There Be Pirates! Swashbucklers & Rogues of the Atlantic
There Be Pirates! Swashbucklers & Rogues of the Atlantic
Did pirates really bury treasure? Yes and no. If you watch movies or read books about pirates you would certainly think that every pirate buried a chest that was filled to the brim with gold, pearls, and precious gems. But the real story is that the loot was divided among the pirate crew, and most pirates spent their share as soon as they got to port. Historians are in agreement that most pirates did NOT bury their treasure. But there are a few exceptions, and it is the exceptions that give people hope of finding buried pirate treasure.
Did the famous pirate Captain William Kidd (1645-1701) bury his treasure on Oak Island, off of Nova Scotia? It is true that Kidd once buried Spanish coins, rubies, diamonds, silver, and gold. In 1699, in one of the very few known cases of a pirate burying treasure, Kidd buried his booty on Gardiners Island, in New York state, because he thought he was about to be caught and charged with piracy. Knowing that his loot was safe, Kidd sailed to Boston to face the charges. By this time, other pirates were being given pardons if they turned themselves in and swore to end their evil ways. Kidd wasn’t so lucky. He was jailed, then shipped to London for a trial. During his trial, Kidd wrote letters saying that he was innocent and would lead people to where he hid his treasure if they would get him out of jail. Kidd was hanged in 1701 without telling anyone where he may have hidden the rest of his loot. Many people hope that the treasure of William Kidd is still waiting to be found on Oak Island, or somewhere else in Atlantic Canada.
There Be Pirates! is the latest title in the “Compass: True Stories for Kids” series. The series includes books on topics in Canadian history, books such as Children of the Titanic, (Vol. XIX, No. 24, February 22, 2013) Oak Island and the Search for Buried Treasure (Vol. XXII, No. 9, October 30, 2015) and Birchtown and the Black Loyalists. (Vol. XXI, No. 27, March 20, 2015) Each book in the “Compass” series features a glossary, index, colour illustrations, photographs and interesting sidebars, and There Be Pirates! is no exception.
The book is organized into chapters such as “The History of Piracy”, “Tools of the Trade”, “Treasure” and “Pirates Today”. Each chapter is colour coded on the long ends of the pages to make for easy referencing. Chapters include sidebars with historical facts, photos, historical reproductions and suggested activities. The chapter on the history of piracy includes a recipe for hardtack (a thick cracker), the chapter on treasure includes instructions for children to make their own pirate coins out of clay, and the legacy chapter includes a pirate eye patch craft project.
While the book gives a good overview of pirates internationally and throughout history, the facts and legends, it also features many sections on pirates in the Atlantic provinces. Photos of Smuggler’s Cove in Nova Scotia, a pirate headstone in Chester, Nova Scotia, careening ships in New Brunswick, and Sable and Oak Islands, and Edward Low’s Atlantic raids are all showcased. Even female pirates, literary pirates and piracy in this century, both at sea and digital piracy, are covered.
Joann Hamilton-Barry is a librarian. and she has done her research. There Be Pirates! is a very high interest reference book for children, one which manages to be both factually accurate with a TON of information and also an accessible read. The glossy photos, bright colours, large font and conversational tone ensure this book is not mistaken for a traditional children’s historical reference book. Hamilton-Barry covers all aspects of piracy that would be of interest to novices and fans, and I challenge even the most diehard pirate fanatic to come away without learning something new. This five star book is a must for public library shelves, teachers covering the topic in their classroom or school library, and for any child or child at heart with an interest in swashbucklers and rogues.
Cate Carlyle is a former elementary teacher currently residing in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she is an author and librarian.