- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: SilverWood Books; first edition (25 Jun 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1906236461
- ISBN-13: 978-1906236465
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 12.7 x 1.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,440,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Black Banner
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"Not since Treasure Island have we had such a fast- paced swashbuckling yarn come out of Bristol, and this time the hero's a heroine! With excitement and plot twists a plenty, Robert Louis Stevenson would have been proud. Look out for some ghosts from Bristol's rich maritime past..." --Mark Steeds, Secretary - Long John Silver Trust, Bristol
"The perfect combination of Treasure Island and Pirates of the Caribbean for young girls... the author captures the spirit and sound of the period as she whisks the reader back in time and immerses them in an era of upheaval and adventure. The characters are richly drawn and the dialogue rings true." --Patricia Rockwell, author & publisher
"Sail away on a swashbuckling adventure aboard the Bonny Marie with young Billy Baxter - who is not the boy he pretends to be! The Black Banner has it all - pirates, plunder, and the pleasure of a rollocking good read!"
--Helen Hollick, author of the Sea Witch series
"The perfect combination of Treasure Island and Pirates of the Caribbean for young girls... the author captures the spirit and sound of the period as she whisks the reader back in time and immerses them in an era of upheaval and adventure. The characters are richly drawn and the dialogue rings true." --Patricia Rockwell, author & publisher
"Sail away on a swashbuckling adventure aboard the Bonny Marie with young Billy Baxter - who is not the boy he pretends to be! The Black Banner has it all - pirates, plunder, and the pleasure of a rollocking good read!"
--Helen Hollick, author of the Sea Witch series
Product Description
Set sail on the high seas of adventure with Becky Baxter and her band of pirates! A swashbuckling pirate novel for young teens. Penniless Becky Baxter crops her hair, dresses in breeches, and leaves the dangerous backstreets of Bristol for a life of adventure and fortune on the high seas. But she quickly discovers that there are far more dangerous enemies than her drunken Ma and evil Mr Crudder... Pirates!
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
No time is wasted here. At once we are in 1719 with thirteen year old Becky Baxter - she disguised as Billy on the Bonny Marie, a merchant ship. Ahead lie grim tales of life on board (pity little Ivo who fell asleep whilst on watch), capture by pirates, rollicking adventures beyond Becky's wildest dreams. At last the good life! But for how long?
A rite of passage tale, its heroine extraordinarily resourceful. Much lively action, many full-blooded characters, exuberant descriptions (a mango "tastes like you've captured the sun in your hand and soaked it in honey"). Prepare, too, for many revelations about life in the early Eighteenth Century - with no shying from its less pleasant aspects. The period has clearly been very well researched.
That very detailed journal may prove a problem for some, Becky's Nanna apparently having taught her such skills. A straightforward narrative may have been more convincing.
This, though, is a minor criticism when so much has been enjoyed. Here is an adventure to relish, its reading completed with a happy smile and a sigh.
Intended for teenage readers - but others, far older, are guaranteed also to enjoy it.
A rite of passage tale, its heroine extraordinarily resourceful. Much lively action, many full-blooded characters, exuberant descriptions (a mango "tastes like you've captured the sun in your hand and soaked it in honey"). Prepare, too, for many revelations about life in the early Eighteenth Century - with no shying from its less pleasant aspects. The period has clearly been very well researched.
That very detailed journal may prove a problem for some, Becky's Nanna apparently having taught her such skills. A straightforward narrative may have been more convincing.
This, though, is a minor criticism when so much has been enjoyed. Here is an adventure to relish, its reading completed with a happy smile and a sigh.
Intended for teenage readers - but others, far older, are guaranteed also to enjoy it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Brilliant! The Black Banner is an exciting story for both young and older adults. I didn't know much about pirates before this book, but as soon as I started to read I was instantly transported to their swashbuckling world through vivid descriptions and thrilling story telling. As the tale unfolded I became immersed in Becky's life and felt the excitement and terror of her precarious existence on a ship full of real pirates. It was great to see this male orientated lifestyle through the eyes of a young female, although she wouldn't want anyone on board to know that! Her bravery and determination is inspiring - she sets sail as a novice but is soon able to handle herself as well as any other lad on board. There is plenty of tension and action, as well as fun, exoticism and camaraderie to keep readers enthralled right to the end.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
There are a lot of pirate adventure books, some are good, some aren't - the Black Banner comes under the "superb" category!
Not only is the adventure exciting, the characters interesting and the plot intriguing, but the historical and nautical detail is spot on.
A highly recommended read!
*****
review from [...] re-posted here by
Helen Hollick Historical Novel Society UK Online Review Editor
THE BLACK BANNER
The Black Banner is the tale of 13-year-old Billy Baxter, but Billy has a secret; Billy isn't a Billy. He's a Becky.
