John Paul Jones: The Pirate Patriot

by Armstrong Sperry

Overview

A classic biography of John Paul Jones for young readers in a new, illustrated edition.

Called a pirate by the British and a patriot by the Americans, John Paul Jones was a brilliant sea captain, a true American hero, and the father of the U.S. Navy. With this classic biography for young readers by Newbery Medal winner Armstrong Sperry, readers will imagine themselves on deck at the side of the great captain, engaging enemy ships in close combat. Jones became an invaluable asset to the rebellious American colonists in their fight for independence when he offered his services to the newly established Continental Navy. In a barely seaworthy ship, the Bonhomme Richard, named in honor of his benefactor Benjamin Franklin, Jones harassed and captured British ships and took cargoes desperately needed by the impoverished rebels. Sperry draws a full and brilliant portrait of America's first naval hero.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780760352304
Publisher:	Voyageur Press
Publication date:	10/15/2016
Series:	Young Voyageur Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	9 - 14 Years

About the Author

Armstrong Sperry was an award-winning author and illustrator of children's books. As a young man, Sperry traveled extensively among the islands of the Pacific, and his experiences at sea and among the peoples of Polynesia were to influence his art and writing for the rest of his life. His book All Sail Set, which he wrote about the clipper ship Flying Cloud, was named a Newbery Honor Book in 1936. Five years later, Call It Courage, a tale of a young Polynesian boy written and illustrated by Sperry won the Newbery Medal.

Table of Contents

1 A Prophecy and a Challenge 10

2 A Man Named Jones 18

3 The Fight Begins 34

4 Up the Ladder 60

5 A Plan of Action 82

6 "Beat to Quarters!" 106

7 Victory 122

Afterword 142

The Man and the Myth 146

Cast of Characters 154

Timeline 156

Index 158

About the Author 166

Editorial Reviews

What's in a name? The wondrous difference of the picture conjured up by "John Paul Jones" as opposed to simply "John Jones" is pointed out as the many facets of the man are revealed. The endpaper maps, with crossed swords labeled "Captures HMS Union", "Captures HMS Fortune", and "Captures HMS Mayflower," alert the reader that this is a story of adventure and action. The area of the maps discloses the vast scope of Jones' action at sea. From the North Sea to the Bay of Biscay, the Bonhomme Richard under Jones' command wreaked havoc on opposing ship after ship of the English Navy. Whether the most famous phrase credited to Jones, "I have just begun to fight," is legend or fact becomes insignificant in the canvas of adventure and courage that is painted by Sperry's words. Certainly, the author implies, the words could have been said and been true to the character of the man. Born the son of a Scottish gardener, young John Paul was already a qualified officer on an English ship by the time he was nineteen. His career was derailed when an unjust charge of murder was brought against him and he was forced to flee to the new colonies in America. There, his skill and experience were enlisted in the fight for independence from England. From the "Quest Books" series.

Children's Literature - Mildred Hart