Review: Boston Jacky: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Taking Care of Business by L.A. Meyer

Reviewed by: Lori Twichell
Genre: YA, Historical, Adventure
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 10, 2013

Jacky’s back in Boston and things are more riotous than ever. Literally. With Jacky continuing to bring more and more of her Irish buddies into Boston with her shipping company, the locals aren’t very happy. And the women’s temperance league is on the roll. Guess who is at the top of their hit list?? Yeah. Jacky doesn’t make good impressions on groups that are conservative in nature.

And on top of that, where’s Jaimy? He’s not with Chopstick Charlie anymore. He’s in Boston. But Jacky doesn’t even know that! The two of them are, once again, the star crossed lovers. Or are they?

This most recent installment of the Bloody Jack series puts Jacky in even more hot water but it’s quite different in that her friends and the people she loves have gotten directly involved. After all, it’s difficult to keep the women’s temperance league happy when you own a bar. But what takes it all up a notch is Amy’s involvement with the league. And what is that Archie MacBride up to these days? Nothing but trouble for poor Jacky.

Another raucous adventure surrounded by friends and familiar settings makes for a fun read. We even get to revisit Clarissa Howe and see what happens with the girls at Mistress Pim’s fine academy. There’s no end of trouble when Jacky’s around and it’s served up this time with a side order of chaos and catastrophe. Oh wait – that’s nothing new for Jacky. But for little Ravi and some of Jacky’s friends? That changes things up.

With her growing business, her little Indian boy and those who rely on her, Jacky is finally beginning to see the error of some of her ways. She makes some steps and strides in this book with mature choices and hopeful growth. However I will say that the ending of the book left me really frustrated and completely dissatisfied. One of the difficulties of reading an advanced copy is that you still have to wait for the next book to come out. I finished this one and was literally reaching toward my stack of books to start the next one. But alas –no word on the next release yet.

The adventures are still more mature than the recommended age but this book doesn’t seem to be as over the top with violence and sex as previous books. I’d still recommend an older teen at least for this series.

All in all, even with the frustrations – this series is a fun romp through history and Jacky’s adventures are worth following.

Review copy provided by publisher. Thank you!