A vicious captain, a mutinous crew —
and a young girl caught in the middle
Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I lived it.
As the only passenger, and the only female, on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, thirteen-year-old Charlotte finds herself caught between a murderous captain and a mutinous crew.
*"A thrilling tale, tautly plotted, vividly narrated."-Kirkus, starred review
*"Riveting. Nonstop action. A story hard to forget."-Booklist, starred review
*"A breathtaking seafaring adventure."-School Library Journal, starred review
Newbery Honor Book Boston Globe-Horn Book Award ALA Notable Children's Book ALA Best Book for Young Adults Booklist Editors' Choice The Horn Book Fanfare Book NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts School Library Journal Best Book of the Year New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age IRA Children's Choice
Avi is the author of more than sixty books, including Crispin: The Cross of Lead, a Newbery Medal winner, and Crispin: At the Edge of the World. His other acclaimed titles include The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and Nothing But the Truth, both Newbery Honor Books, and most recently The Seer of Shadows. He lives with his family in Colorado.
Following junior high school, Avi was assigned to a wonderful tutor whose taught him basic skills and encouraged in him a real desire to write. "Perhaps it was stubbornness," he recalled in an essay appearing on the Educational Paperback Association's website, "but from that time forward I wanted to write in some way, some form. It was the one thing everybody said I could not do."
Avi finally learned to write, and well! He attended Antioch University, graduated from the University of Wisconsin, and received a master's degree in library science from Columbia in 1964. He worked as a librarian for the New York Public Library's theater collection and for Trenton State College, and taught college courses in children's literature, while continuing to write -- mostly plays -- on the side. In the 1970s, with two sons of his own, he began to craft stories for children. "[My] two boys loved to hear stories," he recalled. "We played a game in which they would give me a subject ('a glass of water') and I would have to make up the story right then. Out of that game came my first children's book, Things That Sometimes Happen." A collection of "Very Short Stories for Little Listeners," Avi's winning debut received very positive reviews. "Sounding very much like the stories that children would make up themselves," raved Kirkus Reviews, "these are daffy and nonsensical, starting and ending in odd places and going sort of nowhere in the middle. The result, however, is inevitably a sly grin."
Avi has gone on to write dozens of books for kids of all ages. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (1991) and Nothing but the Truth (1992) were named Newbery Honor Books, and in 2003, he won the prestigious Newbery Medal for his 14th-century adventure tale, Crispin: The Cross of Lead. His books range from mysteries and adventure stories to historical novels and coming-of-age tales; and although there is often a strong moral core to his work, he leavens his message with appealing warmth and humor. Perhaps his philosophy is summed up best in this quote from his author profile on Scholastic's website: "I want my readers to feel, to think, sometimes to laugh. But most of all I want them to enjoy a good read."
When he's not writing, Avi enjoys photography as one of his favorite hobbies.
Avi got his unique nickname from his twin sister, Emily..
Part One
Chapter One
Just before dusk in the late afternoon of June 16, 1832, 1 found myself walking along the crowded docks of Liverpool, England, following a man by the name of Grummage. Though a business associate of my father, Mr. Grummage was, like my father, a gentleman. It was he my father delegated to make the final arrangements for my passage to America. He was also to meet me when I came down from school on the coach, then see me safely stowed aboard the ship that my father had previously selected.
Mr. Grummage was dressed in a black frock coat with a stove pipe hat that added to his considerable height. His somber, sallow face registered no emotion. His eyes might have been those of a dead fish.
"Miss Doyle?" he said as I stepped from the Liverpool coach.
"Yes, sit. Are you Mr. Grummage?"
"I am."
"Pleased to meet you," I said, dipping a curtsy.
"Quite," he returned. "Now, Miss Doyle, if you would be so good as to indicate which is your trunk, I have a man here to carry it. Next, please oblige me by following, and everything shall be as it is meant to be."
"Might I say good-bye to my chaperon?"
"Is that necessary?"
"She's been very kind."
"Make haste then."
In a flutter of nervousness I identified my trunk, threw my arms about Miss Emerson (my sweet companion for the trip down), and bid her a tearful farewell. Then I rushed after Mr. Grummage, who had already begun to move on. A rough-looking porter, laboring behind, carried my trunk upon his back.
