Oh how shamefully I admit to you that even selecting this book made me cringe with memories of enforced high school summer reading lists. I never did have to read it in school, but it just smacks of dusty copies dragged out of storage rooms and forced into the hands of unwilling teenagers.
Nathaniel’s father was a sea captain, but when his ship went aground, he lost his way in the world. Nat has grown up poor, and not all the intelligence in the world can keep him from being cold and hungry, nor will it keep his father from indenturing him off to a ship chandlery. The nine years he must spend as an apprentice loom large as he fears he will lack schooling, but enterprising as he is, he manages to teach himself. When the indenture is over he heads to sea.
With the amazing knowledge he has gathered during his studies and his talent for mathematics, Bowditch becomes a master navigator. His believe that all sailors have the potential to learn navigation leads him to educate the crew of each ship he boards. The books recounts the story of his life, including his authorship of a definitive navigation guide.
Look, this is based on the life of a real person. And it spans his life from the time he is six until he’s in his 30s. And it contains an awful lot of nautical talk and even more science-y math-y stuff. Then there’s the fact that in the book at least, Bowditch has this amazing ability to turn even the most belligerent uncooperative crew members into upstanding educated ship’s mates just because of his belief in education. I don’t know about you, but for me, this is not a formula that will capture the attention of all readers. I would save this for those that enjoy historical fiction to begin with and in particular, kids that are very successful academically. They are the ones who will best relate to Bowditch and won’t find him to be an annoying prig.
It’s a challenging book, both in terms of content (not racy mind you, just lots to process) and vocabulary. I would have no objection to a middle grades student reading it, I just can’t imagine many would want to. I’ve marked it Middle Grades, Tween and Teen.
Signs of the Times Granny won’t let sister Lizza go get fire, calling it “man’s work”. Nat won’t tell his sister his worries because his father has taught him that you shouldn’t worry girls or women. When Nat goes to school in Salem the master mocks his earlier school remarking “a dame school! Women!” Hab says only sissies need winter coats. He also teaches Nat that boys don’t blubber. The people of Manila are referred to as brown or dark-skinned. The people of Sumatra are referred to as “brown devils”.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – Nat’s sister gets married. A girl kisses Nat, she is 16 and he is more than 21. A woman tells a story about star-crossed lovers. Nat blushes at the thought of a girl. Nat kisses a girl and tells her he loves her. He gets married more than once.
Profanity – “what in blazes,” “daggone,” one man uses profanity,
Death, Violence and Gore – The book begins during the American Revolution. There is some talk of guns and taking ships and taking men prisoner. The teacher shakes Nat when he doesn’t like how he answers a question. A man is shot in the chest. There’s a mention of how many widows and orphans are left by sailors. Some sailors are shot in cold blood. Over time Nat’s mother, grandmother, brother and sister pass away. A troublemaking sailor had been whipped many times. Another sailor who is part of Nat’s family dies of fever. A ship is lost in action against the French. Sailors go missing. Nat’s wife dies. A man offers to teach another man how to throw a knife. Many men are lost at sea, including friends and family of Nat’s. The ships’ guns are mentioned frequently. There’s talk about a sealing ship, which is a ship that goes out and kills seals. Lem keeps wanted to talk about how the Malays fight and kill people. A boy is hit over the head and made to fall unconscious.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Taverns are mentioned, as is “drinking to success.” It is implied that Nat’s father has a drinking problem. The French buy wine.
Frightening or Intense Things – The English navy takes sailors claiming that they deserted from the English navy. The ships have some close calls, sailing in hurricanes and monsoons.
