PIRATEOLOGY: The Pirate Hunter's Companion
by Captain William Lubber
edited by Dugald A. Steer
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763631434
Ages 8-up
32 pages

Avast! There be pirates ahead! From history books, literature and the big screen, figures like Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, Francis Drake, Captain Hook and Jack Sparrow have grabbed hold of our imaginations and whetted our appetites for danger and adventure with their swashbuckling conquests through the seven seas. But have you ever wondered what they were really like --- the sorts of crimes they committed, the drinks they preferred, their weapons of choice, or even their favored attire? Well look no further, because everything you've ever wanted to know --- and so much more --- can be found in PIRATEOLOGY, Dugald A. Steer's guide to these awful but equally awesome figures.

In the bestselling 'Ology series, armchair archaeologists and folklore enthusiasts have explored ancient Egypt in search of hidden tombs with an amateur Egyptologist, studied the science and legend behind mythical beasts under a famed dragon master, and learned all about the mysterious art of Wizardry from Merlin the Magician himself. In this fourth installment, readers of all ages can travel back in time to 1723, through the journal of Captain William Lubber --- a pirate hunter in search of an ill-famed and villainous female pirate responsible for plundering through the Atlantic. The good captain's pursuit of the wily buccaneeress, Arabella Drummond, is carefully chronicled in this interactive and adventure-filled log, which details everything from pirate speak and code of conduct to instructions on using navigation tools and decoding treasure maps, as well as short histories on other legendary ocean-bound bandits. Also within these pages is everything readers need to help solve Captain Lubber's centuries-old quest to uncover Drummond's hidden loot.

Delightfully illustrated, written with an air of authenticity and antiquity, and steeped with heart-racing adventure, brow-raising intrigue and a cache of historical trivia, PIRATEOLOGY is the ultimate booty for pirate hunters and lovers alike.

   --- Reviewed by Marisa Emralino

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