Customer Reviews

Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West (Bloody Jack Adventures)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In this, the 5th novel in the picaresque/historical fiction series about the adventures/misadventures of the irrepressible Jacky Faber, we see our heroine again narrowly escaping transport back to England to be hanged for piracy. Jacky then begins another rousing adventure tale as she travels west to the Allegheny-Ohio-Mississippi Rivers on her way to New Orleans, meeting characters along the way that sound like they could have come from the pens of Mark twain, James Fenimore Cooper, and George MacDonald Fraser. She meets and shelters a runaway slave named Solomon (just like Twain's Huck Finn and Jim), a free-spirited backwoodsman and a Shawnee, Lightfoot Bumpus & Chee-a-quat, (Cooper's Natty "Leatherstocking" Bumppo & the Mohican Chingachgook), Royal Navy Lieutenant Flashby and Captain Richard Lord Allen (sharing the good and bad traits of Fraser's anti-heroic rogue Harry Flashman). The author, Louis A. Meyer, throws in the "Larger Than Life" Mike Fink of American Folklore and many other interesting (albeit flawed) folks. Jacky seems to have a knack for getting into trouble and thoroughly loves the attention she receives (except for the rough handling, imprisonment, and tar and feathering parts, that is). All in all, this is one heck of an exciting riverboat ride and the most rollicking Jacky Faber escapade yet. I highly recommend this and the other books in the series.

While everyone else was waiting for the last Harry Potter book, the new Stephenie Meyer book, the new Christopher Paolini book, this is the one that I was highly anticipating. The Bloody Jack series has to be the best series going, bar none, including a couple of my other favorites, like Connelly's Harry Bosch and Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan. Of course, this is historical fiction, not mystery or fantasy, so perhaps it's not fair to compare them.

But L. A. Meyer is an outstanding storyteller. These are the kinds of books you want to last and never end, but you cannot stop reading. Meyer mixes up past and present tense, straight narrative with letters and journals, but it all blends seamlessly.

I just finished the book a couple days ago, and right now I consider it the best book I've read this year. It has everything - adventure, history, romance, tragedy, excitement, violence, sentimentality, pathos, and all in the guise of "young adult" fiction.

Since most of this book takes place along the Mississippi (and Ohio) Rivers, it's hard not to think of a later writer, Mark Twain, in the same territory, and I think Twain would've liked Jacky Faber and her adventures. There are certainly echoes of Huck and Jim's story in this book, and Meyer does justice to these themes. The book is set in 1806 (one year before Britain outlawed slavery, just three years after the Louisiana Purchase) and Meyer illuminates the times wonderfully.

I have a friend in his sixties who loves these books and gives them as presents to his nieces and nephews, as well as his mother, who also loves the series (she's in her eighties). Start with Bloody Jack, the first book, and you too will be hooked.

This is the fifth book in the Bloody Jack Adventures. (After: Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy, Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady (Bloody Jack Adventures), Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber (Bloody Jack Adventures), and In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber (Bloody Jack Adventures))

When we last left Jacky she was steps away from being reunited with Jaimy- and then she was about to be arrested. Somehow, Jacky always seems to land on her feet though, so don't be worried. Before long, and with the help of a few friends, she's escaped and is now captain of a riverboat. Despite many obstacles (and really you have to feel bad for the poor guy) Jaimy is always just a little bit behind her.

A couple of new characters appear, including a card shark, a Reverend, Native Americans, slaves, and British soldiers- all of whom seem to eventually surrender to Jacky's charms. But along with these new characters come a couple of old villains. Will Jacky manage to evade them? Will she eventually be reunited with Jaimy? You'll have to read to find out!

Mary "Jacky" Faber -- from homeless waif to ship's boy in the British navy, pirate, serving girl, lady in training, actress, musician, privateer, slave -- and now, riverboat queen.

If you recall the end of "In the Belly of the Bloodhound," the fourth book in Jacky's ongoing series of adventures set in the early 19th century, our heroine had escaped the clutches of vile slavers and sailed her captured ship back to Boston when, just as she disembarked with her schoolmates in triumph, she found herself arrested for crimes against the English crown. But, while Jacky has spent her fair share of time as a captive on both land and sea, it rarely proves easy to hold her -- and, soon enough, and in the wake of a massive riot in her name, Jacky is fleeing Boston for the relative safety of the inland United States.

I was a little worried at the onset of "Mississippi Jack" that a journey down a river wouldn't afford our plucky young heroine with enough opportunities for mischief and adventure. But not to worry, for author Louis A. Meyer has Jacky's fate well in hand. Jacky, for all the many years of experience under her petticoats -- when she wears them, the scamp -- has grown no wiser nor more sedate. She is an endless source of entertainment; she is brassy, clever, immodest, bold, flighty, romantic, impulsive, loyal, commanding and downright fun.

This chapter in her growing life's story draws on a wealth of riverboat lore, from tent revivals to floating casinos. There are noble savages and fierce Indian raiders, treacherous British agents, trappers and traders, slaves and slavers, whores, pirates and thieves. Jacky rises to the top of it all, like cream on milk, and this book, like its predecessors, leaves you wanting more. I'm happy to hear that Meyer is already hard at work on the next chapter in Faber's exciting saga.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.N E T editor

Jacky Faber was to be reunited with her love, Jaimy. That reunion was interrupted by Jacky's arrest. But never fear, the spunky lass manages to free herself from her captors and with the help of friends, she becomes the captain of her very own riverboat.

But her love Jaimy, poor Jaimy, is not really a match for Jacky. His attempts to follow his true love across the frontier and down the river find him fighting obstacles at every turn. I felt so sorry for this young nineteen-year-old boy. I can't imagine him with Jacky. She'd emasculate him in no time.

We follow Jacky through her adventures and hear from Jaimy through a series of letters. It is a clever way to tell the intertwining stories of Jacky and Jaimy. Some wonderful characters make appearances: Native American Indians, slaves, soldiers, card sharks, etc. The questions are: will Jacky continue to escape from those that are determined to do her in? She has the ability to get herself out of any scrape and land on her feet. And will she and Jaimy finally be reunited? And what will Jacky's next adventure be about?

Author Louis A. Meyer has created a wonderful character in Jacky Faber and provides her with exciting adventures. Jacky's bright, beautiful, clever, impulsive, loyal and loads and loads of fun. I loved the river boating adventure and all the scintillating characters and experiences. Jacky's a heroine worth reading and I look forward to her next adventure.

My only criticism of the book is while it's been published for Young Adults, there are topics that really are more suited to adults. After pondering what I'd call this novel, I would lean more toward an adult novel than for young adults. I think it's more appropriate.

Armchair Interviews says: Jacky Faber is a rollicking good time.

A good book -- and this is very good -- ought to excite you in some way...even if it is a quiet thrill. This book isn't quiet. Jacky Faber is never dull, and she leads a most exciting, adventurous life. No. 5 in the series -- and I've read them all -- is full of twists and turns, plots and perils. If you like history (and I have all my life), then welcome to American history as a story told as wide and deep as the mighty Mississippi itself.

After reading Mississippi Jack one word comes to my mind - Wow! I've read all four books in the Bloody Jack series, and Jacky's most recent adventure through the U.S. in Mississippi Jack, is by far my favorite out of the five. From the start of the book, up until the last page, Jacky finds herself in peril, as she always does, and again in the hunt to find her true love, Jamey Fletcher, and in many cases to simply stay alive and afloat while sailing down the mighty Mississippi River. As an avid fiction reader, and a middle school language arts teacher, I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone that loves a good adventure. Along with the adventure and peril, Meyer mixes in the perfect amount humor and romance throughout the story's plot. Fans of the other four Bloody Jack books will not be disappointed with Jacky's latest adventure. Along with the usual main characters, Meyer introduces you to many new characters that you quickly begin to fall in love with as if you had been reading about them since the first Bloody Jack book. Meyer also includes some surprising characters from the past that connects with this novel so cunningly, it will shock you. If there is only one book that you buy a friend or loved one this year for the holidays, it has to be this one. It's a must read for the entire family.

This is the fifth novel in L.A. Meyer's fantastic series of books chronicling the adventures of Jacky Faber. The other reviews do a nice job of summarizing the plot, so I won't waste your time repeating what others have said. What I will say is that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Just like in the other books, L.A. Meyer does a great job of telling a compelling adventure story while throwing in a lot of humor and weaving in a dose of history (without making you feel like you're getting a history lesson). There's no boring parts; the book flows as fast as the Mississippi after a torrential rainstorm.

If you haven't read any of the Jacky books, I recommend starting with the first one: Bloody Jack: Being An Account Of The Curious Adventures Of Mary Jacky Faber. I guarantee you'll be hooked: You'll finish it quickly, and soon you'll be reading the next, then the next, then the next...

By the time you've finished all five of the books, I've got a feeling that Meyer will be out with a new one. And that's a very, very good thing.

I absolutly loved this book! All the dry humor in it left me cracking up! The auther, being a guy, was good at placing a girls feelings. Though I secpect he had some help from his wife. This is the 5th book but the most beuteful. It'll leave you begging for more!!!!

This is the 5th book of my favorite adventure series in at least 20 years. Curiously, I think as many, if not more adults are reading this series as the targeted audience. Testament to the craftsmanship of the writing and the strength of the characters.

Jacky Faber is totally intriguing and compellingly natural. Her weaknesses are as endearing as her strengths. I enjoy the historical settings and interaction as much as the character's themselves.

This series has me hoping that SOMEONE in Hollywood is paying attention because this is a hit movie franchise waiting to be made. We''re all shaking vampires and werewolves out of our pockets every time we turn around, how about getting back to something REALLY exciting that never goes out of style; HISTORY