

The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found
By:
Explore the exciting true story of the captaincy, wreck, and discovery of the Whydah —the only pirate ship ever found—and the incredible mysteries it revealed. Source notes. Bibliography. Index. Black-and-white photographs and reproductions of historical documents, illustrations, and maps.
ISBN: 9780763680336
JLG Release: Apr 2017
Awards & Honors
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award 2018—2019 Nominee
2018 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist
ALSC Notable Children’s Books 2018, Older
2017 CYBILS Award Winner, Junior High Non-Fiction
School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2017, Nonfiction
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2017
Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Booklist, The Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal*
School Library Journal
Sandler dispels many popular pirate-related myths and offers a more realistic and factual view of the era of piracy in the New World. Instead of living in abject poverty at the mercy of kings and nobles, many men embraced piracy as a means to support their families and live a comfortable life, though one often filled wit [STARRED REVIEW]
Sandler dispels many popular pirate-related myths and offers a more realistic and factual view of the era of piracy in the New World. Instead of living in abject poverty at the mercy of kings and nobles, many men embraced piracy as a means to support their families and live a comfortable life, though one often filled with barbarous acts. The author weaves a fascinating story about piracy and the legendary 18th-century pirate ship Whydah, which sunk off the coast of Cape Cod on April 24, 1717, during a perfect storm. He delves into the fates of the few survivors, early salvage attempts by poor locals and wealthy governors alike, and the long-term work of explorer Barry Clifford to find the sunken ship. In 1985, Clifford and his crew discovered the inscribed galley bell of the Whydah, and for 30 years, divers, marine historians, and archaeologists have continued to retrieve artifacts from the ocean depths. Occasional sidebars on specific topics, such as the mythic origins of the Jolly Roger flag and artifact restoration, break up the narrative flow but do contain valuable information. Sandler’s approach to the Whydah and other submerged ships as “sunken time capsules” is an interesting angle that is sure to resonate with aspiring archaeologists. VERDICT A captivating read on pirates, with insights into contemporary underwater research techniques. Considering the popularity of the subject, this volume will likely not sit on shelves long.—Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State University, NH
Horn Book
Book Details
ISBN
9780763680336
First Release
April 2017
Genre
Nonfic
Dewey Classification
910.4/5
Trim Size
7 1/8" x 9"
Page Count
176
Accelerated Reader
Level 8.3; Points: 5;
Scholastic Reading Counts
N/ALexile
Level 1270L
Format
Print Book
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Candlewick
Potentially Sensitive Areas
Language: Mild Language, Violence: Mild Violence, Social Issue: Slavery in Historical Context, Violence: Strong Violence
Topics
The Whydah (ship), Samuel Bellamy (c, 1689–1717), Shipwrecks, Eighteenth-century U,S, history, Sunken treasure, Pirates, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Storms, Stolen goods, Legends and folklore, Diving, Archaeology, Underwater archaeology, Historical artifacts