Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com

DEAD RECKONING is a journey into the real pirate lifestyle. Based on the true story of Sir Francis Drake, an English pirate from the sixteenth century, this is the tale of life aboard a pirate ship from the eyes of Emmet, Drake's young cousin who serves as his page. Laurie Lawlor incorporates her research effortlessly into the novel, creating a thrilling yet realistic adventure story.

Emmet begins the story as an innocent young boy, the apprentice to Father Parfoothe, the village priest. When Father Parfoothe dies, suddenly Emmet's skills of reading Latin and playing the lute aren't quite as useful as before. Just in time to save Emmet from the villagers who have turned on him is his cousin, Captain Francis Drake. Drake invites Emmet to join him in a maritime voyage as his servant. Young Emmet has no choice but to accept.

Life at sea is beyond anything Emmet could have imagined. The crew doesn't seem to know where they are headed, and it isn't long before Emmet realizes that he is sailing on a pirate ship! Soon, Emmet is as caught up in the greedy pursuit of treasure and glory as the rest of the crew. Emmet is forced to grow up quickly as he sees firsthand the low regard for human life that pirates have. He learns the hard way that wealth is power, and power corrupts.

In the end, all he wants is to escape from the life he is now trapped in, and to be a free man once more. With this darker pirate tale, Laurie Lawlor proves that the life of a pirate really isn't as glamorous and lighthearted as Captain Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Caribbean would lead you to believe. ( )

Boring, self-important, unimaginative pirate adventure story. It fails to engage the imagination at all and is ultimately unmemorable. ( )

havnt read it yet