The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Charlotte's repressive Puritanical family refuses to believe her tale, and the girl returns to the sea. Charlotte is charged with murder and sentenced to be hanged before the trip is over, but ends up in command of the Seahawk by the time it reaches its destination. When the crew rebels, Charlotte first sides with the civilized Captain Jaggerty, but before long she realizes that he is a sadist and-the only female aboard-she joins the crew as a seaman. From the start, there is something wrong with the Seahawk : the families that were to serve as Charlotte's chaperones do not arrive, and the unsavory crew warns her not to make the trip. She begins her trip a prim schoolgirl returning home to her American family from England. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I lived it.Told in the form of a recollection, these ``confessions'' cover 13-year-old Charlotte's eventful 1832 transatlantic crossing. Find another companion to share your idle hours. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago.If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. And, of all of the genre-bending plot elements here, perhaps none is as enthralling as seeing a young teen girl take on a traditionally male role in the gender-divided 19th century, not by hiding who she is and pretending to be a boy, but by becoming her true self out of conviction and determination. The characters, major and minor, are complex and unpredictable. It combines an exciting story with thought-provoking consideration of issues, such as bigotry, honor, justice, and the necessity of letting beliefs dictate actions. As an action-packed, edge-of-the-seat adventure, it should be appealing even to reluctant readers.

The story is satisfying for several reasons. From that promising beginning, the author sweeps us into a breathtaking and suspenseful adventure at sea.

See From the Book below for that warning. Instead of an Introduction or Author's Note before the first chapter, CHARLOTTE DOYLE begins with An Important Warning. Avi is an old hand at writing fine children's books in several genres, including historical fiction, and here he begins with one of the best opening hooks ever.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi