The story of a boy who had the persistence to master navigation in the days when men sailed by "log, lead, and lookout," and who authored The Ameri...
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Apr 23, 2009
Josiah
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I was somewhat surprised when I first learned about this biography that had managed the rare (for a non-fiction book) feat of winning the Newbery Medal, but after reading this very special narrative bio, I would lend my wholehearted support to the committee's decision.
The absolutely enthralling story of Nat Bowditch bursts at the seams with starkly real emotion. So often along the path down which the reader is led, the steps are devastatingly heartbreaking, and to see what terrible ordea More...
The absolutely enthralling story of Nat Bowditch bursts at the seams with starkly real emotion. So often along the path down which the reader is led, the steps are devastatingly heartbreaking, and to see what terrible ordea More...
Jun 04, 2008
Heather
rated it:
I was really surprised by this book.
The main character is such a great example of hard work and self-learning. I was amazed at what he was able to accomplish on his own, but searching out and learning what he wanted/needed to. He has a lot of 'bad luck' along the way, but also a lot of people who truly love this humble, industrious man, people who do their best to help him along.
The author did an excellent job developing the characters and moving the action along.
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The main character is such a great example of hard work and self-learning. I was amazed at what he was able to accomplish on his own, but searching out and learning what he wanted/needed to. He has a lot of 'bad luck' along the way, but also a lot of people who truly love this humble, industrious man, people who do their best to help him along.
The author did an excellent job developing the characters and moving the action along.
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Sep 25, 2011
Sarah
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There is a chapter called "Sailing by Ash Wind" and it sums up the moral of the story for me. The explanation is that when the ship is dead in the water with no wind for the sails to catch, you have to use the oars which were made of ash wood as well as throw your anchor out and pull the boat to it and repeat until you are finally able to regain the wind.
Nathanial Bowditch is an intelligent boy surrounded by hardship yet overcomes by determination and hard work. He persever More...
Nathanial Bowditch is an intelligent boy surrounded by hardship yet overcomes by determination and hard work. He persever More...
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Aug 26, 2007
Nathaniel
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My favorite juvenile fiction work ever, this book tells the inspirational story of a bright young boy who seems to have all his dreams dashed as he grows up. But by "sailing by the ash breeze" and pursuing his intellectual passions whenever he has a spare moment, he becomes one of the most famous marine navigation experts of all time and saves countless lives as a result of his work. No better book can be given to a young person who shows real intellectual potential, especially in mat
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May 31, 2011
Steve
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Mr Bowditch lives in colonial America, is a math whiz, and wants to go to Harvard. But due to family hardship he is indentured as a servant in a shipyard for 9 nine years. He "carries on" and prospers, learning Latin, French besides doing the books for his employer. He becomes a valued crew member, with his ship knowledge and navigation expertise, and interpreter abilities. His voyages excite the reader, while the news from home breaks the heart several times.
Nathaniel persis More...
Nathaniel persis More...
Feb 26, 2011
emily
rated it:
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
By Jean Lee Latham
Our story begins in 1775. Nat Bowditch, a small boy for his age, loves arithmetic more than anything because the answers always come out the same – unlike many other aspects of his life. His eldest brother has just signed on with a ship leaving for the open ocean and Nat’s father, deciding that his son needs to begin a trade, has pulled Nat out of school.
Nat is apprenticed to a ship chandlery as their bookkeeper for nine years, More...
By Jean Lee Latham
Our story begins in 1775. Nat Bowditch, a small boy for his age, loves arithmetic more than anything because the answers always come out the same – unlike many other aspects of his life. His eldest brother has just signed on with a ship leaving for the open ocean and Nat’s father, deciding that his son needs to begin a trade, has pulled Nat out of school.
Nat is apprenticed to a ship chandlery as their bookkeeper for nine years, More...
Aug 30, 2010
Celestia
rated it:
This is from my son Dallin, age 12, who read the book (I've read the book as well):
"I learned what a privateer is. I learned what it means to buy an expectation from a sailor. What they used to do is you would find a sailor and pay him some money and he would have an estimated amount of money that he would make on that voyage. You would get some of the money. It's a risky thing like investing because they might get killed or something. One way they make money is by working as pa More...
"I learned what a privateer is. I learned what it means to buy an expectation from a sailor. What they used to do is you would find a sailor and pay him some money and he would have an estimated amount of money that he would make on that voyage. You would get some of the money. It's a risky thing like investing because they might get killed or something. One way they make money is by working as pa More...
Jul 13, 2010
Judy
rated it:
Here we have the Newbery Award winner for 1956 and it is an example of the best of the Newbery Awards, according to me. Nathaniel Bowditch wrote the famous American Practical Navigator, published in 1799. In this biography of his life, which is certainly appropriate for ages 8-12 but kept me captivated on every page, we learn that Nat was puny for his age as a kid. Due to the financial difficulties of his parents, he had to leave school and go into indentured service as a bookkeeper at a ship c
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Nov 27, 2011
Joanne
rated it: 
Surprised this won the Newbery, but...it's a nice historical YA, though not in the grand tradition of Johnny Tremain or The Witch of Blackbird Pond. A little boring.
Features Nathaniel Bowditch, who was a self-taught Colonial-era mathematician-turned-navigator who revolutionized the way sailors took lunar soundings, thereby providing them with longitude as well as latitude.
Reminded me of how easy it was to die back then - Nat loses several family members, and Salem, whe More...
Features Nathaniel Bowditch, who was a self-taught Colonial-era mathematician-turned-navigator who revolutionized the way sailors took lunar soundings, thereby providing them with longitude as well as latitude.
Reminded me of how easy it was to die back then - Nat loses several family members, and Salem, whe More...
Oct 02, 2011
Jonathan
rated it:
Another book from my son's required reading list that I would unequivocally recommend to both students and parents. Set in the immediate aftermath of the Revolutionary War, "Bowditch," a true story, chronicles the life of an exceptionally brilliant young man who, at an early age, must learn to cope with and overcome difficulty and setback. He learns, you will read, to sail the ship of his life, "by ash breeze." Refusing to be victimized by events outside of his control, Bo
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Jun 13, 2011
Jill
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This is a wonderful book. On the whole I'm not a fan of books about the sea and sailing but I had so much fun reading it that I could hardly put it down. The main character, Nat, is book smart and very excited about learning, and while he's not boastful about it, he's not ashamed to let others know and make them excited to learn too. His motives are very pure; he assumes the best of people and because he does he sees their best and helps them live to their full potential. It's a very optimisti
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Jul 24, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
Nat has every reason to expect that he will be able to attend college and go on to a happy professional life. Then everything is taken away from him. His father has a tragedy at sea and is forced to leave his life as a captain and become a menial worker. His mother dies and his father takes his sorrows out in drink. Nat must then leave school and become an indentured servant. His dreams of school seem lost to him forever.
Nat never succumbs to feeling sorry for himself or bitterness. More...
Nat never succumbs to feeling sorry for himself or bitterness. More...
Apr 10, 2008
Jill
rated it:
This has got to be one of my top favorites. I just thought it was well written and Nathaniel Bowditch is portrayed as a very exemplary figure. He has a tough life, but he handles it all with light hearted determination. From this book I learned what is now one of my favorite phrases/concepts, that is to sail by ash breeze.
Jun 22, 2010
Jonathan
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"Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham is an excellent middle-school level biography of Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838). Bowditch was a sailor and mathematician who wrote "The American Practical Navigator," a book which, if Wikipedia is to be believed, is still standard issue on US Navy vessels.
Latham's book, winner of the 1956 Newbery Medal, tells a fascinating story of Bowditch's life that would introduce students to many now-strange aspects of life at that More...
Latham's book, winner of the 1956 Newbery Medal, tells a fascinating story of Bowditch's life that would introduce students to many now-strange aspects of life at that More...
