From the author of TUCK EVERLASTING, her first novel in 25 years--now avaliable in paperback! <p>Jack Plank has left his pirate shipmates and gone ashore. Each day he sets out from Mrs. DelFresno's boarding house to look for a new job. Each evening he returns to regale the other boarders with the story of his job search plus a tall tale from his life as a pirate to explain why that particular job wouldn't be suitable. For who would want to work where there might be a troll, or the danger of getting a crab permanently caught in your beard? Or what about a treacherous, music-loving crocodile? <p>