Attack of the Turtle

by Drew Carlson, David A. Johnson (illustrator)

During the Revolutionary War, fourteen-year-old Nathan joins forces with his older cousin, the inventor David Bushnell, to secretly build the first submarine used in naval warfare.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, American History, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, American Revolutionary War

149 pages, Hardcover

First published December 21, 2006

About the author

Drew Carlson is a former magazine columnist, newspaper reporter, corporate writer, and editor who currently works as the director of public affairs for the Federation of State Medical Boards in Dallas, Texas. Drew says his fascination with obscure facts from American history led him to write Attack of the Turtle, which is his first published novel.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical fiction for 11-13 yo boys. Inventing, science, history, and war all in one. Well written, deliberately paced, with themes of true courage, forgiveness, and overcoming fears.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical fiction story takes place around the shores of Connecticut and New York and details the invention of the first submarine during the Revolutionary War. Most people would probably guess that the submarine was invented much later in time; but in 1776 a young genius inventor named David Bushnell figured out a way to build a submergable “water machine” with a bomb attached. The submarine, dubbed the American Turtle, had the ability to travel under the British warships docked off Long Island, attach the bomb with a timer, and return.

The narrator of this exciting adventure is 14-year old Nathan Wade, David Bushnell’s fictitious cousin. Not only does Nathan have to overcome his fear of the water, he also has to determine who he can trust. During the war, your next door neighbors could turn out to be Tory spies! This exciting historical fiction book has interesting author notes, a great diagram of the submarine, and a bibliography for more information. The reader will also learn about the exciting Battle of Brooklyn and ensuing evacuation.

If you have a 9-year old up reader who likes exciting historical fiction, they will love this book. A similar title to recommend would be Iron Thunder by Avi.

[Oak Lawn Public Library - Youth Services · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Attack of the Turtle
Author: Drew Carlson
Pages: 147
Lexile level: 640L
3 out of 5 stars


Recommendations: Did you know the Americans used a submarine during the Revolutionary War? Neither did I! (Unless you said yes, in which case I’m impressed by your knowledge.) Attack of the Turtle tells a version of this true story, in which 14 year-old Nathan Wade must help the inventor build the sub and put it into battle in the early days of the war. But if they’re caught by the British, they could be killed, and any of their neighbors might be a spy. On top of that, Nathan is afraid of fighting and water! Before the story is over, he’ll be caught in the heat of battle, meet two Founding Fathers, and go on a dangerous nighttime mission. As a bonus, the author has included details of the real story and a diagram of the original Turtle.

Reviewed By: Mr. Tom

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1776 as the Revolutionary War was waging in New York, fourteen-year-old Nathan Wade lives in sleepy little Saybrook. Nathan fears two things, the town bully and water. Recruited for a secret project by his cousin David Bushnell, Nathan finds himself drawn into the war and agreeing to do things he never thought he could possibly do. Carlson expertly weaves truth and fiction together so well the reader finds themselves wondering which is which and wanting to know more about Bushnell’s submarine. The simple line drawings give a brief visual to each chapter and as does the diagram of the Turtle at the back of the book.

[J.S. Jaeger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and was thrilled to find a story about a unique historical event. I'd never thought much about the invention of the submarine. This book opened my eyes to the events that transpired around its invention in a very entertaining way. From my fact-checking after I listened to the book, it appears most of the events are portrayed accurately. Connecting with the characters was easy and fun.

This book is appropriate for middle-grade readers and up.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Paula Dyches · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had my 13 year old read this with me and we both really liked it a lot. He told me it made you feel like you were there getting to experience it with the characters. My son really likes history so he thought this book was great, wasn't too graphic but had enough detail and action to keep the imagery and pace going. 

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The history behind this story is fascinating and this should be a great book, but most of the writing is straight forward telling, which just killed this story. Glad others enjoyed it, but this one was not for me.

[Michael Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the attack of the turtle. The story was fun and entertaining. I really enjoy historical fiction.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for youngsters interested in the Revolutionary War. Based on the true story of the development and use of a submarine by the Colonists in their efforts to rid themselves of British rule, it is also a good coming of age story. I think middle school aged boys would really like this book.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and fun middle-grade historical fiction based on the true story of the invention of the first submarine used in war, the Turtle. The story is told through the eyes of a fourteen year old boy during the time of the Revolutionary War.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, we read for school.

[AnnMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I read with one of my students and I found it very interesting. A good read for intermediate grades!

[Isabella K · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had many good characters along with lots of character development. Aside from that, I found this book a little bland when it came to details.

[Kayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Attack of the Turtle' is about a young boy named Nathan in the early days of colonial Connecticut and the construction of the first version of the submarine. Nathan is interested in fighting as a patriot in the Revolutionary War but is deemed too young and so is forced to wait on the sidelines that is until his cousin David returns from Yale. David brings along with him a secret, a special water machine he has been working on that will not only surprise the British but hopefully truly blow them away. Nate is enlisted in assisting David's adventure but Nathan is afraid of more than just being caught by the British...he is afraid of the water. As their adventure building the 'American Turtle', named for its shape similar to a turtle shell, Nathan finds himself facing potential enemies, enemies turned friends and sudden danger the cause him to face his fears head on.

