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Adventures of a Young Sailor
Battle Fleet
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 attack England, he is tempted to join the navy once more, and finds himself midshipman on none other than the Victory , preparing for one of the most epic battles in Trafalgar.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2007
3 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dowswell
145 books66 followersPaul Dowswell is a British writer of nonfiction and young adult novels who has written over 70 books for British publishers. He was a senior editor at Usborne Publishing, then went freelance in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 25, 2020
Most reviewers tend to agree that this series would serve as an excellent introduction to nautically-themed stories for young and teenage boys. To this I say the characters of Forester and O'Brian are much more enthralling.
February 4, 2021
I was impressed by the historical aspect of this story as Sam returns from Australia to end up on HMS Victory. The author didn't pull his punches, describing in detail the death and destruction during the battle of Trafalgar.
A great book for kids in their late pre-teens/early teens.
A great book for kids in their late pre-teens/early teens.
December 18, 2011
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. In the 1700’s war mostly took place on battleships. But in the 1960’s war was mostly on the ground, all we had was air support in Vietnam for the ground troops/forces.
The book “The Words of Patrick Flaherty” is about a soldier and all of his stories about war. He was in the 300th Battalion 2nd Ground force. He was stationed on hill N881 (A heavily attacked base) and tells all of the stories there, or around there when he is on patrol duty. One of the stories is when they are being Air Raided by NVA bombers and a small bomb lands in his fox hole, luckily he was not in it at the time, but his best friend was. Some of the stories are tragic and sad and some of them are funny like on of the crazy snipers “Luke The Gook” he was an enemy soldier who was a sniper that could just about miss any target he shot at. They tell of times where they hold up there helmets on sticks to see if he could shoot it (he never hit one).
The book “Battle Fleet” is about a young merchant trader on a ship who has always wanted to be a Navy Middle-man (a mid class soldier). He sails on the ship and tells of all of the battles, one specific one is when they are in a battle with many ships that are much bigger than them, they basically get destroyed, but somehow they seem to pull through and win! He also talks about his friend Robert that had been A Navy Middle-man much longer than him and he tells about all of the cool things that he teaches him and does with him. So in comparison both books are about war, but they are about two different types of war. Over Seas war and Ground fought war. although many thing have not changed in war since then.
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. In the 1700’s war mostly took place on battleships. But in the 1960’s war was mostly on the ground, all we had was air support in Vietnam for the ground troops/forces.
The book “The Words of Patrick Flaherty” is about a soldier and all of his stories about war. He was in the 300th Battalion 2nd Ground force. He was stationed on hill N881 (A heavily attacked base) and tells all of the stories there, or around there when he is on patrol duty. One of the stories is when they are being Air Raided by NVA bombers and a small bomb lands in his fox hole, luckily he was not in it at the time, but his best friend was. Some of the stories are tragic and sad and some of them are funny like on of the crazy snipers “Luke The Gook” he was an enemy soldier who was a sniper that could just about miss any target he shot at. They tell of times where they hold up there helmets on sticks to see if he could shoot it (he never hit one).
The book “Battle Fleet” is about a young merchant trader on a ship who has always wanted to be a Navy Middle-man (a mid class soldier). He sails on the ship and tells of all of the battles, one specific one is when they are in a battle with many ships that are much bigger than them, they basically get destroyed, but somehow they seem to pull through and win! He also talks about his friend Robert that had been A Navy Middle-man much longer than him and he tells about all of the cool things that he teaches him and does with him. So in comparison both books are about war, but they are about two different types of war. Over Seas war and Ground fought war. although many thing have not changed in war since then.
November 6, 2011
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 often drag these scenes out to an excruciating length, and they simply don't know when to stop. Drives me up a wall. Paul Dowswell has two storms in Battle Fleet, and I didn't dread them.
All in all, Battle Fleet was very good - maybe my favorite out of the three. As far as I could tell, Paul Dowswell's writing is not lubberly - he seems to have a good understanding of seamanship. I was impressed with his battle sequences - not too crowded, written in a sort of aerial perspective (focusing on the whole of the fight rather than what is happening around the narrator), and just enough blood without being too gory. A few times it did almost extend into being too meaty, but overall Paul Dowswell did not waste time describing the carnage in medical-book detail.
I think Readers will find the close of Adventures of a Young Sailor series satisfying. It could possibly have the potential of having a sequel, but I really do hope that Paul Dowswell doesn't write one. For a trilogy like this, it needs to end where it is clear that more happens in Sam Witchall's life - a lot more, but like real life, it will always go on, and the Reader doesn't need to know everything that befalls him.
All in all, Battle Fleet was very good - maybe my favorite out of the three. As far as I could tell, Paul Dowswell's writing is not lubberly - he seems to have a good understanding of seamanship. I was impressed with his battle sequences - not too crowded, written in a sort of aerial perspective (focusing on the whole of the fight rather than what is happening around the narrator), and just enough blood without being too gory. A few times it did almost extend into being too meaty, but overall Paul Dowswell did not waste time describing the carnage in medical-book detail.
I think Readers will find the close of Adventures of a Young Sailor series satisfying. It could possibly have the potential of having a sequel, but I really do hope that Paul Dowswell doesn't write one. For a trilogy like this, it needs to end where it is clear that more happens in Sam Witchall's life - a lot more, but like real life, it will always go on, and the Reader doesn't need to know everything that befalls him.
October 28, 2015
Battle Fleet by Paul Dowswell is a great historical fiction book. This book takes place in the 1700's in the UK. The main characters are Sam and his friend Richard. This book follows Sam as he works on multiple boats. His first job is as a regular sailor on a merchant ship. Then, after he gets off of the merchant ship he joins a navy ship as an officer. I rated this book four stars out of five due to its large amount of sailing terminology that I did not understand. It made the reading much more difficult than it could've been. I would recommend this book for anyone who is comfortable with violence that can be very gore filled and wants to read a book with lots of action packed adventure.
January 30, 2009
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.
October 15, 2008
Thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
July 19, 2012
Good ending to the trilogy! Great read for an adolescent boy (or female adult, for that matter)!
February 4, 2014
it was great and I recommend it and the other 2 in the series
April 17, 2016
Well done ending of the trilogy with first the battle of Trafalgar and then Nelson's funeral.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews