"Ride the rollicking rhyme on this sea-fearing adventure! Victricia is a true heroine, and new author,
Carrie Clickard, is a true wordsmith." —Lisa Wheeler, author of Dino-Hockey, Ugly Pie, and many
other picture books.

From Publishers Weekly
In Clickard’s debut, a pirate tale in verse, heroine Victricia would rather read than swashbuckle. Her bookishness isn’t her only problem; it’s part of a bigger package of nerdy, out-of-place feelings (she makes a
shirt that reads “I Heart Dry Land”). To her credit, Clickard takes rhyme and meter seriously,
achieving, at her best, a Gilbert and Sullivan–like patter as she imagines the pirates mulling disciplinary
measures (“Let’s ground her awhile—” “For a week—” “Maybe two...” “On a boring old island, with nothing
to do.” “ ’Twill heighten her gratitude.” “Fix her pirattitude!”). Although Victricia redeems herself, she knows
her heart isn’t at sea, opting for a life as a bookseller—and bringing about a career change among her former
shipmates, who become “the world’s first seafaring librarians!” In full-bleed spreads, Meyers (the Ballpark
Mysteries series) provides lots of pirate detail and even an ironic moment or two (Victricia’s baby
cradle mobile features a fish skeleton and a dagger, presumably to encourage early pirate development).
Rollicking, sea-chantey verse and slapstick humor make this a promising readaloud.

From Kirkus Reviews
"Ahoy, mateys; there's one determined young girl aboard this pirate ship. Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett
comes from a long line of pillagers. Her mother commands the crew, and her father cooks the grub. “Vic,”
however, prefers butterfly tattoos and reading. Her inefficiency at basic buccaneering tasks brings unexpected
results when a threatening sea serpent appears on deck. Victricia's gumption, her poorly tied lines, and a skull-
and-bones towel save her boisterous clan. Her future is clear: The end finds her the proprietor of a bookstore
on shore. Her relatives finally support her ambitions, and they spend their time with their noses buried in some books. Vic's personality shines through; the sign on the shop's front door reads “No Pillaging or
Plundering Books.” Upbeat rhymes bounce along as Victricia follows her own path.... Acrylic-and–mixed-
media scenes emphasize slapstick and comical expressions to downgrade the pirates' plundering to a
benign, lively romp. Though swelly seas occasionally threaten, overall, it's smooth-enough sailing here."

On the Alamosa Bookstore's 2012 Passport Summer Reading Program in Albequerque, NM

From Book and a Garden blog
"This rollicking tale, told in witty rhyme by Carrie Clickard, is sure to delight readers and listeners.  Mark
Meyers’ hilarious illustrations are in keeping with the spirit of the story. Little extras—like the book titles [on
the library shelf, for instance] Don’t Let the Pigeon Steer the Ship—add to fun. So, me hearties, hurry and
get a copy of this treasure for your very own."