Book Talk: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

 

Intro: Have you ever wondered how it would be to get on board a ship and set sail, not expecting to return home for months, and without being able to contact your family?  How about if you were in charge of making sure the ship got where it was headed?  Would you have any idea what to do?

 

I.  Main Character 

A. Mr. Nathaniel Bowditch – his roles

1. Indentured bookkeeper

2. Self-taught mathematician

3. Son, brother of six siblings, husband

4. Sea captain

B. Mr. Nathaniel Bowditch – his areas of study

1. Arithmetic and mathematics

2. Latin (dead language)

3. French and Spanish (living languages)

4. Astronomy

5. Ship building

6. Navigation

 

II. Setting 

A. Hometown: Salem, Massachusetts

B. Place of work: Ropes and Hodges Ship Chandlery

C. Ports sailed to: Manila, Bourbon

D. Places navigated through: Sundra Straits, Cape of the Horn, Salem Harbor

C. Time period in American history: during and after the War for Independence and War of 1812

 

III. Favorite Quotes from the Book

A. “A strong man sails by ash breeze.” –Sam Smith 

B. “I will lift up my eyes unto the stars.” –Nat’s mother

C. “She has eyes in the back of her heart.” –Lizza, of Elizabeth

D. “It’s a simple matter of mathematics.” –Nat

E. “Carry on, Mr. Bowditch.” –Captain Prince

 

Conclusion: Nathaniel Bowditch accomplished much for the sailors of his world.  He is a fine example of an honest, kind, and hard-working American hero.  Find out why he was successful and how others responded to him as he tried his best to “sail by ash breeze.”

 

(c) 2005 Sharon Rose Enterline