Jun 11, 2009
EJ
rated it:
I can't remember why I put this on my reading list but I am really happy I did. This biographical fiction was written in the mid 1950s and is a good example of books written for kids then. It doesn't hide the problems but doesn't dwell on them so that the reader is terribly depressed. This book about the genius Nathaniel Bowditch was interesting and educational. Nat had little opportunity for formal education but used all his resources and became a renowned mathmathician and navigator. He taught
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Jun 10, 2009
David
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Carry on Mr. Bowditch is simply a classic. This book follows the life of Nate Bowditch, a mathematical genius who spends his life with the hope of one day getting enough money to go to Harvard. From a young age Nate spent his time working in a shop in an old town called Salem. During the day he worked, but come nightfall, Nate spent his time reading and studying, teaching himself Latin, science and navigation.
Carry on Mr. Bowditch will definitely go down as one of my favorite books o More...
Carry on Mr. Bowditch will definitely go down as one of my favorite books o More...
Jan 25, 2012
Phoebe
rated it:
When I first read this book, I did not know it was a biography. My mom had tricked me into reading it and after I praised the book and went to look for more by the author she said, "Oh, there probably is not another like it. It's a biography." I was horrified at that statement, not because I think that biographies are dirty, vile things, but because there was no chance of a continuation to that tale.
Whenever someone asks me who my hero is, the answer is always Nathanial Bo More...
Whenever someone asks me who my hero is, the answer is always Nathanial Bo More...
Oct 19, 2011
Lindy
rated it:
I really like this biographical book. What an interesting man! I love that Nat is so willing to teach anybody what he knows. His experience also shows the genius in every person. I also love his willingness, and even need, to question authority and not sail by blind faith. Just now, as I was typing this review, I was thinking about how to articulate why I liked this book as much as I did. I then realized that Nat reminds me a lot of my husband with his quirky scientific ways and quest for truth
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May 21, 2011
Beth
rated it:
At one time, I had planned to read all the Newbery Medal books, but I never finished. This one, however, is by an author from Buckhannon, WV, so I wanted to make sure I did at least read it. It's great! The novel tells the a fictionalized story of the life of Nathanial Bowditch, a famous early American who was a self-taught astronomer and navigator. I didn't know much about him before I read the book, but it motivated me to learn a little bit more. The story is good from an inspirational point o
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Jul 15, 2010
Joann
rated it:
Recommended by the Foundation for American Christian Education this was a quick read but I found that it did not hold the interest of young readers. I liked the character of Nathaniel Bowditch- he displays good courage and sensibility. His method of notebook keeping is the main reason FACE recommends the book- I found it interesting to read about a young man utilizing the notebook technique without being required to do so by a teacher. FACE expects that as the students read this book they wi
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Apr 06, 2011
Pam
rated it:
I loved this book! A fantastic, engrossing tale of a brilliant mathematician and seaman, a real-life Johnny Tremain. Born and raised in Salem, MA, Nathaniel Bowditch was brilliant but becalmed by circumstance. Instead of preparing to attend Harvard, he was indentured at the age of 12. Through his own fortitude and determination, and endowed with eye-watering intelligence, Bowditch taught himself Latin, French, Spanish and worked his way through Newton's Principia. The story lays out the hards
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Jan 21, 2011
Angela
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I read this to my 10,8,5 & 3 year old children this month and LOVED it, as did they (all but the 3 year old--:))! It was so engagingly written, inspiring, touching (there were parts that made me cry and took me time to regain my composure for my children--maybe pregnancy added to the drama of it all, but my mom said she cried too). Nat Bowditch was a self-educated man (specializing in mathematics, languages, astronomy) that made a difference in the world of sailing that is still felt today. A
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Mar 08, 2010
Mandi
rated it:
If you want your children to value math, then I encourage you to read this wonderful story. If you want your children to learn to push on when the going gets tough or, as Nate learned, to "sail by ash breeze", then I again encourage you to read this wonderful story.
My kids and I loved this book. My only regret was that I did not preread it and turn it into a literature study for them - it would have been a perfect book for it.
The author has written many more wonderful biog More...
