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    Bloody Jack: A Bloody Jack Adventure
    Bloody Jack: A Bloody Jack Adventure
    Bloody Jack: A Bloody Jack Adventure
    Audiobook7 hours

    Bloody Jack: A Bloody Jack Adventure

    Written by L. A. Meyer

    Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Audie Award Winner, Children's Titles - Ages 12+, 2008.

    Life as a ship's boy aboard HMS Dolphin is a dream come true for Jacky Faber. Gone are the days of scavenging for food and fighting for survival on the streets of 18th-century London. Instead, Jacky is becoming a skilled and respected sailor as the crew pursues pirates on the high seas.

    There's only one problem: Jacky is a girl. And she will have to use every bit of her spirit, wit, and courage to keep the crew from discovering her secret. This could be the adventure of her life...if only she doesn't get caught.

    Listen to the sequel, Curse of the Blue Tattoo.

    ©2003 L.A. Meyer; (P)2007 Listen and Live Audio, Inc.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherListen & Live Audio
    Release dateJan 1, 2002
    ISBN9781593163709
    Bloody Jack: A Bloody Jack Adventure
    Author

    L. A. Meyer

    L. A. Meyer (1942–2014) was the acclaimed writer of the Bloody Jack Adventure series, which follows the exploits of an impetuous heroine who has fought her way up from the squalid streets of London to become an adventurer of the highest order. Mr. Meyer was an art teacher, an illustrator, a designer, a naval officer, and a gallery owner. All of those experiences helped him in the writing of his curious tales of the beloved Jacky Faber. Visit www.jackyfaber.com for more information on the author and his books.  

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    Reviews for Bloody Jack

    4/5

    735 ratings81 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      4.5 stars
      Great fun! An orphan girl breaks away from her group, disguises herself as a boy, and gets a job as a ship's boy. The story was well-paced, with exciting and tense parts scattered throughout, and I loved getting to know the different characters. While the story contains a lot of tragedy, much of the book has a light-hearted tone. I miss these characters already, so I may start on the next book, soon. If you pick this one up, I recommend the audiobook, as Katherine Kellgren was phenomenal!

