Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Historical Fiction
By Jean Lee Latham
Reviewed by Susan Durand
5 out of 5 stars
Do you think math is boring and pointless? Do you think sailing is a waste of time? Read Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham and you will surely change your mind. This is an exciting, heart-breaking book about the life of Nathaniel (Nat) Bowditch, an intelligent boy living in Salem in 1776, who later becomes a famous sailor and mathematician. Nat has a challenging, tragic life, which Latham captures well in this fascinating book that I read with anticipation.
The story starts with Nat as a young boy, his whole family thrown into poverty. He has many childhood losses – for example, his mother and sister both die early on. He is indentured to a company after a short education, so his dreams of going to Harvard vanish. He finishes his indenture nine years later. Nat gets married, but his wife dies shortly after. Later, he marries a second time, and joins the crew of a cargo ship named the Henry. He makes many dangerous trips, finding new cargo routes, and discovering new ways to make navigation easier and safer.
This is a thrilling and suspenseful book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The mixture of excitement, romance, and sorrow is evenly distributed throughout the book, making it a lively read. Latham’s writing technique made me forget that there was a real world. The story line completely held my attention.
I would recommend this book to anyone from 10 to 14 who enjoys historical fiction or adventure. It was a pleasant book, one you would want to read over and over again.
