There is just something about pirate stories that always draws me in, so I knew I had to jump on “board” (ha, get it?) when I heard about Tell No Tales. This graphic novel is all about a pirate adventure and an unusual enemy, inspired by real-life female pirates. The story follows Anne Bonny, a woman who seems to have it all—her own ship, a great pirate crew and a reputation that brings men all over the world to their knees. But one day, a new enemy has her running for her life and it will take all of Anne’s courage—and her crew’s support—to rise above the challenge.
At the heart of this graphic novel are the relationships between the different crew members and I think that really shines through when looking at Wells’ illustrations. The writing and drawing style is fun and engaging, and every character has their own moment to stand in the spotlight. Everyone has their demons to deal with —from Mary Read to Anne Bonny, the past often comes back to haunt them or surprise them—and it was interesting to see all their different stories intertwining. I’m always up for a group of misfits and when you throw in a heist that is delayed because of a creepy ghost enemy that keeps on making pirates vanish? Yeah, safe to say that I was “hooked” (okay, that’s the last pun, I promise)!
I also really enjoyed the sarcastic narrative style and the way this story approached colonialism and other challenges pirates (and, well, humans) faced. Perfectly aimed at younger children, this shows that being a pirate may be fun but that there are more implications to that lifestyle—a perfect way to introduce children to real-life pirates and their history!
With a crew that would go to the ends of the earth to protect each other, sassy remarks and a fast-paced tempo, Tell No Tales will have readers wishing for their own crew to go on adventures!
Tell No Tales is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up Tell No Tales? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A swashbuckling adventure inspired by the historical exploits of real-life female pirates
Anne Bonny had it all—her own ship, a pirate crew, and a fearsome reputation—but a new enemy has her on the run and it’ll take all of Anne’s courage to stay afloat. The night before a major heist, Anne has an unsettling dream, and come morning, the robbery is thwarted by Woodes Roger, a zealot who has sworn to eliminate piracy. With no plan to escape, Anne must persuade her crew to seek the meaning of her dream—or perish. Full of sass, solidarity, and swordplay, Tell No Tales is a graphic novel about belonging, belief, and how far we’re willing to go to protect the ones we love.
