by Jane Langton
First published 1992
A Russian merchant has three sons, but he sees only failure in the youngest. While his brothers receive ships loaded with precious goods to trade, the dreamer gets nothing but salt. His father expects him to return empty-handed, another confirmation of his worthlessness. The young man sets sail anyway, his humble cargo the only chance he has to prove himself. In distant ports, he must find buyers for something everyone considers common. His brothers carry silks and spices, but he has only white crystals from the earth. The sea becomes his teacher and fortune his judge. What seems like the poorest inheritance may hold the greatest promise. This tale weighs the value of determination against the weight of expectation.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, adventure, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, underdog
Setting: Russia
Period: 19th-century
48 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown Books for Young Readers