"The Whydah" by Martin Sandler is a young adult (10-14 yrs) nonfiction book that covers the history of Black Sam Bellamy and Paulsgrave Williams' notorious ship. From originally serving as a slaver, to its capture as a piratical prize, to its sinking and rediscovery in 1984. The first half is a tidy biography of our pirates and then neatly transitions to the second half, which is dedicated to the Whydah's historic recovery. All without overwhelming the young reader or assuming too much.

There are a lot of wonderful things to say about this one. As the author tells the story of the Whydah, there are sets of interjecting pages of annotations throughout. The Whydah was, after all, a slave ship, so I was glad to see that the author didn't skim over the horrors of the Triangle Trade. They also include an example of pirate Articles, a clarification that pirates were NOT a bunch of lovable scallywags, and a little history of the "Jolly Roger," among other interesting tidbits. These "extra" pages are designed with a different font, border and accompanied by illustrations so the reader knows these are optional reading. After finishing the book, the reader can flip back through if they want.

The chapter on "The Search for the Whydah" was the best. Whydah historian Barry Clifford's devotion to finding the ship is admirable. There are "hundreds and hundreds of wrecks" out there and it was a struggle for Clifford to find proof that a particular wreck was the Whydah. But find it they did and the photo of Clifford holding the gold coins that his team retrieved is heartwarming. I think this book is a great way for young adults to get excited about history, about historic preservation and even a bit of treasure hunting. ( )

I have always enjoyed reading books on shipwrecks, then with this one you add in pirates and it equals a really good book! Martin W. Sandler captures your attention from the very first page and keeps it in his grip until the final page. As I was reading it, I did wonder how he was going to have enough pages dedicated to the actual discovery of the Whydah, when there were only 45 pages left for that part of the story, I was pleasantly surprised that he nailed every interesting tidbit of it.
My one criticism is that I did not like the sidebars inserted in the middle of the chapters, it would have been less distracting and give the reader more to look forward to by placing them at the end or beginning of the chapter. I chose to ignore them when I came across them and go back to them when I finished the chapter, but it did take away from the enjoyment of reading the book.
I have read Kurston's books on shipwreck discoveries and place him high on my list of favorite shipwreck authors, I would place this book hot on his heels. ( )

Readers who like stories of pirates and treasure hunts will be intrigued by this meticulously-researched historical story of pirates, treasure, and the history of many people who were involved in the story.

The story begins with the capture of the slave ship Whydah by pirate Black Sam Bellamy. After many adventures, and heavily burdened with loot, the Whydah returned to the dangerous Cape Cod coast where it was wrecked. The survivors were tried as pirates; some were executed, a few were pardoned. The story was over. Or was it? A long tradition of looting wrecks added to the many stories surrounding the Whydah and Bellamy and over the years many attempts were made to find the hidden treasure. Finally, in the 1980s, more than 200 years after the wreck, marine archaeologists discovered the wreck and a bounty of historical information, as well as some of the original treasure.

Besides the basic history, there's a lot of information packed into this book. Explanations of the culture and behavior of pirates in the 1700s, discussions of the slave trade and the various occupations and possible stories of the pirate crew, technological advances in archaeology, the controversies around treasure-hunting, all this and more are included in the story. Copious back matter adds to the story as well as original documents, photographs, and maps.

Verdict: The fast-paced, narrative sections of this history will draw in even reluctant readers who will find much to interest them in the wide range of history, technology, and social information included in this book. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780763680336; Published 2017 by Candlewick; Purchased for the library

A pirate's life story is definitely for me. Betrayal, culture, moral ambiguity, nautical terms, and salvage work all leave you with an understanding of history and the recovery of history. Martin Sandler's "The Whydah," is a must read.
Martin Sandler is now an author I intend to keep a lookout for because his style is the style that I think I would emulate if were writing children's stories about history. Regardless of the interesting content, this specialized narrative non-fiction story about piracy, shipwrecks, and recovering downed ships interweaves, characters, set details, tone, and introspective discussions of the complex nature of pirates in the 18th century world. It's tone is sympathetic and immersive while not simply being swept up in the romance and mythology of piracy and forgetting that these were cruel, inhuman people no matter their circumstances. The book acknowledges its characters faults and while still engrossing you enough in their story that you are instantly swept up in all of it yourself. This is a spectacular trick given that Sandler technically includes two narratives in one book: the fate of the Whydah and the modern man whose dream it was to recover it from Cape Cod's watery grave.
Much of the book's really interesting material is in the asides. Since the book's structure is both thematic and narrative-driven, in almost every chapter Sandler includes discussions of important details of various characters, the settings, and the workings of things like salvage, sailing in the 18th century, and making maps. There are a lot of them, but they do not interrupt the flow of the story and are basically intriguing additives to help you better enjoy an already well-crafted narrative.
As stated above, Martin Sandler is as accomplished a researcher as he is a writer. His sources section is detailed, easy to follow, and widespread in what sources he uses. He goes beyond this and provides footnotes for significant quotes, assertions, or data he collected so that if an audience wants to know where some of the book's more colorful moments originated, they can look it up for themselves. The man has apparently written dozens of books and if they are all of this apparent quality then I can see why.
The Acknowledgements section of this book was really useful. In the first line, Martin Sandler praises Rachel Smith for her artistic design and aesthetic choices for the book's design. Both of these things are very distinctive and represent the book's identity and are big reasons why I enjoyed this book so much. So, I appreciate that the acknowledgements section showed me who was responsible for some of the best choices in the book's construction. ( )

