Best Pirate Books for Gr. 6-8
For books for K-2 or 3-5, click here

The following excellent pirate books vividly portray the world of piracy during the Age of Discovery. There are no cutesy pirate accounts here; kids in this age group won't tolerate that kids stuff. The books below are realistic depictions, and some are actually a bit gory.

With the release of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series, kids have become more interesting in learning about pirates. If you have a reluctant reader, try this angle. Many of the pirate books below would be great for reluctant readers. Note: The interest age of the pirate books listed below increases as you move down the page.

		Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion Summary: The (fictitious) long lost ships log of a pirate-hunter named Captain Lubber and his efforts to chase down the notorious pirate Arabella Dummond. As fans of the 'ology' series have come to expect, this title is full of illustrations, maps, drawings of ships, flaps, booklets, codes to decipher, even a map and treasure to find. "Perfect for reluctant readers." (SLJ) Reading Levels: Interest Level--Gr. 2-6 Difficulty Level--age 9-12

		The Not-So-Jolly Roger The Time Warp Trio Summary: The Time Warp Trio boys are back for another adventure, courtesy of THE BOOK. This time they find themselves on a desert island and are soon captured by Blackbeard and taken aboard his ship. While on board, they experience the life of pirates and even witness an exciting battle. In a starred review, School Library Journal promises that this book "makes for laugh-out-loud reading." Reading Levels: Interest Level-- Gr. 3-6 Difficulty Level--age 4-8

		Caribbean Pirates A Treasure Chest of Fact, Fiction and Folklore Summary: This comprehensive title separates pirate facts from Hollywood fiction (namely Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean). Dozens of articles cover basics about pirate history, and a concluding section provides interesting how-to articles on talking, dressing, and living like a pirate. Loaded with 145 color photos and illustrations created by a former Disney Imagineer, this is a must for kids interested in pirate lore. Reading Levels: Interest Level-- Gr. 4+ Difficulty Level--young adult

		Lives of the Pirates Swashbucklers, Scoundrels (Neighbors Beware!) Summary: The latest in Krull's fun and interesting biography series, Lives of the Pirates mixes verified facts with fascinating rumors to create very readable short biographies of 20 well-known pirates, including some women! The book also features sections about recent hunts for buried pirate treasure and pirate ships. These "dramatic stories will excite the imaginations of [readers]. A solid choice..."(SLJ) Reading Levels: Interest Level--Gr. 4-7 Difficulty Level--age 9-12

		Pirates by John Matthews Summary: A striking novelty book that packs in a lot of information Caribbean pirates and a lot of fun features like fold outs, playing cards, small glued on books, detailed ship diagrams...Even if some pieces go missing over time, this book is a solid classroom addition, a real "browser's delight."(Booklist) Rdg Levels: Interest--Gr. 5+ Difficulty--age 9-12


		Isle of Swords & Isle of Fire by Wayne Thomas Batson Isle of Swords: A high seas adventure guaranteed to delight pirate fans. This novel interweaves the stories of a lost young man with amnesia, a Captain desperate search for riches, and a ruthless pirate in search of a treasure supposedly hidden by monks. Add in a giant sea creature and an erupting volcano, and you have a real page turner. Isle of Fire: The sequel continues Cat's story, after he has regained his memory (but we won't say more...no spoilers!) A new fleet sets out to hunt down the pirates, and a huge hurricane blasts the region. Two additional pirate books are rumored to be in the works for this series, to be released in or around 2012: Isle of Chains and Isle of Darkness. We will add them to this page, if they ever materialize. :) Reading Levels: Interest Level--Gr. 5-8 Difficulty Level--age 9-12

		The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers & Rogues Summary: What a clever idea, and no less practical than a Klingon dictionary. :) This book provides the vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation used by pirates, and even explains where the terms or phrases came from , then provides an example of its use. Use this to add some flavor to your Age of Discovery unit, or stick it in your classroom library of pirate books for the pirate fans in your classroom. Reading Levels: Interest Level--Gr. 6+ Difficulty Level--young adult

		Nick of Time An Adventure Through Time Summary: 12-year-old boy Nick can't believe his luck when he finds a sea chest with a curious shining globe inside that turns out to be a time travel device. But pirates from the past know about the globe and begin chasing Nick down to get it. Desperate to outrun the pirates, Nick bounces through time and ends up fighting not only pirates, but also Napoleon's forces and Nazi spies. In a starred review, School Library Jrnl. said this book "will appeal to restless boys who can never find books written just for them." Rdg Levels: Interest--Gr. 6-9 Difficulty--age 9-12

		Terror of the Spanish Main Sir Henry Morgan and His Buccaneers Summary: Buccaneer Sir Henry Morgan was the legendary leader of raids on Spanish New World settlements, and in return was knighted for his thievery. This book proves that fact is sometimes stranger than fiction! "Not for the weak of stomach...this gripping and complex historical drama [is] impossible to put down" (PW) and proves that non-fiction pirate books can be just as fascinating as the fiction ones! Reading Levels: Interest Level--Gr. 6+ Difficulty Level--young adult

		Pirates! by Celia Rees Summary: Nancy, an orphan living on her family's plantation in Jamaica, is desperate to flee an arranged marriage, so she and one of the plantation slaves run off to join a band of pirates. Told through her writings, this book is great for students who, at a younger age, enjoyed Avi's The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. School Library Journal said this book is "oceans of adventure with a feminine twist." Reading Levels: Interest Level--Gr. 7+ Difficulty Level--young adult

Do you know of some good pirate books for kids? If so, please let us know by completing the Suggest a Book form, located in the top right hand column. Thank you.