Peril on the Sea

Michael Cadnum

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

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It is the summer of 1588 and a pair of unlikely shipmates is traveling on the Vixen, a privateer that will soon be drafted to join a flotilla of English ships bound for a fiery clash with the Spanish Armada. Seventeen-year-old Sherwin is aboard to repay a debt he owes the ship’s roguish captain, Brandon Fletcher. Sixteen-year-old Katharine is sailing with them in a desperate bid to save her noble family’s fortune. The fight will be harrowing and bloody, and the unfolding tumult will challenge the character of both Sherwin and Katharine, who are about to discover the deeper meaning of strife and of honor.

This fascinating tale affords an unusual view of one of the most important naval encounters in history, as a kindling romance between two young people takes place amidst a reluctant race to battle.

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1
SHERWIN MORRIS woke to the smell of .re. Heavy seas had been building all day, and now the merchant ship Patience was standing to, the ship set side­ways against the wind and the sea swells that rocked her.
Sherwin could hear Captain Pierson on deck, the ordi­narily good-humored ship’s master calling out, asking why the .re was still burning after the entire watch had been sent below to smother it.
Sherwin squeezed out of his narrow bunk, pulled on his doublet, thrust his cap onto his head, and joined the cap­tain on deck.

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Praise for Peril on the Sea

“Cadnum brings his keen eye for historical fiction to the English defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. That battle provides the canvas upon which he paints a smaller story of 17-year-old Sherwin, who is thrust into adventure and romance when he agrees to record the exploits of Captain Fletcher, a fictional privateer and rival of Sir Francis Drake . . . Cadnum deftly sidesteps what can be the most frustrating aspect of naval adventures—the arcana of masts, sails, jibs, booms, and rigs—and instead focuses his attention on the excitement and intrigue of a major event in the history of naval warfare . . . This smooth read could provide a nice stepladder to Patrick O’Brian’s unrivaled Aubrey/Maturin series.”  —Booklist

“Cadnum’s prose is vivid and evocative, brilliantly re-creating life at sea in the Elizabethan era. From the opening scene, when Sherwin’s Patience sinks, to intrigues on land and sea, to engagement with the 100-ship Armada, the tale is expertly paced, the varied threads of the tale elegantly woven. There’s plenty here to appeal to a wide audience.”  —Kirkus Reviews

“Cadnum creates an exciting tale of the sea, dripping with historical drama and adventure. The Vixen is manned by a true cast of characters, including a ferocious pirate who is bested by a pig and a young boy who was once owned by a mountebank. Fletcher’s character is especially interesting, as the reader can never tell if the ship is headed for battle until the final chapters . . . History buffs will appreciate the insights into Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and it is a good book to recommend for middle school adventure fans.” —Voice of Youth Advocates

Reviews from Goodreads

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Barry  rated it  
Mar 3, 2009
Classic historical adventure on the high seas, with all the details people have come to expect from an award-winning author. This is what true piracy looks like! ...more
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Mara  rated it  
Nov 5, 2011
This really surprised me. The entire time, I was waiting for Cadnum's trademark blood and gore. When you read a Michael Cadnum book, you automatically expect there to be blood - and lots of it. There was hardly any in Peril on the Sea and I actually felt disappointed. I know, I've always complained ...more
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Kater  rated it  
Feb 28, 2010
This was on the new fiction shelf at the library under Middle Grade fiction, so I found myself surprised at how complex it was. It is exactly as promised: a well-researched story about a young man's adventures at sea on an English ship in the late 16th century. There's even a little romance. To ma ...more
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About the Author

Michael Cadnum

MICHAEL CADNUM has written many novels, including the medieval adventure The Book of the Lion, a National Book Award Finalist. He lives in Albany, California

Michael Cadnum

Michael Cadnum

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Peril on the Sea
Michael Cadnum

Hardcover

Hardcover
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
May 2009
Hardcover
ISBN: 9780374358235
ISBN10: 0374358230
Young Adult Fiction
5 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches, 256 pages
Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Range: 7 and up Information for Librarians

Information for Librarians


F&P Level A-Z: W

$16.95
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Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
May 2009
e-Book Agency
ISBN: 9781429947176
ISBN10: 1429947179
Young Adult Fiction
5 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches, 256 pages
Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Range: 7 and up Information for Librarians

Information for Librarians

$9.99
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Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

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