Product Description

Before the Black Pearl, there was a teenage stowaway named Jack Sparrow...

The story of Jack Sparrow starts here! Teenage stowaway Jack Sparrow has assembled a motley crew and they’re on the quest of a lifetime. Their goal: to locate and procure the legendary Sword of Cortés, which will grant them unimaginable power. But will this ragtag team of adventurers survive their first mission or will they succumb to the power of the sea, vicious pirates, ancient curses, and the stormy threat of nature itself?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #205340 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-01
• Released on: 2006-05-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781423100188
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

A fun adventure featuring a young Jack Sparrow.
This is the first book in a new series for young readers about the teenage years of Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, when he first became a pirate and went off in search of treasure.

Teenage Arabella lives a dreary life in Tortuga. Her mother was kidnapped by pirates, her father is always drinking, and she spends her days working in her father's tavern. The only bright spot in serving drinks to the pirates is that she can listen to their stories of adventure and treasure hunting. One day, a young man her age stumbles into the tavern -- and gets into a lot of trouble when he steals from an infamous pirate. Arabella rescues the young man, who introduces himself to her as Jack Sparrow. Jack is a young stowaway who dreams of having his own ship and searching for treasure. To get away from her miserable life Arabella agrees to help him. They take an abandoned ship, the Barnacle, and with the help of Fitzwilliam, a spoiled young Englishman in search of adventure, leave Tortuga to sail the Caribbean in search of the "Sword of Cortes," which promises wealth and power to whoever finds it.

I was a little skeptical when I started reading this book of how well a children's book writer would do at writing a young Jack Sparrow. I am pleased to say I thought the writer did a pretty good job at writing his character and dialogue. The other members of the "crew" were likeable characters as well. The book is rather short, even for the reading level it's written for, but it was still pretty enjoyable. Young readers who enjoyed the Pirates of the Caribbean films are sure to enjoy this book, but I think older fans looking for a fun adventure could enjoy this book as well. I look forward to reading future books in this series and seeing what adventures young Jack and his crew run into next.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirates Life for Me!
This book is great for kids and adults a like. As long as you're a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean you'll love the Jack Sparrow series of Young Adult novels. Don't expect a literary masterpiece, since these were written for kids eight to twelve years in age but Rob Kidd did a great job with a storyline that appeals to both the demographic Disney had him writing for and the adults who can actually afford to buy the book.

I have to be honest, when I first heard about this series I was a little hesitant. It was a book series based on a movie franchise (books based on movies don't have a good track record as far as I am concerned), it's a prequel (even worse of a track record), and it was written for twelve year olds (I had envisioned a kiddy rendition similar to that of Muppets Treasure Island). When I finally convinced myself to give the series a chance I drove myself down to Borders and was immediately put off by what I saw. The books were flimsy pieces of paper, only about a hundred and thirty pages long...How could anything good come out of something so short. I threw the book back on the shelf and went off the find something new, after about an hour of shelf surfing without anything catching my eye I decided just fork over the five dollars and take a look inside the cover.

Man, was I glad I did. The book is an easy read (given whom it was written for) but Rob Kidd does such a good job with the story and he writes Jack Sparrow almost as well as Johnny Depp portrays him in the movies. Yes, the books are short...but don't let that turn you off like I let it do me. Since, every book can basically be called a chapter. Every book is a slice of the same grand adventure. What Kidd probably did was; write an adult sized novel and then slice it into smaller portions for kiddy consumption. So, be warned. This book will get you hooked and youll be shelling out a good deal of presidents to collect the rest of the series.

Commandeer a Boat
Find the Sword of Cortes
Eliminate Captain Torniquet
Acquire Perfect Hat
Become Captain
Rule Entire Caribbean
Live Happily Ever After

This is young Jack Sparrows life plan, and he puts them into action in this chapter of his life story. Sparrow isn't a pirate quiet yet, in fact he despises them. He makes his way from port to port by stowing away on merchant vessels until by chance he finds the Scabbard of the Sword of Cortes (a sword that grants the wielder unimaginable power). He sets sail with Arabella Smith (a young bar maiden looking for a better life) and Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III (a rich boy bored with his pampered and prearranged life) on a battered old fishing boat dubbed The Barnacle to find and make claim to The Sword of Cortes. On their first adventure Captain Jack and his crew meet new friends, make powerful enemies, and of course find shiny treasure.

If you or your child is in love with the Pirates of the Caribbean movies then these books are a must. Trust me, you wont be able to put this book down and if you're buying this for a kid whom 'hates' reading...He (or she) will be singing a different tune after you hand him (or her) this page turner. BUY THIS BOOK! You will not be disappointed.

great books!
I bought these books for my 12yr old daughter. She's a huge POTC fan & has gobbled these books down. Now she has the whole set (9 in all). She enjoyed them immensely & wishes more were available.