Bibliographical information:

Latham, Jean Lee. Carry on, Mr. Bowditch. Illus. John O'Hara Cosgrave II. 1955. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1983.

Newberry Medal 1956

Brief summary:

Nathaniel Bowditch loves mathematics and wants desperately to attend Harvard College. But the family has fallen on hard fortunes during the Revolutionary War, and Nat must leave school to work with his father in the cooperage. His hopes of returning to school are dashed when his father apprentices him to a ship chandlery, but with hard work and some kind help from those he meets, Nat manages to learn a great deal about mathematics, languages, and navigation.

Comments:

Based on the life story of Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838), whose The American Practical Navigator is still in use today. (You can see digital versions of the current editions at NGA Digital Navigation Publications and Bowditch Online.) Latham plays up the romance of Bowditch's life story and (according to Wikipedia) exaggerrates his role in developing lunar navigation. But she also makes study, science, and navigation exciting.

Grade/Age level:

Roughly grades 4-8

Cautions:

If you like this book, you might also like . . .

--Lisa Gordis

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