As a lover of history and fiction I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Sometimes I find children's historical fiction can distance the main characters from being realistic but Nathan is an engaging boy who is very easy to relate to even though his circumstances are different than my own. The story as a whole is easy follow and fun to read as it keeps a level tempo throughout. This book is based on actual historical events, though Nathan is fictional, and includes various images of the machine and how it is meant to work. Though I am not familiar with the historic background it is the perfect book to connect the Revolutionary War to Connecticut for children since most stories focus on Boston or Massachusetts more prominently.

Drew Carlson also did well explaining the submarine, how it works and the need for its secrecy through Nathan's eyes, which I think was the true test of how relatable Nathan could be. Carlson didn't force difficult language or complex engineering in to prove his historic prowess; instead we understood the contraption in a way true to how a 14 year old boy with no previous engineering experience would. Overall I found this book very enjoyable to read due to Carlson's writing style, Nathan's relatability and historic explanations. I would recommend this book to child and adult alike who is interested in the colonial period, naval warfare and an engaging quick read.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Near the beginning of the Revolutionary War an extraordinary young man living in Connecticut, David Bushnell, designed and built the first submarine. Many of the design features that appeared in his first submarine, used a total of three times in the war against the British, are common to today's modern versions.

Attack of the Turtle is a fictional account of the building of the American Turtle. Nathan Wade, a 14 year old boy, son of a fisherman and cousin to David Bushnell, is living on his uncle's farm in Saybrooke, Connecticut after his father joins the army. He is deathly afraid of water, is beset daily by a bully, and in love with the town beauty, Rachel Pratt. That all changes when his cousin David returns from college. He is enlisted along with David's brother Ezra, to secretly build a "water machine" which will be used to attach a bomb to the underside of the British warships. Nate, has no idea how far from home this will take him and how much it will change his life and the course of the war.

This was a really great read-aloud story with my seven year old son. What boy doesn't love war, intrigue, and adventure? We both looked forward to the next night when we would find out what would befall Nathan next. Not only was the story enjoyable, it was a great history lesson. While Nathan wasn't real, David, Ezra, and most of the other people and events detailed in the story were real. Upon the conclusion of the book, my son I read up on the real story of David Bushnell and his amazing water machine. This was author Drew Carlson's debut novel and I'm already looking forward to see what he puts out next.

[Francoise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something I had never heard of. The history of submarines in warfare actually began at the time of the American Revolution! This book was recently on the SC Children's book award nominees list, but would be interesting to almost anyone who is a history buff, esp. of this time period as the author has well researched the details to make it authentic. The character who tells the story, Nate Wade, age 14, has a morbid fear of water but is friends of the man, David Bushnell, who develops the sub. Through a series of misfortunes, Nate becomes the pilot of the sub when it first sees action in an attack on the British warship, Eagle. He is forced to overcome his fear of water. Read to find out how he fares and whether the idea is accepted.

[Geneva · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical fiction book with a coming of age tale fit for children embedded in it. What will 14 year old Nate, who is scared to death of water, do when asked by his cousin to help with the new invention of a submarine? How will he cope while his father is fighting in the Revolutionary War for the next year? These issues and more typical day-to-day issues face Nate and we see how he grows and faces these challenges in an upturned world.

[Bill Prosser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical fiction about an early submarine in the American Revolution. It was just ok, nothing special as far as Revolutionary War fiction goes. The factual part about the submarine and the problem solving that the inventors did was interesting, but the story written around it was fairly predictable and not very exciting.

[Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attack of the Turtle is an action story about a boy named Nate and his cousin, David. They built a submarine that had a bomb attached to it and was able to explode when detonated. The purpose was to blow up British ships in New York harbor. I enjoyed the action in this book because it was the perfect combination of historical fiction and action in the same book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, aimed at upper elementary students, is a fictional account of the fascinating invention of the first submarine used in warfare during the American Revolution right after the Battle of Long Island.

[Bernadette Kearns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good historical fiction read for kids who like to learn about the small stories that take place in the middle of the American Revolution. I particularly enjoyed the details about Nathan's life in Saybrook, CT and the the theme of overcoming fears.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about a part of history I was not familiar with. Lots of fun historical facts and suspense. However, there were multiple mistakes and the dialogue was so far from the time period I felt I was reading a book about modern times.

[Beck Laus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical fiction set in Connecticut. Not very strong character development, but a moving plot.

[Steve Hemmeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly true account of a little known part of the Revolutionary War, for younger readers. Well done.

[Angela Boord · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm listening in on this one as Andy reads it to the younger boys at night. A good boy book and works well as a read aloud. Interesting subject, too -- the Revolutionary War submarine, The Turtle.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my son for Reading Olympics and absolutely thought it was a great book!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good grading about the way the Turtle was built. Bushnell is part of my genealogy and it helped give an understanding of the way things took place.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a perfect summer reading book for a 9/10 year old boy or girl! I liked the story and enjoyed the local (to me) history.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the topic interesting and the historical facts are pretty accurate, but the writing is often clunky.

[John B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great blend of history and technology around the U.S. revolutionary war