Knowing that I was in for a struggle trying to keep my five-year-old, Buster, interested in being read to for 20 minutes a day this summer, we headed off to get him a few books that might hold his attention. I was pleased to see that a newish line of books about a teenage Jack Sparrow were available, so I got him the first in the series: Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm by Rob Kidd.::: Becoming a Captain :::Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm introduces us to Jack before he's the drunk pirate we know from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, when he is a 15-year-old boy. Caught stealing a bag in a pub one night, he meets the pub owner's daughter Arabella, and soon enlists her help as well as a few others they meet along the way. Jack, you see, is looking for the Sword of Cortes, a mythical sword that, when reunited with its scabbard, gives its holder untold power.::: No, He Isn't Drunk :::I'll admit I was a bit dubious at the thought of Jack Sparrow as the hero in a children's book. Even in this book's recommended age bracket of the middle-school set, I'd be wary of a drunken, carousing pirate being someone I'd encourage kids to read about in a series.I was pleasantly surprised, however. While the Jack Sparrow character in Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm (and I'm assuming the rest of the series) isn't exactly angelic, he displays all of the good heart that the movie Jack does with none of the more adult characteristics.The book is interspersed with illustrations credited only to "Disney" and they came just often enough to keep Buster motivated. All are done in pen and ink and add a visual assist to some of the more complicated plot points. It's definitely not geared toward younger readers, but as a read-aloud chapter books we read over the course of several nights, it was a hit, and my seven-year-old grabbed it and read it as well.Overall, Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm is a great start to what promises to be just the series the children's genre has been missing, appealing to boys and girls alike who are looking for more daring adventures that don't involve wizards.This review previously published on Epinions: http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_T...
3.5 stars. For a mass market Disney book designed to milk the pirates of the Caribbean franchise for all its worth, this was really fun. I love jack sparrow -sorry, captain jack sparrow :)- and I think the author did a good job getting his personality right. The writings good and the plot and characters motivations are pretty straight forward. They want the sword for its magic powers, so they can use it to set up they're owe little kingdom and keep it away from "evil" pirates who want to use it for themselves. (Although jack and his friends pretty much want to do that exact same thing. Just nicer. -_- thats pirate logic for you.)"The coming storm" sets up the overall plot for the series (getting the sword of Cortez before the evil Davy Jones can get his tentacles on it) while still doing well on its own. (Some beginning books can't figure out how to do the whole plot thing with the exposition and the rising action, climax, and the falling action. "The coming storm" does it. And well.) The characters are pretty good to. I like jack, fitz, and Bell. The others came in a bit late for me to decide if I like them yet.This is a good choice for kids who like adventure stories and pirates. And of course for any fans of pirates of the Caribbean.
What do You think about The Coming Storm (2006)?
This is the first book in a lengthy series of adolescent adventure novels about the youth of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow of the Pirates of the Caribbean Movie montage. The author writes with his young want-to-be swashbucklers in mind as he uses this book to introduce Jack and his crew of desperadoes that are fleeing their own complicated childhoods.Rob Kidd skillfully uses a hook at the end of each chapter to draw his young audience into the next chapter to whet their desire to read on. “Arabella kept a very firm grip on Jack’s collar as she pulled him quickly through the crowd, ducking and avoiding the brawling sailors. And Jack kept a very firm grip on the sack. His sack. After a few more near misses, Jack and Arabella staggered out the back door and into the stormy tropical night” (Kidd 17). Kidd writes just enough of a hook to make my children beg for one more chapter. Even though I know that this series if just another Disney crank it out and sell it while the product subject is hot, my boys loved the series. As a writer, I can learn to write a good hook to entice my readers to read on just like Rob Kidd does at the end of each chapter. This series is a fun read. My only complaint is the continual alcohol references.
—Asya Fergiani
This book is basically about when Captain Jack Sparrow was a young reckless teenager. It starts off with him going into the craziest bar for pirates ever: Tortuga. He was looking for his stolen satchel, and he thinks he finds it with one of the most dangerous pirates ever, Captain Torrents. Unfortunatley, Jack didn't know about the notorius pirate, and Torrents caught him stealing. Jack makes a narrow escape as he loses Torrents in a giant brawl. Arabella, the barmaid, pulls him out of the fight. he finds out that the satchel is'nt his, but it does contain the famous Sword of Cortez's sheath. Legend had it that whoever had both sword and sheath could rule the seas. If thety lost one, they would perish instanteniously. They are planning to head to the island where the sword is on an abandoned ship, but right before they are to leave, a young rich teen named Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III wants to join on the adventure. The trio sial for days until finally landing on the island. There they meet 2 boys named Jean and Tumen who have a sister that was turned itno a cat. The boys lead the crew to the abandoned city where the sword is said to be. they finally find the skeleton of the king that once had the sword, but someone had recently stolen the sword. On their way back to the boat, they run into Captain Torrents. The crew battles for a little, then Jack defeats Torrents, and the crew escaped. Cool book :)
—1EnRuQuE3684
This is about young Jack Sparrow an ambitious teenager who is determined to become the ruler of the Caribbean. He along with his new found friends, Fitzwilliam and Arabella, set sail on a the ship the Barnacle to find adventure and treasure. They meet two boys along the way, Jean and Tumen, and their cat who join their crew on the adventure to find a important sword. The illustrations in the book help add to the excitement of the story. They are ink drawings which illuminate important scenes from the book. This book would be good for second graders or third graders. It is exciting and is full of adventure. The text style at times is hard to read but the text is not overly complex.
—Ruth Lyons