My kids and I loved this book. My only regret was that I did not preread it and turn it into a literature study for them - it would have been a perfect book for it.
The author has written many more wonderful biog More...
Sep 04, 2009
Janis
rated it:
A fictionalized account of the early years of the life of Nathaniel Bowditch, a self-taught mathematical genius who is considered the father of modern maritime navigation, Carry On offers inspiring lessons for young readers. Bowditch persisted in his studies while serving as an indentured servant, teaching himself Latin (so he could read Newton) and French. According to the book, he shared his knowledge with shipmates -- these moments are the most touching in the book. I thought the book was go
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Sep 24, 2008
Carter
rated it:
I was surprised by how much I liked this one. Quite good.
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Mar 19, 2009
Elyssa
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I am reading this book with my mom ! And i love it !
The book is about a sailor boy , how he grew up and was smart found errors in books about mathmatics taugh himself latin found new ways to do a lunare , and about his family and includinghis love life he found himslef thinking more and more about a cute 17 year old since he knew when she was ten !
He was 26or 27 or 25 then and told himslef ; SILLY ME TO IMAGINE LOVE . bUT HE MARRYS HER ! I havn't finished reading it yet but it is More...
The book is about a sailor boy , how he grew up and was smart found errors in books about mathmatics taugh himself latin found new ways to do a lunare , and about his family and includinghis love life he found himslef thinking more and more about a cute 17 year old since he knew when she was ten !
He was 26or 27 or 25 then and told himslef ; SILLY ME TO IMAGINE LOVE . bUT HE MARRYS HER ! I havn't finished reading it yet but it is More...
Oct 19, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
GREAT read aloud! My son would ask us to read even when it wasn't school hours. (and His brother would occasionally agree if it was over lunch!)
It inspired my self-motivated learner to seek knowledge and think about what he could be capable of.
The adventure and humor (at times) kept my active son intrigued. Especially sine it's based on a true story. Not sure how the boys would have liked it independently at this age (3rd and 5th grades)... always a hard one. We have so much fun experi More...
It inspired my self-motivated learner to seek knowledge and think about what he could be capable of.
The adventure and humor (at times) kept my active son intrigued. Especially sine it's based on a true story. Not sure how the boys would have liked it independently at this age (3rd and 5th grades)... always a hard one. We have so much fun experi More...
Sep 12, 2011
Kara
rated it:
This is a really cool book. If it's a fault of mine, I apologize, but I don't really like reading books centering around adults. Maybe that will change when I'm adult, but for right now, that's how it is. This book is about an adult. Did you take a look at the 5 star rating above...doesn't fit does it? Hmmmm...
I like this book, a lot. When I first read it (ten years old) I'm not sure what I thought. My mom and brother loved it so I was inclined to like it too, but I don't think I did More...
I like this book, a lot. When I first read it (ten years old) I'm not sure what I thought. My mom and brother loved it so I was inclined to like it too, but I don't think I did More...
Jan 24, 2012
Marthe
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The year is 1775 and we’re standing in Salem - a city for sailors – in the eighteen-century. Our hero, Nathaniel Bowditch (also known as Nat) is the small and somewhat weak son of a Captain. Born into a family of seamen, it’s a great disappointment for them to see how small he is and realizing the fact that he probably won’t be Captain Bowditch.
However, the boy who grows into a man adores school and especially mathematics. Despite his hopes about going to Harvard University, the econo More...
However, the boy who grows into a man adores school and especially mathematics. Despite his hopes about going to Harvard University, the econo More...
Mar 23, 2011
Marni
rated it:
A little background from wikipedia: "Nathaniel Bowditch (March 26, 1773 – March 16, 1838) was an early American mathematician remembered for his work on ocean navigation. He is often credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation; his book The New American Practical Navigator, first published in 1802, is still carried on board every commissioned U.S. Naval vessel."
The book starts out when Nat is six years old, looking to perform a good luck ritual before their famil More...
The book starts out when Nat is six years old, looking to perform a good luck ritual before their famil More...
