Skip to main content

Jean Laffite: the Pirate Who Saved America

Jean Laffite: The Pirate Who Saved America
By Susan Goldman Rubin, Illustrated by Jeff Himmelman
Abrams, 2012. 47 pages. Biography

This year's bicentennial of the War of 1812 brings with it a much-needed upswing in the number of children's books on the subject, none more exciting than Susan Rubin and Jeff Himmelman's story of the pirate turned patriot who helped his adopted country trounce the British at the Battle of New Orleans. Born in Bordeaux, France, Lafitte and his family became pirates of the Caribbean with a particular hatred towards the Spanish who had expelled his Jewish family from Europe. Many Spanish ships fell to his pirate crews, but when he began a family he decided to move to France to begin a new life. Attacked by a Spanish man-of-war, Laffite and his family were captured and left to die on small island. When they were rescued by an American ship, Jean conceived a loyalty to the United States that served the country well--not only did Laffite and his men fight in the Battle of New Orleans, but gave General Andrew Jackson vital information and counsel about how to defend the city. Not much is actually known about the early life of Laffite, but some of what is known is left out of this otherwise exciting story:  we know that Laffite hated the Spanish, but not that he was born in France. Also omitted are the fact that Laffite and his men required the promise of a full pardon from the United States before they agreed to fight for them. Also, the title claim that Laffite saved America is a bit far-fetched, since the Battle of New Orleans was actually fought after a peace treaty had been signed between the British and the Americans--word just hadn't yet reached the United States. However, the Battle of New Orleans did establish the young country as a force to be reckoned with, and in that way may have saved the U.S. from future bullying by other countries.  In any case, Laffite's personal story is fascinating and his accomplishments--besides piracy!--impressive.  A good overview for getting history-resistant youngsters interested in an important part of America' story.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013.  336 pgs.  Fantasy      Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life.  He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines.  Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

Books to Read... Inspired by Our Summer Reading Theme

I am very excited about the summer reading theme here at the library: Color Our World. From the first moment I heard what the theme was going to be, it has been on my mind, and I noticed I was seeing bright and vibrant colors in so many picture books. Here are a few colorful books that inspired me! I hope you enjoy reading all summer long. How Do You Eat Color? Written by Mabi David Illustrated by Yas Doctor Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. If you want a book full of vibrant colors, this one will definitely meet your expectations. Bold and eye-catching, the illustrations are a reminder that color is all around us, including in delicious foods that we eat. Even the endpapers are a deep and stunning shade that made me think of summer! I appreciated the tips the author included for why eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is important for all of us. Inventions to Count On Written by Dana Marie Miroballi Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud New Y...