Running away from her alcoholic mother, who has the intent to sell her only daughter on her 14th birthday, seems like the logical choice for Becky, but she'll find she'll face more enemies than she could ever imagine.
Leaving Bristol behind for a life on the seas, Becky finds herself part of the crew of The Masquerade, captained by the very handsome Logan Corder. While in his crew she finds herself socialising with characters such as Calico Jack and also discovers that she's not the only female pirate. The legendary Mary Read and Anne Bonny appear in The Black Banner, pirates who are often forgotten about in favour of their more famous male counterparts.
Finally, the 13-year-old girl hidden in my 37-year-old woman's body was able to resurface. There isn't a tomboy out there that didn't dream of the adventures to be had on board a pirate ship and, be honest--your inner child is still running up the rigging, keeping an eye out for the next ship to plunder. As the protagonist is a girl, The Black Banner isn't perhaps the best choice for the average 13-year-old boy, but if you have a tomboy in the family, consider this book the perfect present for them. Or treat yourself and your inner tomboy.
-- Rachel Malone
Not only is the adventure exciting, the characters interesting and the plot intriguing, but the historical and nautical detail is spot on.
A highly recommended read!
*****
review from [...] re-posted here by
Helen Hollick Historical Novel Society UK Online Review Editor
THE BLACK BANNER
The Black Banner is the tale of 13-year-old Billy Baxter, but Billy has a secret; Billy isn't a Billy. He's a Becky.
Running away from her alcoholic mother, who has the intent to sell her only daughter on her 14th birthday, seems like the logical choice for Becky, but she'll find she'll face more enemies than she could ever imagine.
Leaving Bristol behind for a life on the seas, Becky finds herself part of the crew of The Masquerade, captained by the very handsome Logan Corder. While in his crew she finds herself socialising with characters such as Calico Jack and also discovers that she's not the only female pirate. The legendary Mary Read and Anne Bonny appear in The Black Banner, pirates who are often forgotten about in favour of their more famous male counterparts.
Finally, the 13-year-old girl hidden in my 37-year-old woman's body was able to resurface. There isn't a tomboy out there that didn't dream of the adventures to be had on board a pirate ship and, be honest--your inner child is still running up the rigging, keeping an eye out for the next ship to plunder. As the protagonist is a girl, The Black Banner isn't perhaps the best choice for the average 13-year-old boy, but if you have a tomboy in the family, consider this book the perfect present for them. Or treat yourself and your inner tomboy.
-- Rachel Malone
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great adventure
This is a great adventure book. I enjoyed getting right into the story and the fresh approach to a classic genre. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Trickle Tree
If You Like Adventure Raise Your Hand!
The Black Banner is the story of Billy Baxter, a young man of thirteen, who flees a despicable home life in the hope of escaping an alcoholic mother. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stephanie Keyes
No zombies or vampires here!
If you are looking for a good alternative to zombies and vampires for your YA reader, The Black Banner is an excellent choice. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Patricia L. Sands
An enjoyable pirate tale with a difference!
Ahoy there, clamber aboard the Bonny Marie and join an amazing adventure on the high seas with young buccaneer Becky Baxter! Read more
Published 4 months ago by L. H. Healy
Great heroine AND pirates
The most obviously remarkable thing about this book is that the central character is not your run of the mill cabin boy on a pirate ship. She's a girl. Read more
Published 5 months ago by S. Duncan
Just enough to keep young teenagers interested.
It isn't a novel idea to have a cross dressing female pirate, since they were a historical fact. Where this book scores though is in it being aimed at a teenage audience. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Prof TBun
Great Fun
At last tomboys have got a book about pirates for themselves. Becky Baxter, thirteen years old, runs away from home, dressing as a boy and changing her name to Billy. Read more
Published 8 months ago by M. Dowden
Excellent Swashbuckler with a Feisty Heroine
This is a fabulous, shortish book most suited to 11+ girls. The heroine of the story, 13 year old Becky masquerading as Billy, is a realistic and fun character who escapes a life... Read more
Published 9 months ago by debbie8355
great read
This was such a fun read!
I've never read a novel based around pirates before so I didn't really know what to expect but I sure wasn't disappointed. Read more
I've never read a novel based around pirates before so I didn't really know what to expect but I sure wasn't disappointed. Read more
Published 9 months ago by GloriousBooks
Super and exciting
Well, this is stated as a Children's book but being an adult I have so much enjoyed The Black Banner. This only arrived two days ago and it is read already. Read more
Published 9 months ago by "Smith" Reader
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
