Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
HarperCollins (2013), Hardcover, 368 pages
Description
Fantasy. Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: Pirates! Magic! Treasure! A gargoyle?! Caroline Carlson's funny tween novel The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1: Magic Marks the Spot is perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events and Trenton Lee Stewart's Mysterious Benedict Society. Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. She can tread water for thirty-seven minutes. She can tie a knot faster than a fleet of sailors, and she already owns a rather pointy sword. There's only one problem: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let any girl join their ranks of scourges and scallywags. But Hilary is not the kind of girl to take no for answer. To escape a life of petticoats and politeness at her stuffy finishing school, Hilary sets out in search of her own seaworthy adventure, where she gets swept up in a madcap quest involving a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesn't exist, a talking gargoyle, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous�??and unexpected�??villain on the High Seas. Written with uproarious wit and an inviting storyteller tone, the first book in Caroline Carlson's quirky seafaring series is a piratical tale like no other… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member A_Reader_of_Fictions
After my last middle grade was such a terrible dud, I was a bit afraid to embark into these pirate-laden waters. What if I felt like they'd shivered the timbers of these books unfairly, robbing them of a better life for inferior content? Or stole away my precious time, better spent with other
Before I even got to page one, Magic Marks the Spot had already made me smile and snort. See, before the page numbers even start counting, there are several pages of letters, which set the tone for the rest of the novel. In fact, letters, documents, and snippets of books are woven brilliantly throughout the novel, a technique often used, but rarely done to quite so enjoyable effect.
Hilary Westfield receives a letter congratulating her on her acceptance to the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates' Piracy Apprenticeship Program and telling her that the program will change her from "a wide-eyed and innocent young man." Hilary writes back, informing them of her excitement and correcting them on a factual error: namely, she's a girl. The VNHLP writes back aghast and offended, forwarding her application on to Miss Pimm's Finishing School for Delicate Ladies, much to Hilary's disgust. In her final response to the VNHLP, she closes with this:
"I assure you that I will walk the plank a thousand times, into cold and shark-infested waters, before I will attend Miss Pimm's.
I remain,
Hilary Westfield
Really Quite Furious with You"
From that moment on, I was in love with this book and its characters. Hilary is a fantastically sassy girl who refuses to let anyone, be they parent, headmistress or pirate, tell her what her gender means she can and cannot do. Magic Marks the Spot is so girl-positive and anti-stereotypes. Pirates can be friendly, girls can be pirates, boys can sew without it doing them a lick of harm, governesses can be sassy, and old ladies can be badasses. These are excellent lessons for the intended age group, and are conveyed in a totally non-preachy way.
Though almost everyone she meets tells Hilary she cannot be a pirate because of her gender and social standing, she does not give up. She has a dream and will not let anyone stop her from getting there. Plus, she has a plucky gargoyle sidekick to help cheer her up when times get rough, like when she's forced to attend Mrs. Pimm's, which teaches courses like etiquette and fainting. Gargoyle is so completely precious, with his desire for ear scratches and dream of one day having a pirate hat.
Hilary's governess, introduced as a rather drab, formidable figure, turns out to be wholly delightful as well. As soon as she ceases being Hilary's governess, she's able to open up to Hilary and truly be a friend. Eloise Greyson is a wonderful human being, and I totally support the ship of her with the pirate captain Jasper, Terror of the Southlands. He's basically the most lovable pirate after Captain Shakespeare from Stardust. Oh, and Charlie, his first made is adorably awkward, and I am waiting for some super cute middle grade romance to happen later.
The one aspect that had me side-eyeing the book was how unaffected Hilary is to learn that her father is the bad guy. Yes, he's not been the most supportive parent ever, but she's sad for like five minutes and then is completely unaffected for the rest of the book. Admiral Westfield was not so terrible that a daughter wouldn't struggle to accept his villainy or be tempted to join up with him. Hilary's a strong girl, so I don't doubt that she would make the same choices, but I would have liked to see her feel more in response to what is a completely groundbreaking change for a child.
Magic Marks the Spot kept me grinning and laughing the whole way through. There's situational humor, sarcasm everywhere, and silly puns. Basically, it's perfection for me and other people who have the sense of humor of a ten year old, like, say, actual ten year olds. I see this being a huge hit with the intended audience, but it's a delight for an older reader as well.
