Lintang and the Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss

Random House Australia, 2017. ISBN 9780143783435
(Age: 11+) Recommended. Lintang dreams of having adventures on the high seas. When a deadly mythie attacks the same day the infamous Captain Shafira visits her island, Lintang gets her chance, defending her village with a bravery that earns her a place on the pirate queen's ship. But they've barely left the island when Lintang discovers her best friend, Bayani, has stowed away. Telling Captain Shafira means betraying her friend, but keeping Bayani's secret risks everything . . . including their lives.
This is a fantastic read with unexpected twists and turns and the bravest pirate queen there ever was. This book combines a mythic pirate adventure where we meet a variety of vastly different characters who live in a fantasy world. Tamara Moss has done a wonderful job of introducing us to the strong Lintang and equally impressive Pirate Queen.
This book will quickly become popular with students from 11 and up. It is a book full of determination, grit and challenges. Friendship is a strong theme throughout the story and I predict it will continue to develop as the series continues.
Kathryn Schumacher