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Top Secret Files
Top Secret Files: Pirates and Buried Treasure: Secrets, Strange Tales, and Hidden Facts about Pirates
Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates and Sir Frances Drake was both a swashbuckler and a knight, plundering ships in the name of the British Crown, but you won't learn that in your history books! Discover the truth about Anne Bonny, the Irish woman who was a true Pirate of the Caribbean, the secrets of Calico Jack and Blackbeard, and how kung fu monks were hired to try to fight off pirates. Then learn how to talk like a pirate and make a buried treasure map for your friends. It’s all part of the true stories from the Top Secret Files: Pirates and Buried Treasure. Take a look if you dare, but be careful! Some secrets are meant to stay hidden...
125 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 7, 2015
Shiver me timbers! Scary, gruesome and true are the stories of pirates and their high adventures. An entertaining look at a pirates life; from their problems to their weapons, words, culinary choices, and wardrobes. Very important pirates of history along with famous tales of long hidden treasure are revealed with related fun facts, craft projects, and recipes from the pirate lifestyle in each chapter.
Writer, teacher, and history detective Stephanie Bearce reveals another gem in her latest of the Top Secret Files series with pirate mysteries uncovered. This book is a solid primer for anyone interested in the seafaring scallywags that terrorized coastal areas of Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean during their heyday.
Pirates of the Golden Age had a lot to contend with. The dangerous and criminal nature of their behavior notwithstanding, there was challenging weather and navigation, leadership of an often unruly crew, pursuit by other pirates and the military, scarcity of food, and the ongoing maintenance of weaponry and aging vessels. It wasn’t easy and the truth is less glamorous than we might imagine, but certainly some pirates and crew enjoyed riches and an exciting lifestyle. Scurvy and a dinner of monkeys and sea turtles would balance the next day’s capture of a merchant ship with gold, brandy, sugar, spices, and dyed cloth to barter in the next port. They enjoyed a reputation among their contemporaries that ranged from enviable adventurers to murderous thieves. When they arrived in a new location, their reception from the locals mirrored the same.
From Blackbeard to Sadie the Goat to the mystery of the Oak Island Treasure and how the Jolly Roger became a pirate symbol, you can be enriched by the detailed stories here. I recommend this book for those who are lured by the romance and mysteries of pirates. It offers strange tales and hidden facts and would appeal to history loving boys and girls ages 8 -14 (and adults too – arrrrghhhh!).
Review by Tristan G., age 12, Tampa Bay Mensa
Writer, teacher, and history detective Stephanie Bearce reveals another gem in her latest of the Top Secret Files series with pirate mysteries uncovered. This book is a solid primer for anyone interested in the seafaring scallywags that terrorized coastal areas of Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean during their heyday.
Pirates of the Golden Age had a lot to contend with. The dangerous and criminal nature of their behavior notwithstanding, there was challenging weather and navigation, leadership of an often unruly crew, pursuit by other pirates and the military, scarcity of food, and the ongoing maintenance of weaponry and aging vessels. It wasn’t easy and the truth is less glamorous than we might imagine, but certainly some pirates and crew enjoyed riches and an exciting lifestyle. Scurvy and a dinner of monkeys and sea turtles would balance the next day’s capture of a merchant ship with gold, brandy, sugar, spices, and dyed cloth to barter in the next port. They enjoyed a reputation among their contemporaries that ranged from enviable adventurers to murderous thieves. When they arrived in a new location, their reception from the locals mirrored the same.
From Blackbeard to Sadie the Goat to the mystery of the Oak Island Treasure and how the Jolly Roger became a pirate symbol, you can be enriched by the detailed stories here. I recommend this book for those who are lured by the romance and mysteries of pirates. It offers strange tales and hidden facts and would appeal to history loving boys and girls ages 8 -14 (and adults too – arrrrghhhh!).
Review by Tristan G., age 12, Tampa Bay Mensa
May 5, 2016
The usual suspects are present; Grace O’Malley, Blackbeard, Black Bart (formerly John Roberts) Henry Avery, Mary Read, & Anne Bonny plus a few I was unfamiliar with, such as Cheng I Sao, Jeanne de Clisson, Sadie the Goat, Stede Bonnet, William Dampier, and a very brief mention of Captain Kidd. Most pirates had very brief and violent careers, but there are a few exceptions in this list. Grace O’Malley died an honored Irish chieftain at the age of 70, Henry Avery quit while he was ahead, Cheng I Sao made a deal with the Chinese Emperor, kept her plunder and was made “Lady by Imperial Decree”, William Dampier was a better scientist than pirate and ship’s captain, retiring from the sea at age 60. He is cited in the Oxford English Dictionary more than 80 times for the new words he introduced to the English language. None of these pirates said “Arrr”. It showed up in the 1930s when Lionel Barrymore played a pirate. In the few documents written by a very few literate pirates they used the same phrases as other sailors of their time. No pirate wanted to end up like Captain Kidd. Hung twice, his body tarred for preservation, and then hung in chains in the Thames estuary. A fun and interesting little book.