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books? Thankfully, Caroline Carlson's pirates aren't such vicious fiends. They're quite honorable, as pirates go anyway, and entirely lovable. Magic Marks the Spot is pretty close to perfect for what I want from a light-hearted middle grade: humorous, populated by lively characters, and promoting the idea that both boys and girls are capable of the same sorts of things.Before I even got to page one, Magic Marks the Spot had already made me smile and snort. See, before the page numbers even start counting, there are several pages of letters, which set the tone for the rest of the novel. In fact, letters, documents, and snippets of books are woven brilliantly throughout the novel, a technique often used, but rarely done to quite so enjoyable effect.
Hilary Westfield receives a letter congratulating her on her acceptance to the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates' Piracy Apprenticeship Program and telling her that the program will change her from "a wide-eyed and innocent young man." Hilary writes back, informing them of her excitement and correcting them on a factual error: namely, she's a girl. The VNHLP writes back aghast and offended, forwarding her application on to Miss Pimm's Finishing School for Delicate Ladies, much to Hilary's disgust. In her final response to the VNHLP, she closes with this:
"I assure you that I will walk the plank a thousand times, into cold and shark-infested waters, before I will attend Miss Pimm's.
I remain,
Hilary Westfield
Really Quite Furious with You"
From that moment on, I was in love with this book and its characters. Hilary is a fantastically sassy girl who refuses to let anyone, be they parent, headmistress or pirate, tell her what her gender means she can and cannot do. Magic Marks the Spot is so girl-positive and anti-stereotypes. Pirates can be friendly, girls can be pirates, boys can sew without it doing them a lick of harm, governesses can be sassy, and old ladies can be badasses. These are excellent lessons for the intended age group, and are conveyed in a totally non-preachy way.
Though almost everyone she meets tells Hilary she cannot be a pirate because of her gender and social standing, she does not give up. She has a dream and will not let anyone stop her from getting there. Plus, she has a plucky gargoyle sidekick to help cheer her up when times get rough, like when she's forced to attend Mrs. Pimm's, which teaches courses like etiquette and fainting. Gargoyle is so completely precious, with his desire for ear scratches and dream of one day having a pirate hat.
Hilary's governess, introduced as a rather drab, formidable figure, turns out to be wholly delightful as well. As soon as she ceases being Hilary's governess, she's able to open up to Hilary and truly be a friend. Eloise Greyson is a wonderful human being, and I totally support the ship of her with the pirate captain Jasper, Terror of the Southlands. He's basically the most lovable pirate after Captain Shakespeare from Stardust. Oh, and Charlie, his first made is adorably awkward, and I am waiting for some super cute middle grade romance to happen later.
The one aspect that had me side-eyeing the book was how unaffected Hilary is to learn that her father is the bad guy. Yes, he's not been the most supportive parent ever, but she's sad for like five minutes and then is completely unaffected for the rest of the book. Admiral Westfield was not so terrible that a daughter wouldn't struggle to accept his villainy or be tempted to join up with him. Hilary's a strong girl, so I don't doubt that she would make the same choices, but I would have liked to see her feel more in response to what is a completely groundbreaking change for a child.
Magic Marks the Spot kept me grinning and laughing the whole way through. There's situational humor, sarcasm everywhere, and silly puns. Basically, it's perfection for me and other people who have the sense of humor of a ten year old, like, say, actual ten year olds. I see this being a huge hit with the intended audience, but it's a delight for an older reader as well.
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LibraryThing member Yogamom67
"Magic Marks the Spot" Misses the Mark!
"The Very Nearly Honorable League of Good Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot" has all the elements of a good story: a precocious girl, a talking gargoyle, a Great Enchantress, pirates, and hidden treasure.
"Magic Marks the Spot" started slowly. After the first few
However, while there's nothing wrong with a good farce, as the story unfolded, it was almost like it couldn't decide whether or not to take itself seriously. Lots of threads are introduced, but not followed through with. Several characters are presented as simple caricatures, with relationships and behavior that just don't add up. And for me, without giving too much away - once I discovered who the Great Enchantress was, I found her to be rather disappointing.
"Magic Marks the Spot" started out with great promise. Unfortunately, this was one of those books that had all of the makings of what should have been a delightful read, but just didn't pan out.
Please don't get me wrong - it wasn't terrible. It does have some fun parts and there are probably many little girls who would find it entertaining. However, there are so many excellent children's books available, that one can afford to, and therefore should be, choosy.
I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads Program. This did not, in any way, affect my review.
