This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

SIMON PULSE

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

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First Simon Pulse hardcover edition February 2016

Text copyright © 2016 by Nicole Castroman

Jacket photograph copyright © 2016 by Getty Images/Image Source

Author photograph by Vickery Photography

Jacket designed by Karina Granda

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Book designed by Karina Granda

The text of this book was set in Adobe Garamond Pro.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Castroman, Nicole.

Blackhearts / by Nicole Castroman. ­— First Simon Pulse hardcover edition.

pages cm

Summary: “A reimagining of the origin story of Blackbeard the pirate and his forbidden love affair with a maid in his father’s house”—Provided by publisher.

ISBN 978-1-4814-3269-6 (hc)—ISBN 978-1-4814-3271-9 (eBook)

1. Blackbeard, -1718—Juvenile fiction. [1. Blackbeard, -1718—Fiction. 2. Pirates­­—Fiction. 3. Love­—Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.1.C46Bl 2016

[Fic]—dc23

2015012626