Oxford English Dictionary

In this action-packed novel, Mary Faber loses her family and finds herself orphaned at the age of eight. She is taken in by a gang of street kids who teach her how to beg and escape the dangers of 18th century London. After the gang’s leader is killed, a devastated Mary quickly takes his clothes, disguises herself as a boy, and takes a job as a ship’s boy on the HMS Dolphin. “Jacky” does her job well and fits in with the other ship’s boys, even handling the high seas and some pirate battles, earning the nickname “Bloody Jack.” But, when she starts to have feelings for her fellow shipmate, she has to find the courage to reveal her secret identity. The bittersweet ending will leave readers anticipating a sequel.