      Trigger warnings for: violence, death, rape, illness, and homophobia.
    • 3/5
      The "pirate accent" of the audio narrator was initially grating, but as I began to inure it, I came to enjoy the adventure, but lost interest again towards the end.
    • 3/5
      Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Jacky Faber is an orphaned girl scrapping out survival in London with a gang of street kids. She gets a job as a ship's boy on the HMS Dolphin (disguised of course). She loves life on the seas, the regular meals, hard work and knocking about with her fellow ship boys, not to mention the occasional run-ins with pirates. She doesn't figure on falling for Jamie, one of the other ship boys. Kellgren narrates this story with all the lusty bravado demanded by the sailing life, and is very adept with British and Irish accents. Her Jacky is sturdy, unflagging, and fierce, but still keeps her head as Jamie captures her heart. This would be a great adventure story for families to share except for the descriptions of Jacky's sexual awakening and the boys cracking jokes about prostitutes, pederasty and body parts. Best suited for teens with a love of adventure stories.
    • 4/5
      The narrator is fantastic, and I think she does one of my favorite series of all time justice. Highly recommend!
    • 4/5
      Mary Faber's parents died when she was 8, leaving her an orphan on the streets of London. When she was 13, she disguised herself as a boy to obtain a positions as a ship's boy on an English warship in search of pirates.
    • 5/5
      I listed to this on audiobook instead of reading and I have to say, it was amazing. I usually prefer to read the text, but the wonderful accent that the narrator gave to Jack made the story so much richer. The story itself is interesting, nuanced, and never predictable. The author is willing to kill off characters, which is always a sign of a good writer for me. I look forward to listening/reading the rest of the series.
    • 5/5
      A swashbuckling adventure story of a young girl, hard as nails, who knows that her only future is to dress as a boy and become a member of a ship’s crew. The Performer of this marvelous book is to be Commended enthusiastically. Her performance added not just a touch of magic to the story, but humor and life breath.
    • 5/5
      I have read this book about 5 times since I was a kid and absolutely love it. Adventure and a strong female character with romance and twists! One of my all time favorites.
    • 3/5
      Good story of orphan girl who pretends to be a boy on an English Navy ship in the 1800s. 12 and over best...it has some slightly risque parts. Well done slang of the time, etc.
    • 4/5
      Loved it! A young girl living in the 1800's is forced into a life of survival on the streets when her family dies from an epidemic. She lives on the streets with a gang of other children and avoids the body snatchers and other dangers until she is about 12. Then her gang leader is killed and she must make a choice to find her own way out. That choice is to don boys clothes and to volunteer to become a ship's boy aboard the H.M.S. Dolphin. The Mary becomes Jacky and eventually Bloody Jack as he/she is inventive enough to do well on the ship, avoid detection, and avoid the bullies that prey on the younger boys. Being disguised as a boy does not mean that Jacky also gets involved in a bit of romance as well, along with adventures that involve hunting down pirates, avoiding shipwreck, getting tattooed, learning to play the pennywhistle. Highly enjoyable, I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy tales of adventure. I would also say that I would rate it PG-13, as Jacky does not shy away from talking about her developing body (and the problems that it causes her) and she is also preyed upon by a sexual predator.
    • 3/5
      Bloody Jack is an awesome pirate (and also a girl coming of age). Narrator Katherine Kellgren does an excellent job bringing the characters to life.
    • 4/5
      3.75 starsAt the end of the 18th century, Mary thinks she was about 8 years old or so when her parents died and she was literally put out on the street and left to fend for herself. She managed to join up with some other homeless kids and they begged and stole and did what they could for money and food. When she was a few years older, Mary decided to dress like a boy and she managed to get on a ship as a ship’s boy. But no one knew she was really girl as they went about their adventures on the sea.I listened to the audio and loved the accent. I think it was a Cockney accent (had to look that up!). I quite enjoyed this and it gets the extra ¼ star for the audio. The story was fun, too. It’s odd, but whether I listen to or read adventure, I tend to not pay as much attention to the adventure parts. Odd, I know. But I still quite liked the story and I will be continuing the series.
    • 5/5
      My daughter has been after me for years to read this series. She has read it many times over. We found it on audio CD and listened with my son in the car.
      The story is so well written and the person who reads it is so entertaining with her accents and different voices she gives the characters. I was sad when it was done but happy that there are a number of books in this series. Read or listen to it. You will love it!
    • 4/5
      I've read this, but have been hearing how good the audio versions were. So far so great :)

      Oh! so annoying when the very last file was corrupted - am getting from library again with the next book. Mmph. Also, the reading was great - she is as over the top as Jacky is.

      I got another copy from the library to listen to the last file - also (a little less) corrupted!!! I wonder if the CD publisher was trying to cram it on the end without enough room...
    • 4/5
      I'm not sure what age this is aimed at. But young or old, it is a fun read and a well-done read.

      Not believable, but who cares !
    • 3/5
      More of an "it's ok"
    • 4/5
      It's a YA novel, but it's also great fun. It's one of those books where I'm like, "There should be more of these." (And there are! It's a whole series!) None of the elements are terribly new or original (or realistic), but it's all put together well and has just what (well, I) like to read!
      A young girl, Mary Faber, is orphaned on the streets of 18th-century London. She joins a gang of kids and learns begging and even some thieving, but when a ghoulish thug who sells the bodies of dead street kids to medical schools kills the leader of her gang, she realizes it's time to leave. Disguising herself as a boy and calling herself Jack, she gets taken on as a cabin boy on a ship bound to hunt down pirates.
      Much nautical adventure ensues...
    • 4/5
      I read the majority of this while waiting for my car at the dealership. It starts with Mary first having to leave her home b/c of the death of her family due to plague. She joins a group of orphans in a similar situation, until things go wrong. This takes up a chunk of the book and while I was impatient and wanted to get to the boat part, I do have to admit that it was very interesting. It was detailed and I liked the relationship between the children. I also felt like it gave a good basis for understanding Mary's decision to go pretend to be a boy on a ship. You see how hard the other options are and have a better understanding of why this really is the best choice.