Our little parade reached dockside in good order. There I became instantly agog at the mass of ships that lay before us,masts and spars thick as the bristles on a brush. Everywhere I looked I saw mountains of rare goods piled high. Bales of silk and tobacco! Chests of tea! A parrot! A monkey! Oh yes, the smell of the sea was intoxicating to one who knew little more than the smell of the trim cut lawns and the fields of the Barrington School. Then too, the surging crowds of workers, sailors, and merchants-all rough-hewn, brawny men--created an exotic late afternoon hubbub. All in all it was a most delicious chaos, which, while mildly menacing, was no less exciting because of that. Indeed, in some vague way I had the feeling that it was all there for me.
"Mr. Grummage, sit," I called over the din. "What is the name of the ship I'm to sail on?"
Mr. Grummage paused briefly to look at me as though surprised I was there, to say nothing of asking a question. Then from one of his pockets he drew a screw of paper. Squinting at it he pronounced, "The Seahawk."
"Is she British or American?"
"American."
"A merchant ship?"
"To be sure."
"How many masts?"
"I don't know."
"Will the other families already be on board?"
"I should think so," he answered, exasperation in his voice. "For your information, Miss Doyle, I received word that departure was being put off, but when I checked with the captain directly he informed me that there must have been some misunderstanding. The ship is scheduled to leave with the first tide tomorrow morning. So there can be no delay."
To prove the point he turned to move again. 1, however, unable to quell my excited curiosity, managed to slip in one more question.
"Mr, Grummage, sir, what is the captain's name?"
Mr. Grummage stopped again, frowning in an irritated fashion, but all the same consulted his paper. "Captain Jaggery," he announced and once more turned to go.
"Here!" the porter exclaimed suddenly. He had come up close and overheard our talk. Both Mr. Grummage and I looked about.
"Did you say Captain Jaggery?" the porter demanded.
"Are you addressing me?" Mr. Grummage inquired, making it perfectly clear that if so, the porter had committed a serious breach of decorum.
"I was," the man said, talking over my head. "And I'm asking if I heard right when you said we was going to a ship mastered by a certain Captain Jaggery." He spoke the name Jaggery as if it were something positively loathsome.
"I was not addressing you," Mr. Grummage informed the man.
"But I hears you all the same," the porter went on, and so saying, he swung my trunk down upon the dock with such a ferocious crack that I feared it would snap in two. "I don't intend to take one more step toward anything to do with a Mr. Jaggery. Not for double gold. Not one more step."
"See here," Mr. Grummage cried with indignation. "You undertook..."
"Never mind what I undertook," the man retorted. "It's worth more to me to avoid that man than to close with your coin." And without other word he marched off.
"Stop! I say, stop!" Mr. Grummage called. It was in vain. The porter had gone, and quickly at that.
Mr. Grummage and I looked at each other. I hardly knew what to make of it. Nor, clearly, did he. Yet he did what he had to do: he surveyed the area in search of a replacement.
"There! You man!" he cried to the first who passed by, a huge laboring fellow in a smock. "Here's a shilling if you can carry this young lady's trunk!"
The man paused, looked at Mr. Grummage, at me, at the trunk. "That?" he asked disdainfully.
"I'll be happy to add a second shilling," I volunteered, thinking that a low offer was the problem.
"Miss Doyle," Mr. Grummage snapped. "Let me handle this."
"Two shillings," the workman said quickly.
"One," Mr. Grummage countered.
"Two," the workman repeated and held his hand out to Mr. Grummage, who gave him but one coin. Then the man turned and extended his hand to me.
Hastily I began to extract a coin from my reticule.
"Miss Doyle!" Mr. Grummage objected.
Part One
Chapter One
Just before dusk in the late afternoon of June 16, 1832, 1 found myself walking along the crowded docks of Liverpool, England, following a man by the name of Grummage. Though a business associate of my father, Mr. Grummage was, like my father, a gentleman. It was he my father delegated to make the final arrangements for my passage to America. He was also to meet me when I came down from school on the coach, then see me safely stowed aboard the ship that my father had previously selected.
Mr. Grummage was dressed in a black frock coat with a stove pipe hat that added to his considerable height. His somber, sallow face registered no emotion. His eyes might have been those of a dead fish.
"Miss Doyle?" he said as I stepped from the Liverpool coach.
"Yes, sit. Are you Mr. Grummage?"
"I am."
"Pleased to meet you," I said, dipping a curtsy.
