Born poor in rural China, Ching Shih's early life was full of challenges. But she would grow to become one of the most powerful pirates the world had ever seen. She made a name for herself using her intelligence and cunningness. Learn how Ching Shih became a famous pirate commander--and the terror of the South China Sea--in a graphic novel filled with adventure and intrigue.

Born poor in rural China, Ching Shih's early life was full of challenges. But she would grow to become one of the most powerful pirates the world had ever seen. She made a name for herself using her intelligence and cunningness. Learn how Ching Shih became a famous pirate commander--and the terror of the South China Sea--in a graphic novel filled with adventure and intrigue.

Spanning from the Caribbean to East Asia and covering almost 3,000 years of history, from Classical Antiquity to the eve of the twenty-first century, Persistent Piracy is an important contribution to the history of the state formation as well as the history of violence at sea.

Biographical novel based on the life of Cheng I Sao, the 19th century Chinese prostitute who became the most powerful pirate in history. Sold as a child to a floating brothel, kidnapped by pirates and forced to marry their leader, she must survive a world of violence, treachery, and greed, ultimately facing a choice between two things she never dreamed might be hers: power or love. Based on a true story that has never been fully told until now.

An inspiring story of Zheng Yi Sao, the real-life pirate queen who took control of her life — and the South China seas — in the early 19th century. The most powerful pirate in history was a woman who was born into poverty in Guangzhou, China, in the late 1700s. When pirates attacked her town and the captain took a liking to her, she saw a way out. Zheng Yi Sao agreed to marry him only if she got an equal share of his business. When her husband died six years later, she took command of the fleet. Over the next decade, the pirate queen built a fleet of over 1,800 ships and 70,000 men. On land and sea, Zheng Yi Sao’s power rivaled the emperor himself. Time and again, her ships triumphed over the emperor’s ships. When she was ready to retire, Zheng Yi Sao surrendered — on her own terms, of course. Even though there was a price on her head, she was able to negotiate her freedom, living in peace and prosperity for the rest of her days. Zheng Yi Sao’s powerful story is told in lyrical prose by award-winning author Helaine Becker. Liz Wong’s colorful, engaging illustrations illuminate this inspiring woman in history. An author’s note provides historical context and outlines the challenges of researching a figure about whom little is known. Key Text Features author’s note historical context sources Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).

Storming aboard a government trade ship, Ching Shih and her band of followers demand payment—or else! The traders soon come to fear Ching Shih, paying her for passage through the pirate-infested waters of the South China Sea. In this high-interest graphic title, readers will learn how Ching Shih became a pirate so fierce that even the government stood down to her power. They’ll discover her real-life feats through engaging dialogue and sharp illustrations, as well as historical quotes, a timeline, and a map.

Blending the iconoclastic feminism of The Notorious RBG and the confident irreverence of Go the F**ck to Sleep, a brazen and empowering illustrated collection that celebrates inspirational badass women throughout history, based on the popular Tumblr blog. Well-behaved women seldom make history. Good thing these women are far from well behaved . . . Illustrated in a contemporary animation style, Rejected Princesses turns the ubiquitous "pretty pink princess" stereotype portrayed in movies, and on endless toys, books, and tutus on its head, paying homage instead to an awesome collection of strong, fierce, and yes, sometimes weird, women: warrior queens, soldiers, villains, spies, revolutionaries, and more who refused to behave and meekly accept their place. An entertaining mix of biography, imagery, and humor written in a fresh, young, and riotous voice, this thoroughly researched exploration salutes these awesome women drawn from both historical and fantastical realms, including real life, literature, mythology, and folklore. Each profile features an eye-catching image of both heroic and villainous women in command from across history and around the world, from a princess-cum-pirate in fifth century Denmark, to a rebel preacher in 1630s Boston, to a bloodthirsty Hungarian countess, and a former prostitute who commanded a fleet of more than 70,000 men on China’s seas.