      Then Mary goes on to join the ships boys and the detail of how their days ran and how she's feel is just incredible. There is a lot of humor, sadness and honor in this book and that made me happy too. The variety of experiences and emotions make it a good adventure story that is more then one note.
    • 4/5
      This was a fun book to listen to although the narrator needs to work on her Caribbean accents. Mary Faber was orphaned and surviving on the streets of London when she decided to see if she could pass as a boy and get taken on as a ship's boy on a British naval ship. She succeeds, getting picked out of a crowd of boys because she can read and write. There are five other boys on the HMCS Dolphin and the six of them form a close-knit group. Mary gives her name as Jacky and becomes known as Bloody Jack when she gets covered in blood during a skirmish with pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. With the substantial amount of food being served onboard, Mary starts to put on weight and develop. She knows it is only a matter of time before she is discovered but she wants to stay on board as long as she can. She has fallen in love with one of her fellows, Jaimy, and can't completely hide her feelings. Of course, the other boys think she is a homosexual and shun her. In due time she reveals her true gender to Jaimy and he admits to feelings for her.This book is the start of a series. I don't think I will necessarily seek the rest out but they are rather fun.
    • 4/5
      Mary Faber is orphaned at a very young age when the rest of her family dies in the plague. Set in the 1700s, she tells her story as a street urchin desperately trying to survive. When she ends up on the HMS Dolphin as a ship's boy, the adventures really begin.Mary is a lively and personable girl. She charms her way right into your heart. The story is told in strong London urchin dialect, which I thought I wouldn't enjoy, but Katherine Kellgren does an Excellent Job! This was enjoyable to the very end, and I can see why so many girls love this series.
    • 5/5
      I was pressured for a long time by a very good friends od mine, to read the Bloody Jack series. I remember picking them up and putting them back. I remember turning my nose up at them, because every pirate story I tried always fell flat.

      This was the rare exception.

      Bloody Jack is a book that will satisfy your inner adventurer...or pirate. Not only is the plot amazing, but the technical aspects of the book are spot on. I love it when an author actually does their research on what they're writing about. L.A. Meyer made sure he knew the types of jobs for men on a ship, and what each job entailed, and all the terms used by sailors. (No, I'm not talking about the cheesy phrases used in old pirate movies.)

      Character wise, Bloody Jack (Mary) was amazing! There really are no words to describe her, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book with her as the main character. The other characters were diverse and interesting though not nearly as awesome as Bloody Jack.

      There is a little romance of sorts in the book, and that too was awesome. It wasn't overdone and it fit the characters nicely.

