Bloody Jack

By: L. A. Meyer

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

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

Award-winning author and narrator. 'Nuf said!

STORY (historical) - First of all, I totally disagree with the categorization of this book as "Teens Ages 11-13" The main characters in the story are teens, but there are mature themes which make it more appropriate for adults. The main character, "Jacky," is a young orphan girl who must survive on the streets of London until a dear friend is killed, she takes his clothing and sets off in search of a better life disguised as a boy. Her life as a street urchin is pretty dark and depressing. Jacky gets a job as a ship's mate aboard a seagoing vessel, which is where the adventures begin, but there are still some scenes with sexual undertones which I wouldn't consider appropriate for 11-year-olds.

I also think the title is a bit misleading. Jacky gets the nickname "Bloody Jack" because she happens to kill an unworthy individual in self-defense and another in a battle with pirates, but the story is actually a touching coming-of-age story that is mixed with lots of fun and adventure. It's a light, easy listen once Jacky becomes a ship's "boy." The ending is good, but definitely leaves the door open for the rest of the series.

PERFORMANCE - Amazing! Katherine Kellgren is one of my favorite narrators. I was undecided about this series until I noticed she was the narrator. She gives every character a different voice and accent and they're all wonderful. There's even a toothless pirate, and you can literally "see" him when you hear her portrayal. (She also reads the Her Royal Spyness series.) You must hear her to believe how good she is.

OVERALL - (Actual rating 4.5 stars) This is Book 1 of the series, and you should listen to them in order. As I mentioned above, I would recommend this for high school age and above. Guys and gals would probably both enjoy the adventures of Jacky and her crew.

Smart People

There are so many good things about this book, but the one thing that makes it the most appealing, is the fact that Jacky Faber is smart. It is easy to write a book about a dumb person because they can get themselves into terrible situations because they don't use their brain. That's why when a book is written about a smart person, it is a thing to be admired. A lot of thinking has to happen in order to put a smart person into a difficult situation. I like every single book in this series because it is exciting listening to how a smart girl thinks of solutions, instead of listening to how a dumb person makes problems.

LOVED IT!!!!!! FANTASTIC LISTEN!!!!

Katherine Kellgren is amazing in reading this amazing story. If you are looking for a great book that has been narrated in a fantastic way, then this book is for you.

I can't wait to listen to the next in this series.

My Favorite Series, EVER

I think that says it all but this is the most entertaining historical fiction I have ever listened to. I am forty something but Katherine Kellgren captures my imagination and Jackie Faber is just such a joy to follow. I love how L A Meyer tackles some pretty harsh subjects with frankness, not sugarcoating history. At the same time you meet such amazing characters you end each book upbeat and wanting more.

Hold on for a really sad beginning, but great book

Would you consider the audio edition of Bloody Jack to be better than the print version?

Yes, Katherine Kellgren is one of audible's best! her singing is great, and she is so enthusiastic in her reading, especially when Jackie gets excited, that she is almost exhausting!

What did you like best about this story?

Our heroine is truly lovable, she is not perfect but completely good-hearted. She has a few moments in the book when she makes the decision that you want to scream at her not to, but mostly her character is pretty authentic.

What about Katherine Kellgren’s performance did you like?

All of it, she's a star. It's great when the narrator can sing!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

absolutely, I stayed in my car for an hour waiting to find a good stopping point, then just put on my headphones and cleaned the house so I didn't have to turn it off.

Any additional comments?

I don't like depressing books, and the first hour of the book had me ready to quit, but I'm really glad I held on. The whole series is great!

Loved it!

What a fun book, well researched, well written and well read with a plausable story line. I'm looking forward to reading them all.

Most favorite book EVER

I wish I had been able to read this when I was about 10 or so. Alas, it had not been written yet. This character lives within me, as I am certain it does within many others.
Katherine Kellgren will long be THE voice for Jacky, but L.A. Meyer created the voice of the willful, strong, courageous pirate inside me. Thank you L.A. Meyer for creating these books, Thank you Katherine for reading them so brilliantly, and Thank you AUDIBLE for making them available for me to read over and over and over again.

amazing audio performance

The story and characters are enjoyable but the narration is outstanding and elevates it to the next level.

Highly entertaining

Story was highly entertaining and unexpectedly insightful into turn-of-the-century England (1800). I liked it so much, I am listening to the next book in the series.

it was alright.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read this when I was younger. the romance parts just got on my nerves a little but the rest of the story was worth getting.