Frontier Boys in the South Seas Book

I know that this is supposed to be a fun little book, and I think the audience might be aimed at younger ages, but in the end, it felt inconsistent on so many levels that I was just left feeling confused and/or disappointed, depending upon the chapter.

For one, Rees seems to have done a good amount of research for this book, yet I felt that she wasted it every time she turned a blind eye to conventions of the day. I don't care how accurately you can describe various ships if you don't also think that the impressive suntan one would get from working in the sun everyday in the Caribbean for months will be a problem once a lady tries to dress up pretty and mingle with society. And don't even get me started on the pacing. If the historical inconsistencies left me disappointed, the strangely anti-climactic resolutions to all the dramatic moments just left me scratching my head.

The worst of Rees' crimes of inconsistency, though, was the juxtaposition of some pretty grisly scenes, all things considered, with the rosy view of pirate life, where all men are decent except when riled up by a few bad apples and their apparently magically demonic musical instruments. As for the love story, I'm just thankful it wasn't a major component. Boy and girl grow up together and naturally fall in love. Boy (16) leaves girl (12) for the sea. Over the next 8ish years, they see each other, oh, let's do the math for fun.
2 hours - talking in a stable
6 hours - ball in Bath
1 hour - girl is prisoner on boy's ship
____
9 hours. Yet we leave girl as she goes off to look for the only man she will ever marry. The only reason either of them are still so faithful is because they haven't managed a whole day together since they were pre-pubescent.

Happily leaving the ship.