Samuel E. Lowe (1890–1952)

The Black Banner is the story of Billy Baxter, a young man of thirteen, who flees a despicable home life in the hope of escaping an alcoholic mother. However, we find out immediately that Billy isn't a Billy so much as a Becky. Spurned on my her mother's plans to prostitute her daughter upon her fourteenth birthday, Becky dresses in breeches and heads down to the docks.

Immediately, she meets up with Zac Price who's sporting a pocket of gold and fresh from his latest voyage out to sea. Becky longs for a life outside of London and is captivated by Zac's tales of the Carribean. After helping Zac by extracting his ship mate, Uriah Flubb, from the local establishment, Becky wins herself a place on the merchant vesselThe Bonny Marie under the heartless Captain Scabrill and the journey begins.

Though Becky is constantly on the watch for those that would find out her secret, including Flubb, who always seems to be watching her, she quickly becomes as able as many a seasoned sailor. Jamaica bound, the ship speeds through the waters; each day the sun feels warmer on her face. Then bad luck strikes and the vessel is captured by a group of pirates, led by the arresting Logan Corder. Becky must make a choice as to whether to join the pirates or die.

At the urging of mentor and friend Tarron Jones, Becky signs on as a pirate, but is surprised at how much she enjoys her new life. After working under Scabrill who physically and verbally abused the crew, Logan is a caring leader, who has earned the respect of his crew. When he discovers that Billy is in fact a girl, he chooses to keep our heroine on the ship, now rechristened The Masquerade, and teaches her in the ways of pirate life.

Corder's ship flies across the Carribean, taking more and more ships down and picking up gold from the Spanish and Portugese, as well as their own countrymen. Then, the British Navy, with a new focus on the extinction of piracy, led by Governor Woodes Rogers puts a price on Logan's head. Will the crew of the Masquerade be captured? What will become of Becky Baxter?

When I first started The Black Banner, I have to admit that I really wondered if it would be for me. Pirates are not normally my cup of tea unless they are of the Johnny Depp variety and then only because he's a throwback to my more lively times in the eighties. However, I quickly found that even I, a working mom of two, could easily identify with the feisty Becky Baxter.

I was impressed by Hart's treatment of the pirate crew. They came across, surprisingly, as true gentlemen, whereas the honest Englishmen and women were portayed as obnoxious at best with a few exceptions. I anticipated disliking the pirates, but found myself rooting for them instead.

This book was so well-written and thoroughly researched, that the quality of the product is evident throughout The Black Banner. Hart's writing instantly transports the reader to another time and place, with rich text that practically pulls you straight through the pages.

My only criticism, and I have only one, is that it ended! I felt like there was so much more to experience with Becky! If you are looking for a wonderful read for your daughters, your sons, or yourself, pick up your copy of The Black Banner today and prepare to be transported into an adventure unlike any other.… (mais)

This was such a fun read!

I've never read a novel based around pirates before so I didn't really know what to expect but I sure wasn't disappointed.

From the first page of The Black Banner I was thrown into a different time with a different way of speaking, dressing and travelling.

I'm a big fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean films and this book reminded me of them. The book had a different take on pirates and that was great but throw in a female protagonist dressing as a boy and I'm all set for a really great read!

A lot of things happen in the book so it was a really quick, mostly easy read. Apart from a few sad events throughout the story it was packed with a perfect combination of adventure and great characters.

I thought the ending was a little abrupt but, overall, The Black Banner was a fantastic read and is definitely recommended.… (mais)