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Battle Fleet: Adventures of a Young Sailor
Sam escapes death in Australia when the truth about his false conviction is finally revealed. But on the journey back to England he faces pirates and a terrible storm, before making the longed-for trip back up the river Thames. Finally reunited with his family in Norfolk, Sam realizes how much life at sea has become part of him. So when he hears that Napoleon plans to...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
February 19th 2008
by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
(first published October 3rd 1905)
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(This review was originally written for my Young Adult Literature class and I'm reposting it here).
The bio on Dowswell says that this book is his first work of fiction, though he has written historical YA non-fiction before, and it shows. Dowswell's background in non-fiction is evident in this book, as much of it reads like a factual book on British Naval history. As a narrator, Sam does not mince words when it comes to describing the cramped and often unsanitary conditions of his vo...more
The bio on Dowswell says that this book is his first work of fiction, though he has written historical YA non-fiction before, and it shows. Dowswell's background in non-fiction is evident in this book, as much of it reads like a factual book on British Naval history. As a narrator, Sam does not mince words when it comes to describing the cramped and often unsanitary conditions of his vo...more
Compare Contrast Book Report
Seth Coccimiglio
I am going to compare my book “Battle Fleet” to a vietnam war journal called “The Words of Patrick Flaherty”. I have read both of the books.One of my favorite subjects to study is war, both of the books are about war, but they are in totally different time periods. “The Battle Fleet” takes place in the 1700’s and “The Words of Patrick Flaherty” takes place in the 1960’s. If you compare both books the methods of war are totally different...more
Seth Coccimiglio
I am going to compare my book “Battle Fleet” to a vietnam war journal called “The Words of Patrick Flaherty”. I have read both of the books.One of my favorite subjects to study is war, both of the books are about war, but they are in totally different time periods. “The Battle Fleet” takes place in the 1700’s and “The Words of Patrick Flaherty” takes place in the 1960’s. If you compare both books the methods of war are totally different...more
What a terrific ending to this trilogy! To end with the Battle of Trafalgar - the death of Lord Nelson - was perfect. And all of the events leading up to it were just as entertaining. Encounters with natives, smallpox, and a storm that is blessedly short in narration. The one thing I dread the most in sea-faring stories - aside from lubberly writing - is the inevitable storm scene. True, every sea-faring story does need a storm - spend months at sea, and you will run into a storm. But Authors so...more
To begin, let me state I think this book is readers who are pre-teen or teenage of age. It's about a boy named Sam who is "pressed" into service on a Royal Navy frigate during the times of wars with French and Spanish navies. The author does a excellent job of creating a authentic atmosphere aboard a navy ship back in those days. He doesn't skip any of the nasty or gory parts, he let's the readers know what the real daily life of a powder monkey consisted of. A great adventure read and...more
13-year-old Sam Witchall has always felt the call of a life at sea, but he's not so desperate as to join the Royal Navy. Instead he finds himself a berth as a ship's boy aboard a small merchant vessel - relatively safe and with chances to return home to see his family and his sweetheart. But Sam's comfortable life aboard is turned upside down when he is pressed into service as a powder monkey (a boy who carries powder to the guns during battle) on the HMS Miranda. Far from a romantic adventure, ...more
Dowsell’s third novel about Sam Whitchall follows the teen sailor in 1805 as he travels from Australia to return to Britain. In this first person narrative, Whitchall faces a host of dangers—such as pirates, natives, a deadly tiger, a volcano, smallpox, and a terrible storm—and soon decides he is done living a sailor’s life. Upon returning to his hometown he realizes the sea is calling him and rejoins the Royal Navy to become a midshipman. He is assigned to the historic HMS Victory and struggles...more
Though not a big historical fiction fan, I was immediately caught up in the life of 13 year old Sam, pressed into service for the British navy as a powder monkey-the one who runs back and forth between the gun powder room and the artillary. Very well written, a real glimpse into life at sea with its thrills and horrors aptly described.
The only thing that kept this from being a 4 star book was the ending. The rest of the story was so powerful that the ending was a little anticlimatic
This was a really good book. It was hard to read because of the small print but I didn't skip any pages and it was really intresting.
A very good historical book. The main character is faced with many difficulties not by choice because of a forced situation of being forced into the Navy. Great ending.
The Powder Monkey was really good. I really enjoyed reading it however it was a slow read.
I read this to my friend's son, who was 10 at the time. He loved it. It is a bit gory and gross in parts because Dowswell is a historian, so he definitely attempts to keep things as realistic as possible. But in an age when kids are rarely choose to read instead of watch a movie, this series can be counted on to hold the attention of young boys...although you may want to read it first. There are some parts that are bit graphic. I found reading it aloud allowed me to edit as I went along. We are ...more
I didn’t care for this book much. If you want a more interesting youthful account of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars I would recommend the Bloody Jack series. This book was dry with uninteresting characters, too many dull, directly stated facts, and a surprising amount of poorly written gore consisting of blood and guts being blown here and there in a very uncreative manner.
I liked this book more than I thought I would. Set in the early 19th Century aboard two different types of ships (one a merchant ship, one a Royal Navy warship), this book would appeal to boys who like war stories &/or pirates. There are 2 earlier books, but I didn't know that until after I started this one--this book worked OK on its own, though.
This is a young adult/teen level book about a young boy who's pressganged onto a British Man-o-War and the adventures that ensue. Quick read but there are many better, deeper versions of the same kind of story.
Story of a young sailor who is impressed into the British Navy in the 19th century and how much that sucks. Very enjoyable.
this was a good book and i love it because it took me in a i was so into it that i didnt even want to put it down
Sort of a Horatio Hornblower or Master and Commander for the younger reader. Lots of good detail.
This is book three in a solid, historically accurate adventure series for teenage boys.
I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good adventure!
Thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
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