Historical Fiction: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Bibliography
AVI. 1990. TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE. New York: Orchard Books. ISBN 978-0380728855

Plot Summary
Charlotte Doyle is a proper young lady attending a finishing school in Britain when her father is transferred back to the United States. Rather than have her miss that last of her schooling, her parents decide to let her stay behind to finish the year before having her board one of her father’s company ships for America. Ms. Doyle is to travel in the company of two other proper families, who mysteriously bail at the last moment leaving young Ms. Doyle to travel by herself in the company of some less than respectable gentlemen.

Ms. Doyle’s travels are not without trials and tribulations. The one proper gentleman on board, the Caption, turns out to be less of a gentleman than any man on board. Feeling guilty for the deadly wrath of the Captain against his crew, Ms. Doyle feels it is her duty to make it right by becoming one of them. Unable to break her, the Captain frames her for murder and acts as judge and jury to find her guilty. Ms. Doyle is rescued by her shipmates and she makes it home “safely.”

Before her parents left her in England, her father gave her a journal he expected her to write in every day, which she did faithfully. Her father asked for the journal when she returned home and was shocked to find such horrible fantasies written about the Captain, the crew, and his own daughter. He refused to listen to her and instead punished her by banishing her to her room for weeks. Realizing she is no longer the proper lady her parents had left behind months before, Ms. Doyle steals away to join her mates the night they set sail.

Critical Analysis
The story begins with a warning to the reader: Not every thirteen year old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. The reader is immediately drawn into the story wanting to know what this teenager could possibly have done to be convicted of murder. This warning is want gets the reader through the somewhat mundane introduction. Although many clues are provided to the reader of things to come, the beginning is a bit lacking. Assuming the reader is hooked by the warning and keeps going, they are in for a treat when the ship reaches the high seas.

Full of drama, mystery, suspense, and adventure, the reader is sure to be taken for a ride if they stick with it. The reader may find him or herself talking out loud to the young Ms. Doyle, in outrage, in protection, and is support of her. The reader is given small tidbits of information that Ms. Doyle is not privy too, so the reader thinks they know more than she does, and they do, but not as much as they think they do, which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat every time she makes a move.

Avi, keeps the turns coming right through to the end when the reader lets their guard down because Ms. Doyle has finally made it home to safety. But alas, we find her to be held captive in her own home in near solitude for telling the truth. We praise her once again when she runs to join her kind.

Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
Newbery Honor Book
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: “A thrilling tale.”
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “A breathtaking seafaring adventure.”
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Riveting. Nonstop action on the high seas. A story hard to forget.”

Connections
*In small groups, students can discuss how Charlotte’s upbringing (her family’s values) motivated her actions. They can then discuss how their own values motivate their actions.
*Given the action and extensive dialogue, students can choose sections for reader’s theater or skits.
Other books with women as the main character and seafaring adventures:
Frank, Anne. DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. ISBN 978-0582017368
Deford, Deborah H. AN ENEMY AMONG THEM. 978-0395701089
Herlong, M. H. THE GREAT WIDE SEA. ISBN 978-0670063307
Cadnum, Michale. PERIL ON THE SEA. ISBN 978-0374358235