get rid of. This is a change I disapprove of!!)
So this is a children's book about girl pirates. Arr!
It covers a good span in time. I think from the 16th century right up until the 19th (maybe the 20th?). Some of the pirates are in the Americas, some are around England, and there's one in India and a couple in China. So there's a fairly good range of pirates in here.
What I liked was at the start of telling us about a pirate, there'd be a map, showing their range. From Boston to Cuba for example. It helped me get a sense of their location. Especially in parts of the world that I can't picture in my head.
Despite being a children's book, this isn't a book I could read in one sitting. I'd read one or two entries and then stop for the day. It's kind of dense, information-wise. That's what happens when you try to cover one pirate's life in about 3 pages.
I did learn things, certainly. In a general sense, I discovered there were more female pirates than I would've thought. And the range of piracy is broader than what might traditionally come to mind. Some of them dressed as men at times, or all the time. Others didn't. Some got into piracy because of their fathers, or their husbands. Some, likely just because they felt like it. I didn't hear any tales of female pirates becoming pirates because their mothers were. (Though at least one son in here did.)
Overall, a good overview of female pirates. And a good jumping-off place for picking one or two you want to know more about.
It even mentioned how you'd go to the bathroom on a ship and how a woman might be able to hide her female attributes relatively easily. More easily than you'd think, given they're all living on this small ship together.
The info in the back on shipboard life -- food, pirate punishments -- is worth the price of admission by itself.
So this is a children's book about girl pirates. Arr!
It covers a good span in time. I think from the 16th century right up until the 19th (maybe the 20th?). Some of the pirates are in the Americas, some are around England, and there's one in India and a couple in China. So there's a fairly good range of pirates in here.
What I liked was at the start of telling us about a pirate, there'd be a map, showing their range. From Boston to Cuba for example. It helped me get a sense of their location. Especially in parts of the world that I can't picture in my head.
Despite being a children's book, this isn't a book I could read in one sitting. I'd read one or two entries and then stop for the day. It's kind of dense, information-wise. That's what happens when you try to cover one pirate's life in about 3 pages.
I did learn things, certainly. In a general sense, I discovered there were more female pirates than I would've thought. And the range of piracy is broader than what might traditionally come to mind. Some of them dressed as men at times, or all the time. Others didn't. Some got into piracy because of their fathers, or their husbands. Some, likely just because they felt like it. I didn't hear any tales of female pirates becoming pirates because their mothers were. (Though at least one son in here did.)
Overall, a good overview of female pirates. And a good jumping-off place for picking one or two you want to know more about.
It even mentioned how you'd go to the bathroom on a ship and how a woman might be able to hide her female attributes relatively easily. More easily than you'd think, given they're all living on this small ship together.
The info in the back on shipboard life -- food, pirate punishments -- is worth the price of admission by itself.
September 9, 2013
This well researched, yet fun and campy, book relates quick biographies on 11 women pirates throughout history. Pirates are a popular subject for children that has not been well represented in books on women pirates, this book helps fill that need. Look for the recipe for Pirate Turtle Soup, a glossary and a bibliography at the back of the book.
Recommend this to students in third grade and up, especially pirate lovers. This would be a good book to booktalk.
Recommend this to students in third grade and up, especially pirate lovers. This would be a good book to booktalk.
May 16, 2008
A quick read, with fun illustrations! This book is like an appetizer to lady pirate stories. The author has a suggested reading list in the back if you want to read "meatier" stories about pirate history.
June 18, 2008
fun and informative read with cool illustrations and some Roller Derby name ideas. I would have liked more history and more detail, but Sara Lorimer did a beautiful job on this well organized recap of girl power on the high seas.
ZK
ZK
August 31, 2008
You know I'm going to love any book about girl pirates. One thing I particularly enjoyed about this book was that it didn't really glorify these women. For the most part, the stories were told matter-of-factly, without romanticizing or condeming the women. Overall, a fun and quick read.
July 19, 2013
a nice jumping off point, if you need to find a historical woman that might be nice to portray at a Pirate Festival associated with the local Renaissance Faire. Don't forget the best prop - a jarful of ears.
September 6, 2013
When you think of pirates you think of men. This book is all about the women who made other men cower at their feet. Booty tells the all true story of raiding ships, boozing, brawling and looting. Their stories mad them legends.
Great pictures very fun and vibrant.
Great pictures very fun and vibrant.
July 3, 2007
A terrifically fun book about female pirates--very readable, great illustrations! I got to read it when I used to write book reviews for a now defunct magazine.
August 10, 2007
Bizarre but beguiling illustrations add to a dozen extraordinary stories of real lady pirates. Why doesn't somebody make a movie out of THESE, I ask you!
March 3, 2008
Very cute.
April 23, 2009
Loved this book! What a fantastic look at the history of pirates...from the female perspective!
September 23, 2012
Book seems a little unclear about its target audience, the tone and content don't always seem to match up. Still, a fun overview of some ofthe better-known female pirates.
November 30, 2012
Entertaining, but reads like a high school history class report.
January 16, 2014
I don't think it's for kids, but it is very interesting!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews