
I love pirates. Let’s go!

I love pirates. Let’s go!
I have made a conscious effort this year to not read as many teen novels. Not that I think they are not worth reading but as I get older, It was starting to feel weird reading but the love lives of teenagers. I’m not going to stop reading teen novels completely because there are many authors I love and I want to support but maybe it’s time to read novels that feature people my own age. So I was ecstatic to find this novel about a woman in her 40’s who is also a kick ass pirate. Amina at the beginning is retired and living a quiet life with her family and daughter. She get an offer to set sail once more on a mission that will bring her riches beyond her wildest dreams but of course nothing is that simple. We are introduced to a wide range of characters that really makes this novel rich with description and color. It takes place mainly in the Indian Ocean area in the Muslim world. Which gives the narrative a different perspective. Most of the pirate novels I have read have taken place in the West or a fantasy to world so to explore a new place is exciting. Amina is what you want in a protagonist. She is smart, flawed, brave and sarcastic. She is ambitious but her experience has made her take stock in her surroundings and doesn’t make the rash decisions that often gets other character in trouble. She is assure of herself of having lived a life previously. This is not a coming of age. I wish there were more stories of established women succeeding in their chosen occupation because our stories don’t end in our 20’s but continues to the end of our lives.