      Would I recommend this book? Most definitely. Its a great adventure book and it's sure to entertain readers of all ages.
    • 3/5
      Mary's life has never been easy since the day her parents and sister died and left her alone to make her own way on the street. Life gets even more interesting when Mary decides to pretend to be a boy, Jacky, in order to serve aboard the H.M.S. Dolphin. While she loves serving on the sea, Jacky lives in constant fear of The Deception being discovered, leaving her separated from the men and boys she's grown so fond of and the career she's actually good at.A flat-out adventure book, this book has great appeal for everyone. With a cross-dressing main character, high seas adventure, pirates, and other threats, the pages fly by quickly. While I was a bit worried that Jacky's Cockney narrative voice might drive me crazy, it actually allowed for deeper immersion in the tale and the time period. Of course, it also slowly disappears as Jacky spends more time aboard the Dolphin and learns proper English. A fun and quick read, I will definitely be picking up other books in the Bloody Jack series.
    • 4/5
      Loving the imagery, the danger, and adventure. Jacky is a great protagonist. I fell in love with her from page one!
    • 5/5
      Great fun, first in Dickensian London streets for this newly orphaned girl, and then on the high seas as she (disguised as a he) joins as a ship's boy on HMS Dolphin. Wonderful reader (Katherine Kellgren)
    • 4/5
      The adventure filled start to an amazing book. Jacky (I just can't call her Mary) is orphaned at a young age and after some time in the streets, she joins His Majesty's Royal Navy. Hilarity and high adventure ensues.
    • 5/5
      Bloody Jack; Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy by L.A. Meyer is a fun and fascinating story of a young orphan girl who goes to sea disguised as a boy on the HMS Dolphin. The Dolphin is first off to the Mediterranean and then the Caribbean to fight pirates.Mary has lived the last few years on the streets of London but when the leader of her gang is killed she decides to strike out on her own and when the opportunity to go to sea presents itself, the safety of being fed, clothed and sheltered lures Mary on board. Taking the name, Jacky, she quickly settles in with the rest of the ship’s boys and her "Big Deception" starts.This is a wonderfully entertaining story, with lots of adventure and plenty of heart. Jacky delivers the right amount of sass. She is courageous and smart, an original main character that one can’t help but root for. Bloody Jack is a rattling good yarn and I look forward to continuing on with her adventures.
    • 3/5
      Great narration, as per usual with Katherine Kellgren. I've noticed that almost every year in the past few years a book from this series has been on the Top Ten Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults list, which isn't surprising. Kellgren has so many accents it's incredible, and I've only just discovered that her normal accent is American.

      The book itself didn't really grab me, but that is most likely just because of my personal taste. I will continue on with the series because I'm interested to see what happens with Jacky, but definitely in audio.
    • 4/5
      This sea faring tale of street urchin turned ship's boy is a fun and exciting romp aboard the HMS Dolphin. Mary aka Jack Faber shaves her head and masquerades as a boy to escape the dangerous streets of London. Mary lost her family after a cholera outbreak and has been pan handling to survive. Now that she is aboard the Dolphin, she is well fed and safe for the most part. However, she has to keep her wits about her though so her deception isn't discovered.This is among my favorite audio books. The narrator gives a rousing performance and sucks you in to the story. Bloody Jack has some adventure but it also focuses a large part of the book on the relationships between the people on the ship. The author gives a detailed and well written account of life on the sea. If you are looking for an excellent work of historical fiction I recommend you add Bloody Jack to your to be read shelf.
    • 3/5
      Bloody Jack by LA Meyer is the first of the Mary "Jack" Faber books. Mary, having been orphaned when her parents and sister die during an epidemic, is forced out on the streets. There she learns boys are being hired as ships boys on the burgeoning British fleet. She decides to don men's clothes and join up if they'll have her.Jack takes a while to settle into a convincing voice. The opening chapters, especially, while still in London, have dialog akin to the Mary Poppins movie version of cockney.For the most part, the book settles into a blow by blow of Jack learning her place on the HMS Dolphin. There are fascinating details of how she has to disguise herself to look more boyish and the problems she faces especially when having to take care of her day to day needs. Later on she's further confused by her first period.Bloody Jack is an okay start to a series (but it could have been better). It was good enough to warrant putting the second book, Curse of the Blue Tattoo, on my wishlist. But I wasn't blown away by it as some reviewers were.
    • 5/5
      This was pure fun, wonderfully narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Mary "Jacky" Faber is a street waif in 18th century London, before winning a place on the HMS Dolphin as a ship's boy. She disguises her true identity and sets out to see the world. Her friendship with the other ship's boys, blossoming womanhood, and participation in battles against French pirates all make for a winning story, liberally sprinkled with humor and a lot of heart.