layawaydragon
Written on Mar 2, 2015
I won this through a Goodreads Giveaway that ended 12.01.2012. I have not received it yet. I will update when I do but since it's already March 1st I don't know if I'll be getting this book at all.
**Update: Received and Reviewed**
TW: Attempted rape scene
Rating: 2 stars, okay but not for me. I’d let my daughter read it when she’s older if she wants to because I value education over censorship, so I’d talk with her about its racism, sexism, and tropes—a lot. Along with keeping her bookshelf diverse, of course.
Recommendation: for pirate lovers, kids that think books are boring and can handle the content, parental discussion of topics highly advisable.
Pros
-Fast paced, action packed, quick read
-Helpful glossary in back with definitions for nautical language, countries, and relevant history like famous pirates or political figures
-Stylized pages that look like parchment are cool (though I don’t know about readability of black text on grey background for others)
-Realistic, unsavory pirates that subverts The Pirates That Don’t Do Anything except for The Women are Safe With Us part
Cons
-Predictable for this older reader
-Not a fan of idealized heroes without flaws who feel too perfect like Charlie
-Lots of problematic tropes like Magical Negro, Noble Savages, Attempted Rape, I Have You Now, My Pretty; All Men Are Rapists, Damsel in Distress (which I bet is leading to Rescue Romance or at least Charlie’s wishing it would), his seemingly Mighty Whitey father, and those are just the ones off the top of my head.
I entered to win because Drake’s Quest looked fun, I hadn’t read any pirate books and didn’t think the age range would be a problem. It’s packed with action and adventure. These boys are always up to something. It’s a light, easy read for me and fun if you think brutal gauntlets and taking over ships qualifies (lol).
Tom Sawyer meets Treasure Island is the perfect way to describe this book, as its blurb says. That comparison works for not just the subject and characters but the content as well. Whatever hang ups or requirements you have for your child reading those books, I they also apply to Drake’s Quest.
For piratical works, Pirates of the Caribbean series is first and foremost in young people’s minds (IME). Drake’s Quest is historical rather than paranormal though they are both epic quests in their own stripes. Pirates has much of the same content, including violence level. I think Drake’s would garner a PG-13 rating as well.
Charlie’s a classic hero with zero flaws, working hard to make his way in the world and finding answers about his father while following in his manly man footsteps. He’s fifteen in only that his brain hasn’t fully matured, though you wouldn’t know it if you meet him. Adults around him participate in the same competitions, boasting, and brawling so there’s little difference.
Of course he’s likable, there’s no reason not to except he’s a little too perfect for my tastes. Although I don’t think that’ll really matter for middle schoolers. Being the first book, it’s all about setup and gathering Charlie’s gang as he makes his place on the ship. So, there’s not much of his father discovered just yet but has found his first clue.
Like Charlie, there’s nothing really wrong with Drake’s Quest . I just find it very typical. It’s chocked full of sensitive subjects: racism, slavery, indigenous peoples, sexism, rape, domestic violence, bullies, and other forms of bigotry. However, it’s all handled in tropes and stereotypes.
I’m not saying history needs to be re-written to make it progressive, though it definitely employs The Women Are Safe With Us. It just doesn’t feel stand out when it perpetuates the status quo in such a flamboyant/swashbuckling way.
If my daughter wanted to read it, I’d let her because I’m for education over censorship, always hunting to make her shelf more diverse so as not dominated by such works, and sure she could handle the material in middle school. I’d be talking with her about it a lot though because fighting ubiquitous biases is never ending. I’d still be having the same conversation if she was white or a boy, because it’s an important thing for everyone to learn and toxic masculinity hurts men too.