"Quite," he returned. "Now, Miss Doyle, if you would be so good as to indicate which is your trunk, I have a man here to carry it. Next, please oblige me by following, and everything shall be as it is meant to be."
"Might I say good-bye to my chaperon?"
"Is that necessary?"
"She's been very kind."
"Make haste then."
In a flutter of nervousness I identified my trunk, threw my arms about Miss Emerson (my sweet companion for the trip down), and bid her a tearful farewell. Then I rushed after Mr. Grummage, who had already begun to move on. A rough-looking porter, laboring behind, carried my trunk upon his back.
Our little parade reached dockside in good order. There I became instantly agog at the mass of ships that lay before us, masts and spars thick as the bristles on a brush. Everywhere I looked I saw mountains of rare goods piled high. Bales of silk and tobacco! Chests of tea! A parrot! A monkey! Oh yes, the smell of the sea was intoxicating to one who knew little more than the smell of the trim cut lawns and the fields of the Barrington School. Then too, the surging crowds of workers, sailors, and merchants-all rough-hewn, brawny men--created an exotic late afternoon hubbub. All in all it was a most delicious chaos, which, while mildly menacing, was no less exciting because of that. Indeed, in some vague way I had the feeling that it was all there for me.
"Mr. Grummage, sit," I called over the din. "What is the name of the ship I'm to sail on?"
Mr. Grummage paused briefly to look at me as though surprised I was there, to say nothing of asking a question. Then from one of his pockets he drew a screw of paper. Squinting at it he pronounced, "The Seahawk."
"Is she British or American?"
"American."
"A merchant ship?"
"To be sure."
"How many masts?"
"I don't know."
"Will the other families already be on board?"
"I should think so," he answered, exasperation in his voice. "For your information, Miss Doyle, I received word that departure was being put off, but when I checked with the captain directly he informed me that there must have been some misunderstanding. The ship is scheduled to leave with the first tide tomorrow morning. So there can be no delay."
To prove the point he turned to move again. 1, however, unable to quell my excited curiosity, managed to slip in one more question.
"Mr, Grummage, sir, what is the captain's name?"
Mr. Grummage stopped again, frowning in an irritated fashion, but all the same consulted his paper. "Captain Jaggery," he announced and once more turned to go.
"Here!" the porter exclaimed suddenly. He had come up close and overheard our talk. Both Mr. Grummage and I looked about.
"Did you say Captain Jaggery?" the porter demanded.
"Are you addressing me?" Mr. Grummage inquired, making it perfectly clear that if so, the porter had committed a serious breach of decorum.
"I was," the man said, talking over my head. "And I'm asking if I heard right when you said we was going to a ship mastered by a certain Captain Jaggery." He spoke the name Jaggery as if it were something positively loathsome.
"I was not addressing you," Mr. Grummage informed the man.
"But I hears you all the same," the porter went on, and so saying, he swung my trunk down upon the dock with such a ferocious crack that I feared it would snap in two. "I don't intend to take one more step toward anything to do with a Mr. Jaggery. Not for double gold. Not one more step."
"See here," Mr. Grummage cried with indignation. "You undertook..."
"Never mind what I undertook," the man retorted. "It's worth more to me to avoid that man than to close with your coin." And without other word he marched off.
"Stop! I say, stop!" Mr. Grummage called. It was in vain. The porter had gone, and quickly at that.
Mr. Grummage and I looked at each other. I hardly knew what to make of it. Nor, clearly, did he. Yet he did what he had to do: he surveyed the area in search of a replacement.
"There! You man!" he cried to the first who passed by, a huge laboring fellow in a smock. "Here's a shilling if you can carry this young lady's trunk!"
The man paused, looked at Mr. Grummage, at me, at the trunk. "That?" he asked disdainfully.
"I'll be happy to add a second shilling," I volunteered, thinking that a low offer was the problem.
"Miss Doyle," Mr. Grummage snapped. "Let me handle this."
"Two shillings," the workman said quickly.
"One," Mr. Grummage countered.
"Two," the workman repeated and held his hand out to Mr. Grummage, who gave him but one coin. Then the man turned and extended his hand to me.
Hastily I began to extract a coin from my reticule.