The story of the Whydah is an interesting way of seeing how popular myth and documented truth intersect, giving readers a clear, well-sourced, authoritative picture of piracy through the lens of one of its most infamous ships. The book is broken into three distinct narratives: the Whydah's life as a slave vessel, the voyages of pirate Bill Bellamy, and finally the pains a modern explorer went to in order to discover its wreckage. Along the way, readers are treated to sidebars about piracy, its rules and culture, and the characters who are its backbone. The book is marvelously researched and readers will find a whole lot of information they never knew existed about a group of individuals usually cloaked in lore and modern pop culture myth. ( )

SLJ targets it to 6th grade, Kirkus 10 and up. It is very text heavy but would be interesting to kids who like history and adventure. ( )

Review of: The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked and Found, by Martin W. Sandler
by Stan Prager (11-19-17)

I don’t typically read or review “Young Adult” books, but The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked and Found, by Martin W. Sandler, came my way via an Early Reviewer’s program and—full disclosure—I did not realize it was YA when I requested it! Of course, the “Young Adult” genre has come a long way since my own youth, when it tended to only run to the lowest common denominator of the youngest readers. In contrast, just about any adult non-specialist could peruse The Whydah and perhaps not even realize it was written for a YA audience.
Pirates are the stuff of both myth and history, an enduring legend that dominates the imagination in pulp fiction, swashbuckling films, and even Halloween costume parties and amusement park rides. The reality, of course, was starkly different from the romanticism, as revealed through both historical scholarship and—especially in recent decades—its partnership with the increasingly sophisticated technology of underwater archaeology. Sandler, a prolific author of books for adults and children (his Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad was previously reviewed on the Regarp Book Blog.*), artfully brings this marriage of history and archaeology to bear in this well-written work that focuses on noted pirate captain Black Sam Bellamy, his flagship vessell Whydah, and the culture of early eighteenth century piracy—as well as the recovery of the wreck and interpretation of the artifacts.
Born in England, like many young men of his era Sam Bellamy went to sea in the British navy. A veteran of naval combat in the War of Spanish Succession, at twenty-four Bellamy found himself out of a job when that conflict ended in 1714, and tens of thousands were released from service. His next stop was Provincetown, on the tip of Cape Cod, where he partnered up with a fellow-adventurer and returned to sea, this time on his own terms. When a promising salvage venture went sour, Bellamy instead turned to piracy, where he proved himself a highly successful raider along the east coast of America. One of his greatest prizes was the Whydah, a slaver that had recently traded its human cargo for vast riches that became the bountiful plunder of Sam Bellamy and his crew, and was transformed into Bellamy’s flagship. In what amounted to but a single year, Black Sam distinguished himself as one of the most successful pirates of all times—before he fell victim to equal parts greed and the treacherous seas off of Cape Cod that sank the Whydah in 1717, and drowned Bellamy and most of his mates. The wreck—and a bounty of artifacts—were not recovered until 1984.
Sandler’s thin volume is rich with detail, not only for his subjects but the milieu of piracy these inhabited. Pirates, it turns out, could indeed live up to the lore that has portrayed them as brutal and ruthless, but they also lived by a code of honor that was rigorously upheld. Most extraordinary in this code was its stark element of democracy. In a time when all the world was organized by hierarchy and class, all pirates, regardless of their specialized roles aboard ship, were essentially equals; the captain was little more than a first among equals, although he received two shares of plunder rather than the one due to an ordinary seaman. Nearly every aspect of their communal existence was governed by consensus, and determined by an equal vote from each member of the crew. When they raided other ships, their treatment of those who manned the prize was determined largely by the level of resistance. If the ship under attack surrendered without a fight, pirates typically showed great lenience, sparing the lives of officers and crew alike, who would be released to the sea with provisions on small boats if the ship was taken. Those who gave battle, on the other hand, often saw no quarter, ending their lives in a sometimes-horrific fashion marked by outsize cruelty. Thus, it was little wonder that the majority of ships beset by pirates often promptly surrendered. More surprising, perhaps, was that the surrendered crew was frequently offered a chance to join up with the very pirates that had overrun them—and that many availed themselves of this opportunity!
The last third of the book is devoted to finding and excavating the Whydah—which has continued for decades—as well as exploring the art and technology of diving and underwater archaeology. Here too the author presents the material in a competent, engaging fashion that holds the interest of the reader of all ages. Sandler aptly demonstrates how the artifacts recovered from the Whydah have contributed to a renaissance in the interpretation of what life must have been like on a pirate vessel three centuries ago.
Yet, this otherwise laudable work is unfortunately marred when it credulously repeats the fanciful notion that has Alexander the Great as an early pioneer in underwater exploration, here depicted in a medieval painting being lowered beneath the sea in a primitive glass diving bell, in the fourth century BCE! [p125] This ahistorical myth belongs to the literature of the so-called “Romance of Alexander” that was imagined many centuries after his death, and that to my knowledge has no scholarly support. (Endnotes include a reference to a defunct URL, but further research on the reference itself lends it little credence.) There was also a glaring error of historical interpretation in Sandler’s Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation, this one regarding slavery and the Civil War, which makes me wonder about his reliability as a historian.* Sandler has many books and projects and awards to his credit, much of them focused on history, as well as a background as an educator, so these uncharacteristic flaws seem especially incongruous. Of course, both author and publisher should be taken to account for such carelessness.
Despite this imperfection, The Whydah has much to recommend it overall to a popular audience of both the young adult and their parents. This is fascinating material, and Sandler’s skill as a writer who can weave multiple themes into a coherent account shines throughout the narrative. All of this is further enhanced in the presentation, which includes a number of sidebars, illustrations and maps. The Whydah demonstrates that the real story of pirates can be as enthralling as their swashbuckling legends.

