First published 1995
At the Naval Academy, first classman takes on the challenge of guiding a plebe who cannot meet the Academy's demanding standards. The upperclassman believes in the struggling midshipman when others have given up. He works to instill the values of duty, honor, and country while navigating the Academy's rigid traditions and harsh disciplinary system. The plebe faces constant pressure from instructors, peers, and the institution itself. As the academic year progresses, both mentor and student confront what it truly means to serve. Their relationship tests the boundaries between blind obedience and principled leadership. The story explores how questioning the system can actually strengthen one's commitment to its highest ideals.
Genres: american-fiction, military-fiction, naval-history, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Naval Academy
Period: 20th-century
308 pages · Paperback · Naval Institute Press