Written by James Buckley Jr. & Illustrated by Joseph J.M. Qiu
SUMMARY:
Published in 2015 by Scholastic, Inc., this 105-page biography reveals the life story of infamous 18th Century pirate ‘Blackboard,’ whose real name may have been Edward Teach. In addition to Blackbeard’s history as an outlaw, an overview of sea piracy is incorporated. Blackbeard’s legacy in terms of contributing to pop culture movies is also mentioned. This book is extensively illustrated with pencil sketches.
REVIEW:
This intriguing biography faces an awkward dilemma: explaining the pirate’s notoriety and ultimately gruesome fate without being too explicit. To writer James Buckley Jr.’s credit, he manages the task of describing Blackbeard’s violent last duel, but the details might still be too much for immature readers. The sketch illustrations provide just enough depth to be helpful in visualizing the text better. For the purpose of preparing a school book report, a historical essay, or even a biographical presentation, Who Was Blackbeard? makes a solid choice for fourth and fifth graders.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There are timelines of Blackbeard’s life and world history during his lifetime. A short bibliography acknowledges that two of the six books referenced are kid-friendly choices for further reading.
ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars
