Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

by Misty H. on 2008-01-23
I wanna give this book six stars!!!!!!!!! This is the best book I've ever read. Nick H. age 10

by Shannon S. on 2008-04-01
Lots of great character development lessons packed into this book. We still talk about "sailing by ash breeze". Great story, though filled with sad events (several deaths of loved ones). Happy ending, though, and not to be missed!

by Laura H. on 2008-04-01
This is an absolutely wonderful story, full of great examples of growing up in the midst of adversity and overcoming them; it will stop your children from complaining that "life isn't fair!". Nat never complained, and he succeeded tremendously, exceeding expectations all along the way. I think this is one of my all-time favorite books, and I never would have read it, had Sonlight not scheduled it in core 3. This book should get six stars on the five-star scale!

by PETER & JOY B on 2009-04-24
One of our favorite books. The theme of overcoming, despite many setbacks in life is inspirational.

by KRISTIN C on 2008-06-10
One of my favorite books of third grade was Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham. It took place in the late 1700's and it was really exciting! My favorite part was when Nat served on the ships; he taught all the crew members math and how to take lunars. At the end of the book, he sailed his own ship through a very thick fog using only math and then got safely into the port. Everyone was amazed. This book made me feel sometimes sad and sometimes happy. I never got bored with the story and I learned a lot about sailing ships. I think you will want to read this book because there were storms at sea and danger from pirates. Nat also was a real person. Review by Kasey Cruz, age 9.

by Kelby H. on 2008-04-01
The message of this book is, "Never be becalmed!" or in 21st century English, "Make lemonade out of lemons." Your family will never see sailing as simply another occupation again. What risks! And to sail with such mistakes in navigational books. Nat Bowditch truly was a hero who fully used is gifts where God put him. GREAT BOOK!

by ELEANOR R on 2008-11-21
Though we loved this book, my 8-year-old got tired of "EVERYONE dying" (as he put it.) It was during the reading of this book that I also realized I needed to tell him whether I was reading fiction or non-fiction. He had assumed through all his years, that every book I read to him was "real", because I wouldn't lie to him. We have great memories with this book.

by MICHELLE L on 2008-08-25
I have recommended this book to at least 10 people since we've started reading it. I love the example Nathaniel Bowditch is in this book - his acceptance of his indenture, his discipline and joy in learning, his determination and discipline.

by MELANIE B on 2008-04-01
This is a GREAT book. There are so many great examples of character development in this book. I am so thankful for Sonlight!! I enjoyed tracking all his voyages on my huge world map.

by JILL B on 2009-02-17
My favorite book of the year, so far, was Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham, illustrated by John O’Hara, published by Houghton Miffin Company, Boston, in 1955. At age twelve, Nathaniel Bowditch was indentured to a ship chandlery as an apprentice for nine years. During his time as an apprentice, he taught himself how to read Latin, how read and speak French, and advanced mathematics. After he was released, he started going on voyages as second mate. On these voyages he taught the crew navigation and figured out a new way to work lunars. I enjoyed this book because of the humor and suspense. My favorite part is Mrs. Pintard’s math problem. She gave him a complex math problem, and he figured it out in less than two minutes. She was dumbfounded. You should read this book because it has something for everyone. Sarah B. Age 10