The Mark of the Golden Dragon: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Jewel of the East, Vexation of the West, and Pearl of the South China Sea

From the Publisher

"This resilient and exuberant heroine deserves a stamp of approval."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Delivering the high adventure, good humor, and bits of ballad that the Bloody Jack Adventure series is known for, this historical novel will please avid fans of Jacky."—Booklist

Children's Literature - Julia Beiker

Change the red pig tails to a dark single braid, and Pippi Longstocking grows up into the pirate and entrepreneur, Jacky Faber. This unique and high strung heroine brings a new dimension to high seas' adventure books, with her lively comrades and the exploits that take her around the world and back again. Trouble finds Jacky at every avenue, and sometimes it seems that each one will be the last, but somehow she turns foes into friends or maybe just into business partners for the moment. During this particular quest, Jacky goes overboard with her adopted son, Ravi, and the story begins. I find it refreshing to have a strong, sensitive female lead that makes life and death decisions at the drop of a hat while earning the respect of her all-male crew. The use of the entire world as a setting allows readers the opportunity to find out what it would be like to set sail in a boat and travel, while they sit in a school desk or a cozy chair. Being that Pippi Longstocking was a favorite character of mine, it takes away from Jacky for me when she has her sensual encounters which could have been down played a lot, thus encompassing a wider audience. This book is part of the "Bloody Jack Adventure" series. Reviewer: Julia Beiker

VOYA - Dawn Talbott

This ninth installment of the Bloody Jack series picks up just after the eighth book leaves off, with Jacky and her gang headed back to the civilized world now that they have managed to avoid imprisonment in the penal colony of Australia. Jacky thinks she will now have her happily ever after with the love of her life, Jaimy Fletcher, but a series of events, starting with a typhoon, changes those plans and possibly ruins her entire future. L. A. Meyer's latest addition to this adventure series does not disappoint. It is action packed, with a very interesting string of events and mishaps that take Jacky into a variety of situations, including tangles with storms, wild animals, vicious thugs, rich collectors, earthquakes, political intrigue, military schemes, and true mental madness. As always, songs and poems are peppered through the story to add to the feel of life on the sea. Elements of history are also included, with figures such as King George, Lord Byron, and even Alfred Noyes's legendary Highwayman. The writing style is simple yet entertaining. The multiple viewpoints, including the thoughts of various characters, add interest to the story. Meyer also adds a little spice without being explicit, although a few words could be offensive to younger readers, so this selection is better suited to young adults, but all in all it is a very enjoyable read. Reviewer: Dawn Talbott

Kirkus Reviews

Jacky Faber must once again fight and flirt her way across land and sea to reach her beloved Jaimy Fletcher in the ninth book of this stirring historical series.

Escaping imprisonment in Australia and the amorous attentions of the female pirate Cheng Shih, Jacky finds her celebrations cut short by a typhoon. Accompanied by young Ravi but separated from her crew, Jacky relies on her musical talent and knack for disguise to get them through Southeast Asia and back to England. Jaimy, however, also proves elusive, having vowed to hunt Jacky's longtime and odious persecutors, Flashby and Bliffil. Aside from a clever scene involving some strategically placed seaweed, Jacky's ingenious plans and bravery take a backseat to British political and social intrigue. Famous in England and increasingly unable to pass as a boy, Jacky employs her new dragon tattoo, queue and Asian attire to escape detection. (Though historically accurate, the focus on her acquired exoticism and Ravi's race and pidgin speech may nevertheless prove jarring to modern readers.) Frequent allusions to Jacky's earlier adventures make this less of a standalone than Meyer's (The Wake of the Lorelei Lee, 2010, etc.) usual fare, so newcomers should start with book one.

This resilient and exuberant heroine deserves a stamp of approval. (Historical fiction. 12 & up)