"The Very Nearly Honorable League of Good Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot" has all the elements of a good story: a precocious girl, a talking gargoyle, a Great Enchantress, pirates, and hidden treasure.
"Magic Marks the Spot" started slowly. After the first few
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chapters, the story appeared to be a bit silly and far fetched, but still a good yarn. Hilary's pet gargoyle is cute (I imagined him as a cross between a talking dog and a cat with wings) and while the introduction of magic to the story was somewhat awkward, it did add a level of intrigue and excitement. However, while there's nothing wrong with a good farce, as the story unfolded, it was almost like it couldn't decide whether or not to take itself seriously. Lots of threads are introduced, but not followed through with. Several characters are presented as simple caricatures, with relationships and behavior that just don't add up. And for me, without giving too much away - once I discovered who the Great Enchantress was, I found her to be rather disappointing.
"Magic Marks the Spot" started out with great promise. Unfortunately, this was one of those books that had all of the makings of what should have been a delightful read, but just didn't pan out.
Please don't get me wrong - it wasn't terrible. It does have some fun parts and there are probably many little girls who would find it entertaining. However, there are so many excellent children's books available, that one can afford to, and therefore should be, choosy.
I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads Program. This did not, in any way, affect my review.
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LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Have you ever wondered what would happen when the Terror of the Southlands combines forces with a High Society Girl, her gargoyle and her Governess to sail the piratical high seas? Most probably not, but you’ll soon find out when you read The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates-Magic Marks
Twleve year old Hilary wants to be a pirate, but the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates denied her internship application because girls cannot be pirates, regardless of their ability to tie knots and tread water for long periods of time. The daughter of Admiral James Westfield, the Admiral will hear none of this hogwash and sends Hilary off to Mrs. Pimm’s Finishing School for Delicate Ladies, to be taught how to curtsy and crochet and faint at a moment’s notice and waltz…not skills required by piracy (except maybe the waltzing…the foot work quite useful in sword fights). Hearing of an opening on the ship of Jasper Fletcher, the Terror of Southland, Hilary sneaks out of school and applies. Surprisingly, he takes her on board. However, we all know that young ladies must be chaparoned, especially when hobnobbing with scoundrels and rapscallions.
In Augusta, magic is worth more than gold, so as the crew of the Pigeon roam the high seas searching for magic, the scoundrels they meet will test their sword fighting, map reading, sailing talents. Magic Marks the Spot is a delightful tale of adventure on the high seas. Drama, combined with humor, make this book a smile invoking, fun read. The crew make a good team against the rogues, some of them unexpected, trying to do them in. And the talking gargoyle is just icing on the cake.
Fans of the Jacky Faber series by L. A. Meyer will certainly enjoy the VNHLP series…I’m assuming there will be more than one book about Hilary et al. So, if you’re looking for a rollicking tale of adventure, magic, with maybe just a tad of romance, join Hilary, Charlie, Governess Greyson and Jasper Fletcher on their voyage. You may find out you want to be a pirate too
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the Spot (VNHLP), a debut novel by Caroline Carlson. And you know the penalty for not reading this book, matey? Ya’ll be walking the plank.Twleve year old Hilary wants to be a pirate, but the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates denied her internship application because girls cannot be pirates, regardless of their ability to tie knots and tread water for long periods of time. The daughter of Admiral James Westfield, the Admiral will hear none of this hogwash and sends Hilary off to Mrs. Pimm’s Finishing School for Delicate Ladies, to be taught how to curtsy and crochet and faint at a moment’s notice and waltz…not skills required by piracy (except maybe the waltzing…the foot work quite useful in sword fights). Hearing of an opening on the ship of Jasper Fletcher, the Terror of Southland, Hilary sneaks out of school and applies. Surprisingly, he takes her on board. However, we all know that young ladies must be chaparoned, especially when hobnobbing with scoundrels and rapscallions.
In Augusta, magic is worth more than gold, so as the crew of the Pigeon roam the high seas searching for magic, the scoundrels they meet will test their sword fighting, map reading, sailing talents. Magic Marks the Spot is a delightful tale of adventure on the high seas. Drama, combined with humor, make this book a smile invoking, fun read. The crew make a good team against the rogues, some of them unexpected, trying to do them in. And the talking gargoyle is just icing on the cake.
