Jose and the Pirate Captain Toledano by Arnon Z. Shorr, Illustrated by Joshua Edelglass’
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing, May 1, 2022
Category: Children’s Graphic Novels, Pirates, Action Adventure, Jewish, Children’s Prejudice and Racism
Tour dates: May 2-June 30, 2021
ISBN: 978-1728420097
Available in Print and ebook, 96 pages
Description Jose and the Pirate Captain Toledano by Arnon Z. Shorr, Illustrated by Joshua Edelglass’
Set in the shadows of the Spanish Inquisition, this is the coming-of-age story of José Alfaro, a young refugee who forms a powerful bond with the mysterious Pirate Captain Toledano. It’s also a dynamic pirate adventure on the high seas, with hand-to-hand combat and ship-to-ship action, and the powerful story of a dark time in history when people took different paths to survive.
José Alfaro is a cocky, rambunctious teen in the 16th-century colony of Santo Domingo, pulling pranks and dodging the authorities. One day, José’s mischief lands him in serious trouble.
Hoping for a fresh start, he stows away on the Laqish, not knowing that it’s a pirate ship. From his hiding place, he watches the pirates divide their loot and plan their attacks on long days at sea. He also takes note of the respect they have for their captain, the intimidating Toledano.
But the captain has a secret―like José, he is a Jew. For him, piracy is not about the gold; it has a different purpose.
Under the tutelage of the ship’s quartermaster, José learns the intricacies of pirate life. But when he can, the captain finds ways to pull José away from the crew, to teach him about his ancestors.
View Trailer Jose and the Pirate Captain Toledano by Arnon Z. Shorr
My Thoughts Jose and the Pirate Captain Toledano by Arnon Z. Shorr
Jose is called names by his peers due his being very well educated. Most people, let alone teens in the 16th-century colony of Santo Domingo. Despite this, Jose lives a carefree life, that is until a shipwreck full of the Spanish Inquisition.
That is the day that his father shares a big secret with Jose. One that he kept from Jose and the entire tow, to protect his son. The secret, they are Jewish. There is no time for Jose to react! Soon after his father’s confession, the Inquisition show up and arrest Jose’s father. They try to arrest Jose as well but he narrowly escapes out the window. He has no time to think but runs towards the sea and stows away on a ship.
The ship sets sail but Jose is soon discovered. It turns out the ship is a pirate ship and they don’t take too kindly to stow aways. However, it is up to Captain Toledano to decide Jose’s fate and he decides to keep him around. Toledano is also Jewish so, when he discovers Jose’s family secret, he takes him under his wing. Jose has little interest in learning about his religion but he has lots of interest in becoming a pirate. He also hopes that he can rescue his father.
Does Jose learn the ways of pirates, can he recue his father in time? You will have to read the book yourself to find out.
This graphic novel is not only an action-packed adventure but historical fiction. It was written for children however; it is an excellent read for all ages. The writing is sharp with detail on the story and character development. The illustrations are crisp with every detail and so artfully done. To get an idea, just look at the book cover! The writing and illustrations work perfectly together, so much so, that I forgot that I was reading a graphic novel! I felt like I was on the ship and living the life of a new pirate, like Jose!
I highly recommend ‘Jose and the Pirate Captain Toledano’
About Arnon Z. Shorr
Arnon Z. Shorr is an author, screenwriter and filmmaker of character-driven adventures and thrillers, where heroes grapple with the extraordinary, and in doing so, learn important truths about themselves.
Arnon spent most of his childhood between worlds: a Hebrew speaker in America, a private school kid in a rented two-bedroom apartment. Whenever he’d set foot in one world, his other foot would betray him as different. For that reason, he tells stories that embrace the peculiar, where encounters with the unexpected reveal who we are.
Website: https://www.arnonshorr.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shorr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArnonShorr/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arnonshorr/
About Joshua Edelglass’
Joshua Edelglass is a freelance illustrator from Massachusetts. He is also the Assistant Director of Camp Ramah New England. At Brown University, Josh wrote and drew the political cartoon, WorldView for The Brown Daily Herald. That experience gave him the bug for cartooning, a passion that has never left him.
Josh’s work has appeared in a variety of exhibitions, including Pow! Jewish Comics Art and Influence that ran at the Brooklyn Jewish Art Museum in Spring 2018. Josh was included in the Jewish Comix Anthology, published in 2014 by Alternative History Press. Josh was also included in SCI: The Jewish Comics Anthology vol. 2, which was published in the fall of 2018.
Website: www.motionpicturescomics.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshua_edelglass/
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Giveaway Jose and the Pirate Captain Toledano by Arnon Z. Shorr
This giveaway is for 2 print copies One for each of 2 winners. This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on July 1, 2022 midnight, pacific time. Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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Jose sounds like a nice hero! I wouldn’t want to have anything to do with the Spanish Inquisition!