Jack, A Girl
by Annick
Jack, A Girl
I’ve always liked the name Jack. Maybe because of the amazing (the one adjective to describe him completely) Captain Jack Sparrow, but I’d like to think there’s more to it than just that. It’s certainly not because of the words you add at the ending of the name to denote something entirely different (like jackhammer, jackfruit, or worse, jackass) As the saying goes, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But I think there’s a universal personality of people (or literary characters to be more accurate) with the name “Jack”. This character possesses charming qualities that I admire. The first of which, is wit, intelligence that is most attractive because it is the most expressive and “fun”, for a lack of a better word. Aside from that, Jack is also street-smart and can easily get away with murder… if he wants to. Second is charm. Jack is a likable sort of fellow with an outgoing personality but maintains an air of mystery around him. A walking contradictory, most probably. This gives a lure of curiosity which makes Jack ever so interesting in my eyes. And lastly is confidence. Often mistaken for arrogance, Jack exhumes an easy-going attitude and struts around with the belief that most, if not everyone, likes him. Which is exactly the case, most of the time.
In my musings to recreate the “Jack Character”, I’ve basically described Jack Sparrow, pirate extraordinaire. But it’s not just him I’m basing the personality on. I also have another Jack in mind. One that is as cunning and entertaining as the “alpha male Jack”, and is also a Pirate. The only difference is, this Jack is a girl.
Bloody “Jack” Faber started out as poor, little orphan Mary on the streets of London. After the head of their small gang of orphans dies, she pretends to be a boy and joins the crew of the HMS Dolphin as a Ship’s Boy. There starts her numerous adventures.
On board the Dolphin, Jacky tries to remain undiscovered as a female but puberty is making things a lot more difficult and confusing – which makes a lot of funny scenarios and musings in the first book. She learns the basics of being a ‘sailor’ and dreams of owning her own little merchant ship and travelling the world to see the Bombay Rat, the Cathay Cat, and the Kangaroo. Also, Jacky and the other Ship’s Boys form a “Brotherhood”, and their secret tattoo is marked on their pelvis. One of the members of the Brotherhood is Jaimy Fletcher, Jacky’s true love. He, unlike the other Ship’s boys was born from an affluent family but is soon after knocked off from his high horse and becomes friends with them. The first book is more of a prologue to her adventures and shows how she starts out as a meek little girl but soon after becomes a fiery heroine with a penchant for trouble (and boys). The events also lead up to how she acquired the nickname “Bloody Jack” and after a few scuffles with the French, she is found out to be girl (Of course Jaimy is the first to know.) The book ends with Jacky getting off the Dolphin to study at Lawson Peabody’s School for Girls in Boston but she leaves with promises of meeting again and soon after, get married to Jaimy. The second book starts out with just that and the new Jacky, more confident yet still the same “peaceful sort of coward” she admits to be. After getting into more misadventures and meeting valuable friends (forming a Sisterhood as well) along the way – the boys she flirted with included in this category – Jacky finds herself demoted to a servant girl and a part time performer at night (unknown to the headmistress of course). But her history and infamy of being “Bloody Jack” isn’t past her and she as is discovered to be the one and only girl from the HMS Dolphin, she is met with good cheer but ends up in quite a snitch because of her wanton ways – she remains loyal to Jaimy though, loyal by her standards anyway.
The third book continues her adventures back at sea once again, and the succeeding books show how she becomes more infamous than she already is. Up to the latest book, she becomes an “acting-Lieutenant” of the HMS Wolverine, acquires her own ship through dubious ways, has been convicted as a Pirate with a price upon her head, was captured in a Slave Ship and planned an escape with her classmates form the Peabody school, travels along the Mississippi river with new friends and native Americans, becomes a spy for England and travels to France, becomes a messenger of Napoleon Bonaparte, almost gets married, enlisted to find lost Spanish gold and many more… there is clearly no dull moment. She also manages to keep herself “somewhat chaste” for her true love Jaimy who, despite her wanton ways with numerous (there’s a new guy vying for her affections in every book! And she doesn’t completely turn them down…) lovers, still finds himself deeply in love with the girl and she with him as well. Jacky also managed to establish an orphanage in her hometown, start her dream company, Faber Shipping Worldwide and earn quite a reputation in Britain, France and America – having books documenting her adventures helped a lot in this case. Obviously, she also managed to stay alive after so many life-threatening events.
Jacky Faber is living the life of adventure and romance. She is clearly one of the most unique and interesting heroines I’ve ever read. I found the first book in a book sale, and I bought it for about P30 only! I was so engrossed in the story that I had to order the rest of the books in the series online because they don’t sell it here in the Philippines. It’s one of my favorite books of all time, underrated it may be. Jacky Faber is my most favorite female character ever, even more than Katniss of the The Hunger Games or Donia in Wicked Lovely. She’s so badass. The best female Jack I’ve ever encountered, not that there are a lot but that fact only adds up to the assertion of how unique she is. Jacky Faber could give Captain Jack Sparrow a run for his money any day. And I doubt his experiences would be just plentiful on and off the ship. Either that’s the truth or that’s my feminist side speaking. Probably both.
[...] I wasn’t able to tell them of my luck in choosing/finding books. When I started reading as a hobby, my books were either from the library or bought from book sales. Books are expensive. And I think that’s also a reason why so few would choose a book over other things at the same price, such as clothes, shoes and bags which you could reuse. You could reread a book, but only if it’s a good one and only if you have a passion for reading. I didn’t know hunting for bargain books would help my “book radar”. I learned to patiently search from shelf to shelf and meticulously read the synopsis at the back cover (probably why I prefer paperback to hardcover books since the latter had none) to judge whether or not I’d be interested in the story. Now, I save up for the books I want to buy, but every so often, I’d still go to book sales, especially at this branch of NBS, to save up on money. But I also go there because there’s a thrill in finding books, like looking for an adventure – the adventure being the new world the book draws you in. It gives me a different kind of happiness when I’ve found one I would like and then discover how amazing it is after reading it. I think I’ve been lucky when it comes to finding books at book sales, though there are a few books I haven’t finished reading yet, I’ve found plenty that I’ve come to love and consider my favorite. Like the Bloody Jack Adventures. [...]