"Miss Doyle!" Mr. Grummage objected.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Copyright © by William Avi. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.Anonymous
Posted August 12, 2008
I read this book for my Reading Olympics, and I loved it! I was really sad when Charlotte went home to her parents, it was just so different from the ship. But the end made me very pleased! Read this book, you won't regret it!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I first read "Charlotte Doyle" when I was ten. I still pick it up for a blissful afternoon of adventure on the high seas when I'm tired of applying to colleges! I think every girl who reads this book will identify with Avi's multifaceted heroine, Charlotte. She's quick, she's witty, and she's sure of herself! This is one of Avi's best books, by far. Highly recommended!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 5, 2008
I loved this book because it had a lot of suspense. I read this book when I was in sixth grade because I didn't have any other choice, but if I knew it was this good, I would of chose to read it on my own. This book had amazing twists and turns on every chapter and I loved it. It kept you on the edge of your seat (or just possibly on the floor!) with your mouth hanging dead open! This book was incredible! You really should buy this book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 1, 2008
One of my favortie teachers read this story to my class back when I was in 5th grade and I loved the story. I recently read the story to my daughter and she loves it just as much as I did.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 12, 2008
this is 1 of the best books ever! it should be made into a movie!!!!! i swear u'll luv it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.charp
Posted January 31, 2012
Introduction: In the story, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Charlotte is sent to America to live with her family. Her father is the owner of the company that owns the Seahawk. On June 16, 1832, a young woman by the name of Charlotte Doyle steps on board the Seahawk for what will be the most life changing event of the young woman’s life.
Description and summary of main points: While on board the month long voyage, Charlotte encounters twelve angrily working men and a captain that takes no non sense. Charlotte is found guilty for the murder of two crewmen threw a non fair trial. When Charlotte reaches America, she intends to expose Jaggery for his true self.
Evaluation: After reading The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, the reader might feel lucky to be in the life they do have. Charlotte is just a young girl forced to take a journey with a crew of old, dirty men. The reader should receive the lesson to be happy with what you have, and I understood that.
Conclusion: At the end of the story, the Seahawk finally reaches America. Charlotte wants to tell police and her father about the murderer and psychopath of the captain. She remembers what jaggery said about saying anything. The captain is in full control of the ship. He or she may do any actions he or she did or intends on doing. Once she reaches her home, she realizes she does not want to live the fancy life every wishes they had. At sun set, right after Charlotte is put to sleep, she sneaked out her window and went back to the Seahawk where she truly belonged
Your final review: The story The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is a very heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, fun story. The main character, Charlotte Doyle, is sent to live with her family in America. When she reaches the ship, she realizes the family she intended to travel with to America did not show up. She is forced to go on her own. On board the Seahawk, Captain Jaggery is kind and willing to take Charlotte under her wing and protect her from the vicious crewmen. The Captain takes control of Charlotte to receive information of the crew’s actions. She then turns against Jaggery and starts a rivalry she does not wish to participate in. Jaggery is spiteful of Charlotte actions. When there is a massive ocean storm, two crewmen are killed, and Jaggery blames Charlotte for the deaths.When the ship reaches America , Charlotte is not hesitant to exit the ship. When she arrives home, she realizes she wants to live her life on the ship. During the night she runs away from home, boards the Seahawk, and is never to return again.
COCOGAL
Posted June 23, 2011
cant wait for the movie.....
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ashley-w
Posted November 9, 2010
Not Every Thirteen year old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. .
This book, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Is a wonderful adventure with scandal and two faced stow a ways hiding from the real truth of who's who on Captain Jaggery's ship. But soon the scandal turns and Charlotte has to deal with the biggest threat of her whole life. Charlotte was a simple young woman pale and rich but when she is sent to this ship for many months she changes in ways she can't explain. She is accused for murder and sent to the brig and runs into an old friend but that's not the end of her frightening tale. She is faced with charges and no one can help her because all her friends on the busty ship have turned against her because the murder of their close friend. You have to read the book it will change you as well as it changed Charlotte Doyle.
