Bloody Jack

By: L. A. Meyer

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Critic reviews

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

Too good to be true - and yet it is! Incredible1

I ripped through this one, and then immediately picked up more of this series. I can't express just how terrific this book was - I have made others listen to the incredible performance by Katherine Kellgren. The story was fantastic all by itself, but the narration was what made this book and series come to life. The indomitable character of Jacky Faber is impossible not to like, with her sense of drama, showmanship, cleverness and unfailing loyalty. The descriptions of maritime life in the 1700's is vivid and believable, while the series of events Jacky tumbles through is so impossible, I just had to shake my head and enjoy the ride. And it's a wild ride - one you won't regret "hopping aboard" and joining Jacky in!

Okay for Teens - Mediocre Performance

This story was probably okay for teens. It was a bit shallow as an adult read. I am a fan of historical fiction and was disappointed. The premise was mostly plausible up to the last twenty percent of the book, but the execution was relatively thin. Viewing ship life from the perspective of a ship's boy is an interesting slant, but it was just lacking depth and stakes.

The performance also detracted from the overall listen. The interpretation was just a bit too dramatic and overdone.

Again, this is probably a good read for teens, but I won't be following the rest of the series.

Jolly good fun

Tis story is interesting and the reader does an admirable job with syntax and voices. It is not geared for very young children, as there are some sexually suggestive bits. Otherwise, this is a thoroughly entertaining book. We looked forward to each segment.

Audie Award Winner Worthy of the Award

I listen to a lot of books through my MP3 player. I drive thousands of miles a Month. I stumbled upon this series of books just a few weeks ago, while looking through the Award Winners section of Audible. In just a couple weeks, I've gone through 4 of these books. L.A. Meyer knows how to weave a tale. The Narrator is outstanding in her performance of ever character. She keeps every character their own. These stories are Highly Entertaining! You'll Laugh, you'll Scream, you'll Cry, you'll Sing! It's amazing at how the Author brings true History within the story and such depth to every part of the books.
I Highly Recommend this series.

Wonderful

I love not only this book, but the entire series. Wonderfully narrated by Katherine Kellgren, who's performance brings Jacky to life through not only voice, but also in song. While this may not be for young readers, it is age appropriate for 12 and up. The girl I nanny for (she is 12) is absolutely in love, as am I. We can both truly enjoy it, and I look forward to surprising her with the next in the series over her holiday break.

Everyone will love this!

Would you listen to Bloody Jack again? Why?

I bought this to listen to on a road trip-but my husband ended up stealing it! So fun and entertaining!

A delightful book full of adventure.

The narrator was terrific, accent and all. Can't wait to listen to the next book in the series. I will recommend to others.

LOVE this series!

I almost didn't finish listening to this book, it was a little hard for me to get into until the action started getting good near the end. By the time it was done, I knew I had to continue on to Book 2. I am now on Book 4 and am completely engrossed in the life of Jacky Faber, one of the greatest characters/heroines ever! Needless to say, if you start with Bloody Jack and don't get what all the hoopla is about, hang in there and go on to "The Curse of the Blue Tattoo"...you WILL get hooked. I am a 40-something woman, and I listen and read all sorts of books, for all age groups. I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and I must admit, this series and the character of Jacky Faber are AS GOOD, in my opinion.
All that being said. Yes, the narrator is fantastic (I could do without the singing. I find it extremely annoying and usually fast forward) and the action is great, but I don't think some of the subject matter is appropriate for young kids or even young teens. I wish the author had not included SO MANY references to attempted rape and such, but maybe he's staying true to the times. Thank goodness there are 7 books in this series, and another on the way...I can't imagine a day without Jacky Faber and her adventures. She's a lovable one, she is!!

Fantastic Series!

If you could sum up Bloody Jack in three words, what would they be?

Hilarious, Adventurous and Heartwarming!

What other book might you compare Bloody Jack to and why?

I have read a lot of books, but the series was different. It really appealed to my fun, devil may care self. How to make as much trouble as possible but get away with it. It was a childish view of fun but in a grownups world.

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Bravo Katherine Kellgren on keeping the characters straight and the amount of gusto and humer you added was wonderful! I could really tell you truly enjoyed doing this series.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"The Look", a haughty expression, which is half-lidded eyes, straight back, lips together, teeth apart. I could just imagine seeing everyone doing "The Look "after the movie.

Any additional comments?

Love the use of history and the many famous people that was tossed in. Truly enjoyble. May have listen to it again.

Oh Jacky!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, It's a good lighthearted read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jacky. She is always getting into interesting situations...

Which scene was your favorite?

It would have to be on the island.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Quite often it would make me laugh. But at times I would just cringe because she always does something that is going to be troublesome.

Any additional comments?

Katherine is a marvelous narrator. Her singing is absolutely on track with Jacky's character. Thank you Katherine.