by Avi
First published 1997
Charlotte Doyle expects a quiet voyage from England to America in 1832. The thirteen-year-old passenger finds herself the only girl aboard the Seahawk, surrounded by a rough crew and a stern captain. When she discovers the sailors plan to mutiny against Captain Jaggery's brutal rule, Charlotte must choose sides. The crew asks her to help them, but she warns the captain instead. Her decision backfires terribly. Jaggery becomes suspicious of everyone, including Charlotte. The ship turns into a floating prison where trust disappears and violence erupts. Charlotte realizes she misjudged both the captain and the crew. She must learn to climb rigging, tie knots, and think like a sailor to survive. The ocean voyage transforms her from a proper young lady into someone she never imagined she could become. Charlotte faces accusations, physical danger, and moral choices that will change her forever.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, young-adult, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, moral-dilemma
Setting: England, America, Seahawk
Period: 1832
229 pages · Library Binding · Demco Media