[*See my review of Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad, by Martin W. Sandler, at: https://regarp.com/2015/11/29/review-of-iron-rails-iron-men-and-the-race-to-link...

My latest review, of "The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked and Found," by Martin W. Sandler, is live on the Regarp Book Blog at: https://regarp.com/2017/11/19/review-of-the-whydah-a-pirate-ship-feared-wrecked-... ( )

THE WHYDAH: A PIRATE SHIP FEARED, WRECKED, and FOUND by Martin W. Sandler pieces together the true story of a pirate ship discovered by marine archaeologists in the 1980s.
During the age of piracy, now famous pirates like Blackbeard and Black Sam Bellamy sailed the Atlantic in search of treasure. In 1717, a pirate ship called the Whydah wrecked off Cape Cod only to be found in 1984 by marine archaeologists. Sandler tells the exciting story of what researchers have learned from this amazing pirate ship. Readers learn about how this slave ship was transformed into a ship used by pirates almost 300 years ago. The author incorporates legends and survivor stories to add to the mystery surrounding the ship. Primary source materials are woven into the story along with short descriptions that provide historical insights.
Librarians will find the combination of pirates, shipwrecks, and history to be appealing to both middle grade and older students. Connect this book with other activities occurring during the age of piracy. This book would be useful for reluctant readers seeking an engaging research topic.
Published by Candlewick on March 14, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher. ( )

Author Martin W. Sandler explores pirate history with a focus on the ship Whydah and pirate Black Sam Bellamy. Sidebars provide additional information such as the pirate laws, The Articles of Agreement. Cultural differences such as laws (and therefore individual rights) made pirating appealing to some.
The book started slowly for me, however picked up after the background information was reviewed and specifics of the Whydah were the focus of the book. The recent history of the discovery of the Whydah and treasure hunting provide a satisfying conclusion.
Since some of the sidebars are three pages long, I would include them at chapter breaks instead of within the chapter. ( )

The only thing better than a book about pirates is a TRUE STORY about pirates, with all of the gritty detail and history. I feared that this might be a dry read, as far too many history books are (it really takes talent to make something as interesting as history a dull subject, but a lot of writers have that talent), but it was, in fact, very well written, enjoyable, and fast paced.

For anyone interested in pirate history, this book is a must have. ( )

I was intrested from the mention of pirates, but I was worried that it would be a struggle to get through like some other non fiction books I've picked up over the years. Thankfully this story was an engaging look at what piracy was really like, there were no "arrrr's" or parrots that said silly things. The length of this story was really wonderful as well, I was worried it would be huge, but it was less than 200 pages, and like all good books it left me wanting more.

If you're looking to read some non fiction, but are afraid you'll be bored to tears by the genre then I highly recommend this book! It was an engaging and quick read!

Happy reading! ( )

A historical account of the Pirate ship Whydah and its rediscovery, with general info about life as a pirate as well as the underwater explorers who later try to recover sunken vessels and their contents. Easy to read, fascinating, and a good starting place for anyone interested in the subject. An intriguing book for teens and adults alike.

