THE BOY JACKO

Fourteen year old Matthew Tuke's adventures begin as he is summoned to Virginia by his wealthy uncle. A dishonest clerk and a jealous cousin create various obstacles in an effort to prevent Matt and his street urchin-friend Jacko (whithout whose aid he would have been killed) from crossing the ocean safely. Rolling wooden pirate ships and disgruntled pirates make a brilliant-colored backdrop for this sea-adventure story which has sharply delineated characters. The author seems to be a descendant of the late nineteenth century story tellers; he skillfully controls plot and side plots as he narrates the story in his salty, lively prose.