Fans of the Jacky Faber series by L. A. Meyer will certainly enjoy the VNHLP series…I’m assuming there will be more than one book about Hilary et al. So, if you’re looking for a rollicking tale of adventure, magic, with maybe just a tad of romance, join Hilary, Charlie, Governess Greyson and Jasper Fletcher on their voyage. You may find out you want to be a pirate too
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LibraryThing member scote23
Yay pirates! I really enjoyed this swashbuckling tale of piracy and magic. The droll tone suits the book well. I think it would be a great MSBA book.
LibraryThing member norabelle414
- Audiobook - Young Hilary Westfield wants so very badly to be a pirate. There are only two problems: 1) her father is an Admiral in the Navy, and 2) the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates (VNHLP) won't accept young girls! How rude! In fact, they forward Hilary's rejected VNHLP application to
SO CUTE! It's like a younger, funnier, lighter Bloody Jack, with magic. And a talking, overwrought, romance-novel-obsessed gargoyle. Recommended if you like children's books and pirates, and/or if you're addicted to Katherine Kellgren. It's not as fantastic as the Bloody Jack series or the Incorrigible Children, but it's a nice way to pass the time while you're waiting for the next volume in those series.
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Admiral Westfield, which gets Hilary shipped off to a prestigious finishing school. She promptly escapes and joins a rag-tag band of reject pirates. The crew includes a young boy named Charlie, a budgerigar named Fitzwilliam Fletcher, the gargoyle from Hilary's home bedroom, and Hilary's own governess. Their mission is to do what all pirates do, of course - find buried magic! The pirate ship is shortly followed by Admiral Westfield's best Naval vessel and the headmistress of the finishing school, who want to catch up with Hilary and bring her back home. Or do they?!?SO CUTE! It's like a younger, funnier, lighter Bloody Jack, with magic. And a talking, overwrought, romance-novel-obsessed gargoyle. Recommended if you like children's books and pirates, and/or if you're addicted to Katherine Kellgren. It's not as fantastic as the Bloody Jack series or the Incorrigible Children, but it's a nice way to pass the time while you're waiting for the next volume in those series.
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LibraryThing member mcelhra
he Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot is the first book in the new middle grade series, Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates. The second book in the series is due out in September.
I loved that the main character is a girl who wants to be a pirate. She tries hard to be
This book is very funny for kids but also had some dry wit that probably only parents would get. So if you read this book with your child, you will be entertained as well. My favorite character was Hillary’s governess, Miss Greyson. The things she said made me smile. She’s very prim and proper and nicely tries to keep Hilary in line. But pirates aren’t prim and proper so she has a tough time.
While this book doesn’t have any pictures, it does have drawings of letters and scrolls. Some of these are written in cursive so if your child can’t read cursive, you can help them with that.
This was a very fun book to read and my nine-year son loved it as well.
I loved that the main character is a girl who wants to be a pirate. She tries hard to be
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very fearsome and doesn’t really have any feminine qualities. Hillary’s best friend Claire is feminine though so it’s a good balance. Because of that, this book will appeal to both boys and girls.This book is very funny for kids but also had some dry wit that probably only parents would get. So if you read this book with your child, you will be entertained as well. My favorite character was Hillary’s governess, Miss Greyson. The things she said made me smile. She’s very prim and proper and nicely tries to keep Hilary in line. But pirates aren’t prim and proper so she has a tough time.
While this book doesn’t have any pictures, it does have drawings of letters and scrolls. Some of these are written in cursive so if your child can’t read cursive, you can help them with that.
This was a very fun book to read and my nine-year son loved it as well.
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LibraryThing member PerpetualRevision
What a fun story, made all the better with Katherine Kellgren's amazing narration! I can't wait to listen to the next one in the series :-)
LibraryThing member MargaretPemberton
A real swashbuckling adventure, with an unlikely heroine. great fun and full of action.
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2014)
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee — Grades 3-5 — 2015)
Garden State Children's Book Award (Nominee — Fiction — 2016)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — 2017)
Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 (Selection — 2014)
Language
Original publication date
2013
Physical description
368 p.
ISBN
0062194348 / 9780062194343
Local notes
Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. She can tread water for thirty-seven minutes. She can tie a knot faster than a fleet of sailors, and she already owns a rather pointy sword.There's only one problem: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let any girl join their ranks of scourges and scallywags.But Hilary is not the kind of girl to take no for answer. To escape a life of petticoats and politeness at her stuffy finishing school, Hilary sets out in search of her own seaworthy adventure, where she gets swept up in a madcap quest involving a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesn't exist, a talking gargoyle, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous--and unexpected--villain on the High Seas.