Pirate Queen

January 1, 2020

Gr 1-5-Fortune decided that she should take to the seas. But Zheng Yi Sao used her own intelligence, diplomacy, and strategy to become a leader of unprecedented power. Kidnapped by pirates as a young woman, Zheng Yi Sao negotiates equity in her marriage to the pirate captain. Upon her husband's death, the Pirate Queen took over his empire, effectively running the government and economy of the South China Sea region, amassing great wealth and power. At the same time, she worked to protect the wives of pirates. Years later, Fortune smiled upon as the Pirate Queen as she sailed away from Canton, free and rich. The first person narrative is at once deliberate and lyrical, interwoven with imagery that recurs at significant moments in Zheng Yi Sao's life. The precise illustrations, created with pencil on bristol board and colored digitally, use visual motifs that support the recurring themes and images, most notably the glowing Jade Rabbit Moon. Soft colors and strong compositions, along with Wong's attention to detail, bring far away scenes to life. Unfortunately, there's less vitality and energy in the characters. This fictional account is based on what little is known of the real Pirate Queen, who's name is still unknown (Zheng Yi Sao simply means "Wife of Zheng Yi"). The author's note delineates between fact and fiction. Additional back matter includes sources, further reading, and notes about alternate spellings for the names used in the book. VERDICT Well-researched, this fictionalized account of a powerful woman from history will captivate readers and inspire further exploration.-Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2020
From stolen bride to pirate queen: a young woman's rise to become the most powerful pirate in history. When pirate Zheng Yi and his crew raid the port city of Canton, they plunder both goods and women. Zheng Yi picks one girl to be his bride. Boldly, Zheng Yi Sao (meaning "Zheng Yi's wife") shoots him a stipulation: She will marry him only "if he [gives her] an equal share in his enterprise." Six years later, Zheng Yi is dead, and his widow now commands 70,000 men and over 1,800 ships. Zheng Yi Sao realizes that a queen can't "win at cards" alone. She must "strengthen [her] hand by drawing from [her] decks," winning the loyalty of Zheng's lieutenants by sharing power. Before long, South China's seas come under her control, and even the emperor's ships are no match for Zheng Yi Sao's Red Flag Fleet. Eventually, Zheng Yi Sao grows tired of life at sea. With the same defiance and boldness that she employed so long ago, she demands her freedom from the governor-general of Canton. There is little primary documentation about Zheng Yi Sao's life, as Becker states in a concluding note, but working with what's known she has woven together a poetic first-person story that's both believable and readable. Wong's stylized pencil illustrations highlight intricate details that epitomize turn-of-the-19th-century China, a restrained palette providing color. A welcome addition to the growing strong-women-in-history shelf. (sources, further references, note on names) (Picture book. 6-9)

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February 15, 2020
Grades 1-3 Here Becker recounts the fictionalized life of a historical woman who rose to power among Chinese pirates in the nineteenth century. It's a serious tale, told in first person with archaic touches like frequent references to fortune and fate. Kidnapped by pirates, Zheng Yi Sao marries a captain and is given a share of his enterprise. This sets in motion an unlikely lifetime of leadership on the high seas. Soon her husband dies, and Zheng Yi Sao takes command of 70,000 men on 1,800 ships. Armed with political savvy and winning military strategies, she becomes so great that the emperor himself goes to battle with her?and loses. This is a fascinating introduction to a unique yet largely unknown woman who excelled as a commander and leader of men. Wong's illustrations are action-packed and bring to life Zheng Yi Sao's adventures, including many battle scenes and sinking ships. Young readers will no doubt be left wanting to know more about this inspiring historical figure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)