BloodyJack

"Bloody Jack" is the first novel in a series by L.A. Meyer.  It is about a young orphaned girl in the 1800's who, to navigate the harsh England in which she finds herself alone, pretends to be a boy and gets hired on as a Ships Boy.  She chooses this path knowing that it will keep her fed and clothed and that she has a better chance of survival as a boy than a girl in the world in which she lives.

Complications arise as "Jacky" matures and develops but you'll have to read it to find out how she deals with such things.  There are currently 12 books in the series.  In each book, Jacky encounters a huge obstacle to her well being (slavery, pirating, the law, war) and, in each case, through ingenuity and bravery, she prevails, winning friends and gathering supporters along the way.

These books are great for readers that can't find enough books to read.  A student can immerse themselves in the world of Jacky Faber for a long time.  They are exciting, interesting and adrenaline pumping and they feature a strong, irresistible female protagonist.