Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao

Written by Helaine Becker and Liz Wong

Narrated by Catherine Ho

The most powerful pirate in history was a woman who was born into poverty in Guangzhou, China, in
the late eighteenth century. When pirates attacked Zheng Yi Sao’s town and the captain took a liking to
her, she saw a way out. She agreed to marry him only if she got an equal share of his business. When her
husband died, she took command of the fleet.

On land and sea, Zheng Yi Sao’s power rivaled that of the emperor himself. Over the next decade, the
pirate queen built a fleet of more than 1,800 ships and 70,000 men. Time and again, her ships triumphed
over the emperor’s ships.

When she was ready to retire, the pirate queen surrendered — on her own terms, of course.
Zheng Yi Sao’s story is told in lyrical prose by award-winning author Helaine Becker. Liz Wong’s
colorful, engaging illustrations capture the courage and grit of this remarkable woman.
An author’s note provides historical context and outlines the challenges of researching a figure about
whom little is known.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980056867

Helaine Becker

Helaine Becker has written over seventy books. She attended high school in New York before graduating from Duke University. She is married with two sons and is an active swimmer, runner and cyclist, as well as being a compulsive read-aholic. She has an orange belt in karate and is contemplating going for her grapefruit belt. Her award-winning non-fiction includes Counting on Katherine, Worms for Breakfast and Zoobots, and she has written many picture books and young adult novels. She also writes for children’s magazines and for children's television.

Reviews for Pirate Queen

[zoes_human · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While little is truly known of Zheng Yi Sao, Pirate Queen is an exciting and intriguing presentation of how her life might have been. The author walks a cautious line of honestly depicting the realities of the situation without indulging in graphic descriptions that might be inappropriate for young readers. The author's note at the back helpfully points out the distinctions between what is a matter of historical record and what is speculation. Additionally, it provides sources for further learning. Suitable for ages 6 to 9.