Molly Rogers: Pirate Girl; Cornelia Funke, illustrated by Kasia Matyjaszek

Are you ready for a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas? Captain Firebeard and his motley crew of mean pirates think they are the worst pirates on the high seas. That is until they meet Barbarous Bertha…

Captain Firebeard and his rag-tag bunch of pirates love life aboard their ship the Horrible Haddock. They sail the high seas putting fear into everyone unfortunate enough to meet them. Boarding any ship they come across, they raid and they pillage, stealing everything from cooking equipment and silver to clothes and rum.

When Morgan O’Meany finds a little girl aboard a ship he isn’t sure what to do - he is more used to stealing things as opposed to actual people. But Captain Firebeard will steal anything and a child is just perfect - her parents will have to pay a ransom if they ever want to see her again and if they don’t…Molly will be fed to the sharks! But Molly is not your average girl and Captain Firebeard is going to regret making her scrub the decks, polish the cutlasses and peel the vegetables. You see, Molly’s mum, Barbarous Bertha, is a pirate too and she does not take kindly to having things taken from her, especially when that thing is her daughter…

I love a good pirate adventure and this is a cracking little read. Cornelia Funke breaks down gender stereotypes as she presents a female pirate and her daughter that are far more terrifying than halfwit Captain Firebread. There is humour on the high seas and I love Molly who is smart, cunning and has plenty of wit - she is a great character who should empower all young girls - pirates or otherwise. Kasia Matyjaszek provides the lively and colourful illustrations which are great and what I really like is that they show a wonderfully diverse group of pirates .

A great read full of pirate girl-power and one that pirate-loving children will thoroughly enjoy.

Recommended for 5+