Stowaway (2000)

Nicholas Young is 11 years old when he runs away from the butcher who was cruel to him. Using money he stole from the butcher, he stows away on the exploratory ship, Endeavour. Nicholas embarks on an adventure to the other side of the world. The ship is captained by James Cook, the legendary explorer. Nicholas is discovered and made a part of the crew and begins to become a man. Over the three years on the ship, Nicholas changes and becomes the person who he wants to be. He makes friends and some enemies. He survives hurricanes, shipwrecks, scurvy and learns about the natives of places like Tahiti and Australia. His diary lets us accompany him on his voyage of discovery.
I enjoyed this book because of the writing style, the short entries like in a ships log allow for quick reading. The transformation from boy to man is wonderful to see. The authors ability to write about the quality of friendships is a true gift. The accuracy of the history is important in a story of this type and is well developed.
In the classroom this book could be used to study navigation. An analysis of the maps would help with geography and cartography. The examination of the symptoms described by Nicholas while on the Endeavour could help prospective doctors learn to identify diseases and theoretically prescribe the proper treatment.

Stowaway reminded me of author Karen Hesse's book, Out of the Dust, in a couple of ways. Both had young teen main characters with one parent who died and one parent who didn't handle single parenting well. Both characters are forced to handle big adult issues (the suffering and death of loved ones) too early in life. Both books are written in the form of diary, with short choppy entries. And both center around historical events (OOTD-The Great Depression in America; S-Captain Cook's voyage around the world). If you have read and enjoyed OOTD, you will probably also enjoy Stowaway. ( )

"This afternoon, at last, we weighed anchor. Now there are new sounds to join with the others. The wind clapping the sails, the men singing out in the rigging, the water churned by Endeavour's prow. Fine sounds. Sailing sounds."

The first thing I did this year was travel around the globe. With the help, of course, of author Karen Hesse who penned this excellent and educational young adult novel about the expedition of Captain Cook and his crew between 1768-1771.

The novel is made up of faithful journal entries written by Nicholas Young. He recorded everything from his successful feat in getting on the ship unnoticed and winning over the crew so they would let him stay on, to his feelings about his sea mates and all the work they were required to do in order to assist Captain Cook on his exploratory journey to map "New Holland" (Australia) and circumnavigate the world. Nick, who apparently liked pork, also included notes about the foods they ate during their trip. At one point, after he had partaken a time or two of things like sharks and turtles, he remarked, "It's a wonder what the stomach will allow the mind to accept."

Being based in fact, the author artistically composed personalities for the crew of the Endeavour. I felt pride as Samuel Evans learned to read, I smiled as I watched friendships grow (and rivalries soften). I especially enjoyed knowing the stories behind the names Captain Cook gave to areas such as Cape Farewell and Poverty Bay. Young Nick's Head, an actual place in New Zealand, was named after the main character.

Another very important featured character was Dr. Joseph Banks, a naturalist and botanist who was charged with detailing and cataloging the many plants and animals found along their voyage. Dr. Banks took a special liking to young Nick (due to his great work ethic), and asked him to contact him again in the future. Indeed he did, for they traveled by ship again together to Iceland in 1772.

I also took note of this particular commentary, which I found rather interesting and analogous to certain current situations: "These natives don't need to work hard for anything, so the things they have don't hold much value to them. Perhaps that explains the natives' thievery. If nothing has much value, why should anyone be upset at its being taken?"

Not being familiar with sea and ship terminology, I learned a couple of new words as well: scuttlebutt - a cask on a shipboard with fresh drinking water; and fearnaught - a coat made from thick canvas.

The only thing that could have made this book better would have been a more detailed map (but this is my opinion only; the simple map provided probably works fine for the book's intended audience of ages 10-14). Overall, a really nice read. ( )

Pace was a bit too slow. Perhaps I should not venture a long sea voyage... Otherwise, filled with great details -- reader will certainly come away with knowledge of what it was like to be on Captain Cook's Endeavor. Useful appendices: glossary, ship's company and ship's itinerary. ( )

The story of Nicholas Young and his adventures on the Endeavor are told in diary form. Although it's fiction, the story is based upon actual ships logs and diaries from the voyage of the Endeavor, led by Captain Cook.

The author describes this exploratory voyage through the eyes of Nick who is eleven years old at the start of the voyage. It's filled with details and historical accuracy. My only complaints are that the author doesn't go into more detail about Nick's past, or his future and the second half of the book get a little tedious because it drags on. This is probably due to the fact that very little is known about the actual Nicholas Young aside from his association with this voyage and the "dragging plot" towards the end is due to the author staying true to the actual tale.

Aside from those frustrations, Stowaway is a great nautical adventure. ( )