The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Avi. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. 1990. 215p. 387 mins. Available at FIC AVI on the library shelves and as an audiobook from Overdrive.

At age six, Charlotte Doyle and her family traveled to England when her father, a manager of a shipping company, was transferred to the British office. Seven years later, her father is promoted to the company’s board. The Doyles have to move back to Providence, Rhode Island. Charlotte’s mother, father and her two siblings departed early, but Charlotte remained behind at Barrington School for Better Girls, her exclusive girl’s school so she could finish the year. With an Atlantic crossing that could last anywhere from one to two months, her father thought it best to let Charlotte cross during the summer, so she would not lose any schooling time.

Accompanied by Mr. Grummage from school to the ship, Charlotte expects there will be two families aboard along with small children, so she should not lack in proper company. At the ship, however, Charlotte discovers that the other families will not be on board as planned. Mr. Grummage refuses to allow Charlotte to change her plans, so she boards the ship as the only female.

Aboard the Seahawk, Charlotte realizes quickly that the crew does not get along with the Captain. Her first night aboard she meets Zachariah, an old black sailor who warns her that Captain Jaggery is violent and murderous. He gives her a small dirk for protection. Hoping to get off the ship, Charlotte awakens the next morning to find that the Seahawk has already sailed. She meets Captain Jaggery, who appears gentlemanly and wise. He tells her to report to him anything strange happening aboard the ship, and he mentions that the crew is lazy and must be guided by an iron fist.

As the days progress, the tension builds up aboard the ship, with the Captain, the only one who has access to weapons, on one side, and the crew on the other. Charlotte faces a difficult choice. She can abide by the Captain’s request and support him, as her station in life and her education warrants, or she can side with the crew, as justice and right requires. Whichever she chooses, her decision will have deadly consequences.

For a lighter treatment of a girl joining a ship in the early 1800s, take a look at Jacky Faber’s adventures in Bloody Jack.