LT Early Reviewer ( )

They had me at pirate ship. What could be more exciting than finding the wreck of an actual ship used by pirates. It’s like a puzzle that when pieced together can give us a clearer picture of the life pirates actually lived. Not the Hollywood version or even the version popularized by authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson in books such as Treasure Island. In this book, geared towards a young adult readership, the author provides a lot of factual information about pirate life in a very interesting manner. The text is accompanied by very detailed maps and period illustrations that help to get the reader involved in the search for the only shipwreck that has been authenticated to be an actual ship used by pirates. ( )

I did not realize this book was intended for middle-grade readers from the early reviewer blurb, and so found it somewhat disappointing. If you're an adult looking for a pirate history, try "The Republic of Pirates" by Colin Woodward. But if you're in middle school, or know someone who is, this book is a good overview of piracy, teasing apart fact and fiction, as well as discussing how that history is discovered through marine archeology. The main shortcoming of the book is that women are barely mentioned. The possibly fictitious Maria Hallet is the only historical women discussed, and there's no discussion how piracy impacted women specifically, either as victims when traveling by sea or as family members of men who became pirates. In the later chapters on the discovery and recovery of the Whydah there are a few pictures of women involved in restoration, but none are mentioned by name.

Excellent book on the history and recover of the pirate ship Whydah. The book follows the life of the Whydah from its construction through its intended use as a slave galley, pirate ship, legend, then salvage project. The story smoothly transitions through each of these periods, pulling the reader along with the excitement. Informative sidebars are included in the text, going into greater detail on people and elements of history important to the Whydah, and so so without disrupting the flow of the main story. ( )

A captivating and informative account of the pirate ship The Whydah and its colorful history, initially as a slave ship prior to being captured by pirate Sam Bellamy and commandeered for use as the flagship of his fleet, eventually sinking in 1717 off the treacherous coast of Cape Cod and then, finally in recent years, discovered and excavated from its watery grave to the delight of archaeologists, historians and local shipwreck enthusiasts alike.

A great choice for middle schoolers and up, particularly for children with an already solid interest in history, pirates or shipwrecks. The narrative is sprinkled with interesting asides about pirates and pirate life, alternately confirming and disputing pirate legend. Bonus: gorgeous and eye-catching dust jacket design. ( )

Martin W. Sandler’s book, The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found, is a very entertaining read. It tells the history of the Whydah, one of only a handful of pirate ships ever discovered and salvaged.

Commissioned in London in 1715, the Whydah was named after the West African slave-trading kingdom of Ouidah (the ship being a slave ship intended for the Atlantic slave trade). Sadly for its owners, but presumably happily for many potential future slaves, the Whydah was attacked during its maiden voyage by pirates under the command of “Black Sam” Bellamy, who converted the Whydah into his piratical flagship.

Bellamy and his comrades used the Whydah, among other ships, to attack vessels up and down the American coast, amassing am utter fortune in loot. Unfortunately for Bellamy and his crew, a storm (combined with a captured merchant captain’s cunning) led to the sinking of the Whydah and the drowning of most of her crew before they had time to spend any of their ill-gotten gains. A fortune thus sank beneath the waves. The Whydah was not seen again until 1984 when treasure hunters found her and began to retrieve her contents, though millions in gold thought to have been aboard the Whydah when she sank remain undiscovered.

Mr. Sandler tells both the historical and the modern portions of the Whydah's story with verve. And his book is, as I’ve said, an entertaining read. But I found myself wishing he would have presented more details about the golden age of piracy than he did, writing a book that was not quite so slim and quick a read. And I wish he’d have given the details he did give as part of his text, or even as footnotes or appendices, rather than as multi-page sections that oddly interrupted his main story, completely throwing off his main narrative.

Still, the book is fun and informative and I recommend it. ( )

A well-researched and lively history of the pirate ship WHYDAH, from its beginnings as a slave ship, to its reign as one of the most feared pirate ships, to its eventual fate as the first pirate shipwreck unearthed. The book also chronicles the life and career of its captain, Sam Bellamy. The author describes in vivid detail the life of a pirate, dispelling many of the romantic myths, but explaining the factors that led poor people facing indentured servitude or horrible conditions in a navy to welcome the chance to be master of their own fates as pirates; the relative democratic structures aboard a pirate ship; and the hard and sometimes violent lives.

The second part of the book deals with the efforts to locate the sunken remnants of the Whydah, based on oral histories of its shipwreck off the Cape Cod coast, and using modern technologies. The book is interspersed with small excerpts of information about topics such as slavery, the mechanics of a pirate attack, etc.

I highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in learning more about the real story behind pirates. ( )

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