PMS14
Posted October 4, 2010
"The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" The main character is known to be Charlotte Doyle, an average British girl, was set to voyage on the Seahawk from the All Girls Academy, she was attending in Liverpool, England and to dock in Province, Rhode Island to meet her family. She faces many exciting complications along the way. Charlotte didn't expect to be sailing with a bunch of men, she was told by her care-taker, she would be sailing with two other families. Aboard the ship, Charlotte Doyle, made some friends, a black man named Zachariah, who gives her a dirk, a knife, to protect herself. She also becomes friends with Captin Jaggery. Each day was unique aboard the Seahawk, often, the wind was cold and the sky was gray, and on her good days the sun would shine a little through the gloomy clouds. Even though, the atmosphere wasn't the best, the author, Avi, always made Charlotte seem happy. True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, has twenty-two chapters, and in each chapter has thrilling moods. True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is one of my favorite books of all time . I wouldn't mind reading it over and over. I would highly recommend this book to about anyone.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.FASHIONGIRL32
Posted August 16, 2010
This book was out of the world. I can read that book over and over again!! I was just breath taking. I mean like the front cover, Charlotte's journey it all popped. Avi really put time into this book. He's written books before and there all great but, this has something special about it. If you want a show stopping breath taking book this it!!!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CCLover13
Posted May 28, 2010
I Also Recommend:
avi did an amazing job with this book and i can't wait to read more of his other books. i like the characteristics that he gave to Charlotte and the other characters. i don't like the character captain jaggery with him being so cruel to the crew members and lie to the authorities, and hit charlotte for something small like making them get off course for a couple of days. had an old crew member have his arm amputated, and killed only seconds after being shot in the chest. in the end i like that charlotte realized that her home was on the seahawk not in providence, rhode island. hope you love the book almost as much as i do.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Karyssa
Posted May 8, 2010
this was one of the first books i ever read. my brother told me to read it and i never liked books but i read it and i was hooked. it was amazing to see the main character change from little white girl to tough sailor. the ending was awsome! i loved this book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Carlesme
Posted January 15, 2010
I Also Recommend:
I was "forced" to read this book for Language Arts. As I first started reading it, I groaned internally. A book about a prissy, good two shoes girl? Not my type. But as young, 13-year-old Charlotte Doyle transformed during her voyage, I began to see myself in her character.
When Charlotte makes a terrible mistake in trusting the reprobate Captain Jaggery, the crew betrays her trust, and the only way she can think of to earn back that trust is to join the crew herself.
I became completely absorbed in the twists and turns of this novel. I could never imagine what would happen next. It has many thrilling parts, but a couple parts (especially the beginning) drag on a bit. There barely any funny parts, but this doesn't lower the book's overall rating at all. It's very challenging because most people aren't familiar with the different parts of the boat described in the book. In the edition our class had, there was a diagram of a brig in the back, thankfully.
I ? the ending!!!
I highly reccommend this book for anyone who loves mysteries, historic fiction, thrillers, and/or wants a book for a classroom/educational project.
My daughter could not put this book down. She said ist was great
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 3, 2009
I Also Recommend:
I had to read this book for school and i didn't think i would like it, but i ended up LOVEING it! It has te best ending i ever read in a book too! Also, our teacher made us read 3 chapters and stop each day, but my whole class read ahead and finished it before we were supposed to, because we were so addicted to it. Great book!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.My daughter insisted I read this book once she was done and I thoroughly emjoyed it as did she. It's an endearing story about a very brave little girl. Read it with your kids ... everyone will enjoy it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I thought that The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle was a wonderful book and I think that it really like tells you what live is really like after you have murdered someone. Also as the book said not every thirteen year-old girl is found guilty for murder and I don't think that a thirteen year-old girl would want to be found guilty for murder.
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Posted June 16, 2008
I read this book many years ago and the story still stays with me as one of my favorite books. Avi's tale of adventure and treachery on the high seas is great for young readers who need some excitement to get them into a good story. Charlotte is a hero and has to make hard decisions when stuck on a ship with those who might wish her ill. The morality of the book is good for any child to learn how to make good, solid, and honest decisions. I would reccomend this to anyone, even adults.
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Posted February 18, 2008
When I started the book I thought that it wasn't going to be the intesting because the first couple chapters are a little slow getting into the great story. The way Avi wrote it allows to paint a picture in your head and always wanting to read on, to never put it down until you read the last of it. This was the first book I read from Avi, but loved it so much I wanted to read another book of hers 'Crispin', which was also great! A greatly written book filled with tons of surprises and adventure!
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Posted March 10, 2008
I first read this when I was thirteen and absolutely loved it. I read it again five years later and fell in love with it all over again. It's a must read for all women of all ages. I've read all kinds of classics, my favorite authors being Dickens, Bronte, and Austen, but Charlotte Doyle is still my favorite book.
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Overview
A vicious captain, a mutinous crew —
and a young girl caught in the middle
Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the ...