Nautical fiction is the world of captains and mutineers, sea battles and hurricanes, heroism and adventure. Setting a story on a ship creates the perfect restrictions for a gripping plot. The author can fully explore a limited cast of characters, while the possibility of disaster from storm or fire or wind is always looming. Here are some of the library’s top seafaring picks for younger readers.
Bluenose Adventure by Jacqueline Halsey is an easy juvenile fiction book set aboard the famous Bluenose schooner. Arty is a 10-year-old boy who works on the maiden voyage of the Bluenose, learning how to gut fish and even saving the ship from a night-time collision. Through the illustrations by Eric Orchard, the reader can explore the gritty world of maritime Nova Scotia.
A classic yarn for chapter book readers is The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. Charlotte Doyle is a proper young lady travelling from England to America onboard the Seahawk. During the voyage, the ship’s secrets begin to unravel: a murderous captain, a mutinous crew, a mysterious stowaway. Charlotte must rise to new challenges and take her place among the crew. I am always captured by Charlotte’s transformation from well-bred miss to sailor. I feel the pain of her blisters and sore muscles, her fear on the dangerous voyage, and her exhilaration in her new-found freedom.
For older readers ready to set sail with adult fiction, where better to start than with the Horatio Hornblower series by C.S. Forester? This classic series begins with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, in which the young Horatio faces the challenges of the war with Napoleonic France and establishes his place in the hierarchy of the ship’s officers. Hornblower’s combination of genius and self-doubt make him a fascinating leading character.
With these yarns to get you started, who can resist the siren call of the sea? For more suggestions call 604-527-4666, email [email protected], or visit us in person.
