The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Avi. THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE. 1997. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780380728855.
(first published in 1990)

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE by Avi, the main character Charlotte Doyle recounts her transatlantic journey aboard the Seahawk in 1832. Charlotte, whose father is an officer of the company that owns the Seahawk, is leaving from her boarding school in England to return to her family in Providence, RI. Charlotte is a well-groomed schoolgirl who feels misplaced sailing among a boorish crew. At first, Charlotte is enamored by Captain Jaggery’s gentlemanly and fastidious ways. However, Zachariah, an old sailor aboard the ship, befriends Charlotte and warns her of potential danger lurking among the crew and Captain Jaggery. Not long after, Charlotte discovers a darker side to Jaggery. She ultimately takes the side of the mutinous crew and transforms herself into a sailor, donning canvas shirt and pants. Jaggery feels threatened by young Charlotte and is determined to regain control at any cost. When Jaggery accuses Charlotte of murder, she must find a way to prove her innocence before it’s too late.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In the Newbery Honor Book THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE, Avi, an awarding-winning author of many children’s books, writes a thrilling tale of high seas adventure, deception, and redemption. Charlotte Doyle, a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl from a prominent family, is traveling alone aboard the Seahawk merchant ship. Avi writes the book as a first person narrative in which Charlotte shares her personal account of the eventful transatlantic voyage. He provides vivid descriptions of Charlotte’s inner thoughts, as well as her emotional and physical transformation throughout the novel. For example, when Charlotte finally switches loyalty from Captain Jaggery to the crew, Charlotte explains: “…I told myself I must accept my responsibility so as to prove to those men that it had been my head that was wrong, not my heart…with fumbling hands I put on the seaman’s clothing.”

At the beginning of the book, Avi cleverly draws the reader into the story and provides details about the book’s setting and character’s history with a short prologue titled “An Important Warning.” Specifically, Charlotte, warns readers that the events they are about to read are truthful and that “if strong ideas and action offend you, read no more.” Readers quickly discover that the year is 1832, that Charlotte was American born and has been living in England for several years, and that her father is a prominent agent for an American business. Throughout the remainder of the book, Avi subtly provides the historical context in which well-bred girls of the day were expected to be refined in speech, dress, and manners. Captain Jaggery tries hard to use Charlotte’s unconventional actions aboard ship to his advantage, such as when he describes Charlotte as “a girl who, we all agree, is unnatural in every way she acts…Is it not our duty, our obligation to protect the natural order of the world?”

Avi uses authentic vernacular for all the characters, including Charlotte’s refined dialect from her proper upbringing in an English school, as well as the more rough and slang-infused language of the sailors. These varying voices add a rich flavor to the characters, yet are easy to understand for young readers. Avi also takes great care to use authentic language to describe the various parts of ship and how nautical time is kept. In the first chapter, Charlotte explains that she uses “words during my account that might not be readily familiar” and points the readers to an informative appendix where diagrams and definitions of boating terms are presented.

Throughout the novel, Charlotte struggles to do what is right and to find her suitable place in society. She at first seeks acceptance from Captain Jaggery, but is stunned to discover his deceptive and cruel ways. She then pledges her allegiance to the crew, donning a sailor’s garb and working among them. However, when she meets her family in Providence, she must return to her formal attire and cloistered existence. When Charlotte’s father reads her journal, she is forbidden to speak again of her “outlandish, not to say unnatural tales.” Charlotte will forever remember her old sailor friend Zachariah when he said “a sailor chooses the wind that takes the ship from a safe port. Be careful, Charlotte, careful of the wind you choose.” Readers will relish Avi’s surprise ending in which Charlotte follows the wind in her heart.

4. AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• School Library Journal (starred review): "A breathtaking, seafaring adventure.... Awash with shipboard activity, intense feelings, and a keen sense of time and place, the story is a throwback to good old-fashioned adventure yarns on the high seas. "
  
  
• Publisher’s Weekly: “Charlotte's story is a gem of nautical adventure… Never wavering from its 19th century setting, the novel offers suspense and entertainment modern-day readers will enjoy.”
  
  
• Newbery Honor Book Award 1991
  

5. CONNECTIONS

• Recommended for ages 12 and up.
  
  
• Avi had written over 60 books for children, many of which have received major awards. His books cover a variety of genres—historical fiction, animal tales, picture books, early readers, young adult books, etc. To learn more about Avi and to read is daily updated blog, visit: http://www.avi-writer.com/
  
  
• Avi has written numerous historical fiction novels; several examples include:
  -Avi. CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD. 2003. New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 9780786808281 (winner of the 2003 Newbery Medal) (Book 1)
  -Avi. CRISPIN: AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD. 2006. New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 9780786851522 (Book 2)
  -Avi. CRISPIN: THE END OF TIME. 2010. New York: Balzer & Bray. ISBN: 9780061740800. Coming June 2010 (Book 3).
  -Avi. DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S A WAR ON? 2001. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780380978632.
  -Avi. FIGHTING GROUND. 1984. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780380730223.
  -Avi. HARD GOLD: THE COLORADO GOLD RUSH OF 1859. 2008. New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 9781423105190.
  -Avi. THE SECRET SCHOOL. 2001. New York: Harcourt. ISBN: 9780152163754.
  

• Examples of other children’s novels with strong female heroines include:
  -Creech, Sharon. WALK TWO MOONS. 1996. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780064405171.
  -George, Jean Craighead. JULIE OF THE WOLVES. 2003. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780060540951. (first published 1973).
  -Paterson, Katherine. BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA. 1987. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780064401845.
  -Paterson, Katherine. JACOB HAVE I LOVED. 1990. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780064403689.
  -O’Dell, Scott. ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS. 1987. New York: Random House Children's Books. ISBN: 9780440439882.
  -West, Clare. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. 1982. New York: Random House Children's Books. ISBN: 9780553213133.