Victricia Malicia: Book-Loving Buccaneer

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Overview

Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett may have been born on her family's pirate ship, but this mild-mannered young lady is sick of the sea: she'd much rather be ashore with her nose permanently buried in a book. But when Scylla the Serpent—the scourge of the sea—appears, quick-thinking Vic saves the ship by thunking the serpent on the head with her trunk full of books. For her bravery she is rewarded with the thing she wants most: a home on a little island. She opens a bookstore, and Landlubber Books becomes the ...

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Overview

Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett may have been born on her family's pirate ship, but this mild-mannered young lady is sick of the sea: she'd much rather be ashore with her nose permanently buried in a book. But when Scylla the Serpent—the scourge of the sea—appears, quick-thinking Vic saves the ship by thunking the serpent on the head with her trunk full of books. For her bravery she is rewarded with the thing she wants most: a home on a little island. She opens a bookstore, and Landlubber Books becomes the pirates' favorite port in a storm. As Carrie Clickard's nimble, jaunty rhymes roll off the tongue like waves onto shore, children will delight in Victricia's adventures while parents will relate to her family's attempts to understand their unusual daughter. Victricia may not be a typical pirate hero, but she is the captain of her own destiny in this rollicking tale of self-determination, sticking to your dreams, and the joy of reading.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
In Clickard’s debut, a pirate tale in verse, heroine Victricia would rather read than swashbuckle. Her bookishness isn’t her only problem; it’s part of a bigger package of nerdy, out-of-place feelings (she makes a shirt that reads “I Heart Dry Land”). To her credit, Clickard takes rhyme and meter seriously, achieving, at her best, a Gilbert and Sullivan–like patter as she imagines the pirates mulling disciplinary measures (“Let’s ground her awhile—” “For a week—” “Maybe two...” “On a boring old island, with nothing to do.” “ ’Twill heighten her gratitude.” “Fix her pirattitude!”). Although Victricia redeems herself, she knows her heart isn’t at sea, opting for a life as a bookseller—and bringing about a career change among her former shipmates, who become “the world’s first seafaring librarians!” In full-bleed spreads, Meyers (the Ballpark Mysteries series) provides lots of pirate detail and even an ironic moment or two (Victricia’s baby cradle mobile features a fish skeleton and a dagger, presumably to encourage early pirate development). Rollicking, sea-chantey verse and slapstick humor make this a promising readaloud. Ages 4–8. (June)
Children's Literature - Claudia Mills
Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett was born on the deck of a pirate ship, swaddled in a black blankie, taught her first words from a parrot, and took her first steps while walking a plank. Nonetheless, she grows up decidedly averse to the life of a plundering and looting pirate: "Victricia detested it vehemently. Victricia Malicia was sick of the sea." Victricia's family starts to agree that she is not suited for piracy when she swabs the deck with home-made soap so slippery that "her horrible blunder" causes all their beautiful plunder to slide off the deck, sunk forever. Luckily, a marauding sea monster who slithers aboard has its murderous plans foiled by that same slip-slapping, sloshing soap, making Victricia the hero of the day. Still, it is clear that avid reader Victricia is better off as a landlubber—and it turns out, as a bookstore owner, who inspires her family to give up their trade as "barbarians" for an alternative career path: "the world's first seafaring librarians." Rollicking rhyme and exuberant action-filled pictures make this a fun choice for anyone who is a book lover, or ever felt like a misfit, or, like most of us, both. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 2—Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett, born into a close-knit family of pirates, is given a scary name, a black blankie, and a pet parrot. She is taught knot tying and how to count doubloons and learns to read from Ye Olde Pirate Creed. Unfortunately, none of these lessons captures her interest. Vic falls from the rigging, ties loose knots, and doesn't like pirate lingo. She is fond of books and landlubbing, and proclaims "I ♥ Dry Land" on her shirt. Her family is horrified by this proclivity, but it's washing the deck in slippery soap, causing the plunder and more to slide into the ocean that gets Vic voted off the ship. Then, in the blink of an eye, she becomes a hero when the sea serpent Scylla is defeated by her slippery deck, her loosely knotted ropes, and the chest of books with which she gives the beast's head a thunk. In her moment of glory Vic pleads with her family to let her live in town. She opens a bookstore and her family, while still pirates, are "the world's first seafaring librarians!" Clickard's masterful text is a rhyming joy to read, but one must pay attention or risk becoming tongue tied. Meyers's humorous illustrations add plenty of special touches like the fitting names on many book spines and covers. A fun read-aloud.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781936261123
  • Publisher: Flashlight Press
  • Publication date: 6/1/2012
  • Pages: 32
  • Sales rank: 470,413
  • Age range: 7 - 9 Years
  • Product dimensions: 8.60 (w) x 11.20 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Carrie Clickard writes a children’s travel blog called Berenice Bear, and her poetry for children has appeared in Boy’s Quest and Clubhouse Jr. magazines. She lives in Gainesville, Florida. Mark Meyers is the illustrator of the Ballpark Mystery series and Counting Cows. He lives in Brigham City, Utah.

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Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Posted May 30, 2012

    Clever, entertaining and a story of determination! Well done!

    Clever, entertaining and a story of determination! Well done!

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