January 31, 2016
Stephanie Bearce’s “Top Secret Files” series proves just how interesting history can be. These books are jam-packed with facts that will inform and entertain any age.
This latest installment is a fascinating look at the lives of pirates, often obliterating misconceptions about the “pirate’s life,” such as buried treasure, treasure maps, and walking the plank. Pirates’ lives were extremely difficult, and stories abound with “icky” facts guaranteed to keep young readers enthralled.
The book is divided into sections: Pirate Problems, Weapons, Words, & Wardrobe, VIPs (very important pirates), and Pirate’s Treasure, and each section is followed by hands-on activities, including how to make sea biscuits, play a pirate dice game, and make a catapult.
The chapters are short and easily digestible (if you can stomach hearing all about scurvy, lice, and dysentery) with lots of extra sidebars, plus links to online extras and many reference materials. TOP SECRET FILES: PIRATES is an excellent addition to any home or classroom library!
This latest installment is a fascinating look at the lives of pirates, often obliterating misconceptions about the “pirate’s life,” such as buried treasure, treasure maps, and walking the plank. Pirates’ lives were extremely difficult, and stories abound with “icky” facts guaranteed to keep young readers enthralled.
The book is divided into sections: Pirate Problems, Weapons, Words, & Wardrobe, VIPs (very important pirates), and Pirate’s Treasure, and each section is followed by hands-on activities, including how to make sea biscuits, play a pirate dice game, and make a catapult.
The chapters are short and easily digestible (if you can stomach hearing all about scurvy, lice, and dysentery) with lots of extra sidebars, plus links to online extras and many reference materials. TOP SECRET FILES: PIRATES is an excellent addition to any home or classroom library!
July 10, 2015
I've long known that the pirate image that Hollywood has perpetuated for years is far from truthful. I really liked how this book presents the information here in straightforward factual style, making it clear that life as a pirate was far from romantic. In fact it was a dirty, difficult lifestyle that involved a lot of sickness and death. I learned a lot about different pirates, some of the mysteries surrounding them, and what life as a pirate was really like. For example, I didn't know that Blackbeard wasn't as bloodthirsty as I'd always thought, that he preferred to frighten people into submission. Don't worry though, there is plenty of treasure mentioned throughout. The activities presented for kids to do include: creating your own treasure map, making sea biscuits, and making a catapult. I love these activities because they are relatively simple, but sound like lots of fun. This book provides an interesting introduction to a popular topic.
January 27, 2016
Aar! Is the life of a pirate the job for you? Not if you don’t like curfews! Once again Stephanie Bearce fills young minds with the facts behind the legends in her book about PIRATES & BURIED TREASURE in this new book in the TOP SECRET FILES collection.
Learn about pirate jobs and the rules of the ship and how to dress and talk like a pirate. Then read stories about real pirates, some more terrifying than others, including women pirates, slaves turned pirates, the pirate who was a scientist, and one who was a really rotten pirate.
Along the way readers can learn some pirate skills of their own by doing Pirate Practice. Learn to make your own pirate flag, play pirate games, make your own treasure map, and more. Then see if you can crack the code and find Levasseur’s treasure!
Great research and captivating writing make PIRATES & BURIED TREASURE is another excellent read for students and adults alike.
Learn about pirate jobs and the rules of the ship and how to dress and talk like a pirate. Then read stories about real pirates, some more terrifying than others, including women pirates, slaves turned pirates, the pirate who was a scientist, and one who was a really rotten pirate.
Along the way readers can learn some pirate skills of their own by doing Pirate Practice. Learn to make your own pirate flag, play pirate games, make your own treasure map, and more. Then see if you can crack the code and find Levasseur’s treasure!
Great research and captivating writing make PIRATES & BURIED TREASURE is another excellent read for students and adults alike.
October 29, 2015
My son (11) prefers non-fiction for his reads so it wasn't difficult to get him to read this one. He read it during a car trip while I listened to an audiobook, or at least tried to. He loved telling me about the new things he learned while reading this book then asked if he could take it to school. Of course I obliged his request. Seeing him happy with a book in hand is all I needed. I looked through the book briefly and liked the layout and how everything is presented. This would make a great book for a child's library, or an adult who likes an easier way to learn about pirates. I can see this being a popular book in a school library as well. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.
March 7, 2016
First, I won this book in the Giveaways. :) Very excited to receive it and review it. I've always had a fascination with pirates and buried treasure, maybe because I live near the ocean.
So far, this is a great book to find out about pirates and their secrets and fun facts. It's well-written and a good read. I'll be sharing it with others who have a fascination with pirates and buried treasure like I do.
So far, this is a great book to find out about pirates and their secrets and fun facts. It's well-written and a good read. I'll be sharing it with others who have a fascination with pirates and buried treasure like I do.
January 4, 2016
This was a really fun book about Pirates. The information is factual, but presented in a fun way. My son loved reading it.
Received this book from LibraryThing.com for review.
Received this book from LibraryThing.com for review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews