Ever dream of sailing the seven seas in search of thrilling adventure — or maybe precious treasure? We can’t whisk you away on a pirate ship, but we can give you the next best thing: seafaring story recommendations! Check out one of these three books about swashbuckling young women daring to take their fate into their own hands on the open ocean.
FIRE READ
My Salty Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
SUMMARY:
Suffering from an unrequited love for Prince Charles, mermaid-turned-human Mary faces an unfortunate fate: dissolving into seafoam out of heartbreak. But when she’s captured by pirates and mistaken for a boy, she seizes the opportunity to build a new life for herself. Assuming the name Mark Read, she joins the pirates’ crew and sets sail with lofty ambitions of becoming captain — or even the Pirate Queen.
WHY:
Part of the Lady Janies series, which was adapted into the Prime Video show My Lady Jane, My Salty Mary puts an irreverent fantasy spin on the life of real-life pirate Mary Read. Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows reimagine Read’s story by combining it with The Little Mermaid. Rather than tragically succumbing to her broken heart, Mary takes advantage of her unfortunate circumstances, setting course for a life entirely new — and entirely her own.
TEA TIME READ
The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray by Christine Calella
SUMMARY:
Being the daughter of a pirate queen isn’t easy. After her notorious mother is finally executed, Ophelia Cray decides to salvage her reputation by joining the navy. Left behind is her half-sister, Betsy, a hopeless romantic who just wants her family to be safe.
When their father falls ill, Betsy must enlist Ophelia’s help to keep the family business from going under. There’s only one problem: Ophelia enlisted under Betsy’s name and has been hiding her real identity from her crewmates. In order for Betsy to bring her sister home safely, she must brave the dangers of an ocean voyage in the middle of hurricane season.
WHY:
Billed as a cross between Little Women and Our Flag Means Death, The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is a tale of two very different sisters. Readers looking for ace-aro representation will find it in the headstrong Ophelia, determined to forge her own path after years in her mother’s criminal shadow. Others will likely resonate with the introverted Betsy, searching for her happily ever after and willing to leave her comfort zone to look after her family. (She’s also a fat girl!) Christine Calella’s debut novel perfectly celebrates quiet strength, resilience, and above all, sisterly love.
HEAR ME OUT
The Devourer by Alison Ames
SUMMARY:
After her half-brother, Cameron, attacks their father and flees with a treasure map, Adrasteia Dantes assumes control of the family ship, the Worldeater. Her plan: avenge her disgraced father by killing Cameron and finding the treasure. When she finally catches up to him, however, his ship is wrecked and his crew dead, save for a lone survivor: Quinn.
As Adra takes Quinn prisoner in an effort to locate her brother, she soon realizes she has another enemy to worry about. Beneath the sea lives a monster, the Devourer, bringing ships to their doom. Like Adra, she seeks the return of something wrongfully taken from her — and if Adra is to carry out her revenge, she must help the Devourer fulfill her own.
WHY:
Few environments are more terrifyingly unknowable than the deep sea, and The Devourer’s titular monster is a perfect eldritch horror. But there’s more to her and Adra’s story than their shared thirst for vengeance. Alison Ames seamlessly incorporates queer and disability representation into Adra’s fearless crew of young sailors — including Adra herself! You’ll follow this captain and her ragtag found family to the ends of the earth.
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read Teen! We’ll be back next week with more awesome recs for your TBR.
Looking for disability representation? Click here for three novels that center disabled characters.
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