Stowaway

by Karen Hesse

Book Overview

It is known that in the summer of 1768, Captain James Cook sailed from England on H.M.S Endeavour, beginning a three-year voyage around the world on a secret mission to discover an unknown continent at the bottom of the globe. What is less known is that a boy by the name of Nicholas Young was a stowaway on that ship. Newbery winner Karen Hesse re-creates Cook's momentous voyage through the eyes of this remarkable boy, creating a fictional journal...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689839898
• ISBN13: 9780689839894
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.1" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

I recommend this rip-roaring sea tale...

In 1768 Captain Cook set about in the ship Endeavor for a secret mission, the first of his 3 historic journeys to chart new lands around the world, chart the stars, and discover new species of plants and wildlife. Joining the able crew was a small group of scientific gentlemen or "naturalists" and their servants, broken into various specialties such as botany, zoology, and astronomy. Little did the Captain know that a stowaway was on board - 11 year old Nicholas was running from a brutal apprenticeship into the only place he could think of, the adventure of the sea. Lucky for young Nick the Captain is not brutal like many others, but he does run a tight, disciplined ship. Nick is put to work, and he works hard. He receives valuable training in several areas in addition to sailor skills, he helps the ships medical officers, and the naturalists. Because Nick has a very curious mind and an eager nature, he is made a formal part of the crew and allowed to draw pay like any other seaman aboard. There is plenty of excitement with the ship's crew facing disease, storms, strange natives, and uncharted islands. A midshipman named Mr. Bootie decides it is his job to try to get Nick in trouble or be cruel to him, to the point that he is a danger to Nick's life. We the reader join the story through Nick's eyes, as we are reading his journal. He makes an entry almost every day for the 2 years that they are at sea, and through his journal we also observe his growth into a sharp eyed young man that is very likable and gains the respect of his shipmates. It is a dramatized piece of history by the Newberry award winning writer. The author combed the actual records on the real life voyage of the Endeavor, in order to make the book as factual as possible. The nautical dialogue is accurate, but includes a glossary in the back to look up terms you do not understand. There is a list of the ships crew, and a map of the journey to follow as well. There are some illustration in the book, and the outer wrap-around cover of the book is very nice, and is based on a real seventeenth-century original. One of the interesting impacts this book has on young people, is it leads them to want to learn more about history and they want to go to the library or other sources to learn more about Captain Cook's explorations. The book is suitable for readers age 10 and up, but any younger reader that wants to tackle it should by all means. As an adult that borrowed the book from my son for a plane trip, I too thoroughly enjoyed this interesting story. If your young reader enjoyed this, they may like to read "Carry on, Mr. Bowditch", or "The Dark Frigate".

Sail Away ...

My 11 year old daughter and I have been reading this book all summer. While it is not as exciting as our last sail, The Wanderer by Sharon Creech (5+ stars), it has really grown on us. It is an amazing real life story of a young stowaway who must deal with all the day to day realities of living on and off an explorer's ship: scurvy, bullies, sickness, rats, cannibals, coco nuts, etc. It's written as a diary, as a 12 year old would have written and seen things -- in the late 1700's. Highly recommended to those interested in adventure, sailing and history. 5- stars.

the best book I have ever read

The book I read Stowaway was by Karen Hesse. In 1768, an eleven-year-old boy named Nicholas Young stowed away on a ship. He hid himself from the captain the crew, and waited to be carried far away. Nick didn't know it, but the ship he chose - H.M.S. Endeavour - was bound for an amazing adventure. Captained by James Cook. Endeavour was on a secret mission to discover an unknown continent at the bottom of the globe. During his three-year voyage, Nick faced hardship and he sot out danger and proved himself brave when disaster struck. He learned to respect and trust the gentlemen on board. He made a friend and he made history. Nicholas was weak and weak hearted when he started the voyage. At the end of the book he is a fully weathered sailor. Nick has to deal with a mean midshipsman Mr. Bootie who orders him around like a dog. He overcomes problems like that by just doing it perfectly so Mr. Bootie can't yell at him. I overcome most problems like Nick I do them as well as I can so nobody can yell at me. I might like to stowaway on a ship because I love boats and I think it would be fun to sail on one. ." "I figured that this one would be as good as Out Of The Dust. It is, but in a different way. I loved how much it taught me about history and how it's sent me hunting for answers to questions it raised. The map on the inside of the front and back covers was invaluable in tracking the trip. And what a nice surprise at the end of the book to find out there was a real Nicholas." Said a person from College Station, TX USA " I loved the book I would give it 5 stars *****. I would recommend this book to any body who loves adventure books. Stowaway was a book I could not put down until I finished it.

More history than fiction!

Having known only a few isolated facts about Captain James Cook and his expeditions, this book sent me running to the encyclopedia to learn more. It is indeed impressive to learn that Cook's crew was made up partially of gentlemen scholars who set out to further the world's knowledge not only of geography, but astronomy (observing the Venus pass before the sun), botany, zoology, medicine (being among the first to prevent an outbreak of scurvy) and cultural anthropology. The level of discipline and high standards of behavior demanded by Captain Cook were equally impressive. Told from the daily journal of an 11-year-old stowaway who has escaped an oppressive past, but through the skillful writing of Karen Hesse, the story is appealing to youngsters with an adventurous spirit. I would recommend this book to strong readers.

Great Birthday Gift

My grandson is going to be 11 this month. I've decided that he's getting this book as his birthday book. Nicholas, the boy in the book, is 11 when he stows away on the HMS Endeavor, which is captained by Captain JamesCook. What better way to show an 11 year old what the future can be than to follow the exploits of another 11 year old in his trek around the world. I picked this book up to read because of the author. I loved OUT OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse. I figured that this one would be as good. It is, but in a different way. I loved how much it taught me about history and how it's sent me hunting for answers to questions it raised. The map on the inside of the front and back covers was invaluable in tracking the trip. And what a nice surprise at the end of the book to find out there was a real Nicholas.