Under the Jolly Roger

Bloody Jack #3

By: L. A. Meyer

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 14 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

In the third book of the "Bloody Jack" series, unlikely heroine Jacky Faber, a pirate at heart, returns to the sea in a truly swashbuckling tale filled with good humour, wit, and courage.

After leaving the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in Boston - under dire circumstances, of course - Jacky boards a whaling ship bound for London, where she hopes to find her beloved Jaimy.

But things don't go as planned, and she is off on a wild misadventure at sea. She thwarts the lecherous advances of a crazy captain, rallies the sailors to her side, and ultimately gains command of a ship in His Majesty's Royal Navy. But Jacky's adventures don't end there....

Soon she is being called a pirate, and there's a price on her head!

©2008 Listen & Live Audio, Inc. (P)2008 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Glad I persevered

I wasn't a fan of the second book, where the main character acts as if her IQ has suddenly plummeted. Her smarts are back again in this episode, and the story is sprawling and robust.

Not just for kids

This is a great action adventure series. The characters are creative. The narrator is excellent. It's fun. It's imaginative. Great entertainment from the very first book to the very last book of the series.

Can I rate the narration more than 5 stars?

What made the experience of listening to Under the Jolly Roger the most enjoyable?

The narration for this series is everything one could ever ask for in an audiobook. The characters are fully fleshed out because of the vocal work, and the reader is sucked right in to the center of the story.

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

Everything. By listening rather than just reading, our minds were free to see the open ocean. More than the story itself are the songs. What a wonderful voice, and hearing the songs actually sung brings a depth to them that I would not otherwise have known.

A lot of fun... but a little shallow.

Let me just say, I think kids will love this book, and that is who it is aimed at. However, as a somewhat snobby adult, I found this one a little lacking.

Most of the book has Jackie coming up with and then perfectly executing some pretty far-fetched plans, so there isn't much room for character development. (and Jackie is always best when things don't go as planned.)

I guess what I'm saying is that while fun, this book lacks some of the emotional depth of the first two. But that's okay as it seems done for a change of pace, to give this book its own personality, and the excellent ending provides an intriguing segue into the next book.

Such fun for almost any audience

There is no lag time in these adventures. Should be a classic. The most satisfying character to read about. The narrator is Jackie Faber. The perfect fit. Enjoy!

Excellent Narration and a great story

I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book, although despite my rating of 5 stars it could have been a little better. The beginning is a little slow and there are a couple coincidences which seemed a little far fetched. The part which takes place aboard the Wolverene ( the major part of the book) is absolutely fantastic. This and the excellent climax at the end make this a 5 star book. I had some concerns about the parts aboard the Emerald, where the book seemed to take a turn. It didn't make much sense that nobody fires back, for that would have caused a real moral problem, wouldn't it? The low point is when Jackie gets a politically correct sermon about racial slurs. While I agree wholeheartedly that racial slurs are bad, it was out of place and if the author wanted to make this point it should have been done through plot and not a speech.
That said, I will give this book 5 stars because the complaints are really quite minor and I enjoyed this as much or more than any book I have every listened to.
I recommend this book for any age but I caution that if this book were a movie there is a disturbing and important scene which would push the boundaries of a PG13 rating.

I'm enjoying the series but...

I wish Meyer would fix a couple of things:

1. Editing. There were three places where I was rolling my eyes impatiently at the seemingly endless detail about how seamen are trained and how the rigging is hung and how the ship is managed. So very, very, very much detail that I found myself wanting to do the audio-book version of skimming.

2. Screaming. Ms. Kellgren is very good but gosh how I hate the screaming. I'd be listening along, deep in some detail about foresails or Jackie's contemplation of something or other something and suddenly the narrator would be screaming in my poor, abused ears. I really didn't much appreciate it.

But, having said that...
Jackie Faber is a charming character. Her wit and courage and cleverness and girl-ness are extremely engaging. Everytime she'd go, "Wha...?" I could picture her incredulity or puzzlement and when she'd go, "Oh oh" I knew we were in trouble.

The other characters are interesting or funny or brave or smart or stupid or vile or sweet or charming and all develop depth as the stories proceed. I have grown very fond of many of them (especially Higgins) and I look forward to getting to know Jamie a little better now that things are ... um ... as they are.

As completely unbelievable as these tall tales are, I do enjoy them for sheer entertainment value. And if you ever have need to sail three-masted schooner, you'll feel like an expert.

As good or better than the others in series

First, a very excellent performance! Second, an exciting story and you can't help but love Jackie as much as those in the stories love her. This one is definitely a page turner, couldn't quit listening.

I LOVE Bloody Jack!

This is an amazing series! The stories are fa fetched and crazy and of course the heroine always gets out of trouble. But I like to quote her famous words to myself..."Why can't I be Good? She is Rebellious and Raucous, wild, fearless, and just plain Bloody Jack! You will fall in love I promise." But you must start at the beginning so choose the first in the series and work your way down because much of the series is based on true historical lore.

totally engaging

well we had to keep listening you just cant help it. kids and adults alike.