Moby Dick

by W.T. Robinson (Adaptation), Herman Melville

Hold on to your hats & harpoons, ye landlubbers, & set your sails for the greatest sea yarn since Jonah. A tale of daring, devils, & death, Moby Dick is one whale of a story! Come aboard the good ship Pequod, hoist the anchor, & ride the written waves of one of America's greatest novels.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Young Adult

178 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Melinda Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the true story of Moby Dick and the sea captain who was out to get him, so this little book left a lot to be desired. It did, however, go over the high points of the fatal fictiotional journey. The book describes Ismael and his tatooed friend, Queequog, Stubb, and the second mate, who was so against Ahab risking the whole crew against the whale. It was condensed, of course, and gives enough detail to satisfy young minds. The moral of the story: don't go after a whale that's bigger than you and has a bad reputation, to boot!

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We did this as a bedtime read aloud. The boys were pretty hooked into the story so maybe they’ll be inspired to read the full version eventually. My boys are 8 and 12.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading this as an adult because I never did read it when I was younger. I read this shorter version because I found it cheap but I think it did a good job of condensing the story to take out a lot of the long descriptive parts that are probably more boring for younger readers and leaving the action. It was full of action and it is interesting, easily finished in less than one day. However, of course it is also sad to hear about the killing of whales just for their oil and perfume products. Especially because everything else on the whale was tossed away and wasted. I was honestly cheering for the whale in the end. I have also found it horribly ironic and idiotic that people who get injured while trying to hurt something else blame that thing and hate them for it when they were the first start the hurting.

[Danielle Katz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an adapted version for kids that I read out loud to my 8 and 9 year old. This classic story of obsession is filled with interesting characters. The ending is surprising and sad.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book aloud to D at bedtime. We both really enjoyed this book. It was a surprise to both of us how good it was. We were shocked at how hard the life of a whaler was. What brave men they were to leave their homes for long periods of time, to live at sea with a crew, their job to hunt whales. Once a whale was sighted, they'd jump into small boats and row out to the whale, throw a harpoon at it and if the whale was killed, they'd have to cut it up and then get the oil out of it and the spermacelli from it's brain area, all the while with hungry sharks circling to get some of that meat. Not to mention the big storms (including tsunamis) they'd have to face. In addition to all of those dangers, Captain Ahab was a very obsessed man, with his only goal to find and kill Moby Dick, the great white whale that took his leg. Ahab was on a peg leg after his first dangerous meeting with Moby Dick. He was bent on finding that whale. He didn't care if it put his men in danger, or if they lost all of the whale oil that they'd already collected, he didn't care if he or anyone else died, he just had to get that great white whale. In the end, that's what happened, Moby Dick took down their entire ship, took his life, and the lives of the entire crew, except one (Ishmael). How sad that humans can get so obsessed with revenge, killing and death to the point that it overshadows everything else, including good judgements, care and concern for others and love of own's on self. That's why hope and forgiveness are such needed and powerful healers in this life. What a story! D and I enjoyed it very much.

[Aarón · Rating 3 out of 5]

La historia de la ballena Moby Dick, ampliamente conocida por todos pero cuesta su trabajo encontrar a alguien que la haya leído.

Esta adaptación está bastante bien escrita y guarda bastante bien la historia original.

En términos generales es una historia de venganza y obsesión del capitán Ajab con la ballena blanca que le arrancó una pierna en uno de sus intentos por cazarla.

Igual por eso es un clásico, casi después de 200 años de su publicación el tema tratado es de una vigencia imperiosa y es que, ¿merece la pena seguir una obsesión aunque pueda acabar costándote la vida?, ¿cuál es la línea que diferencia la obsesión con la pertinacia?

En ningún momento se me ha hecho pesado, es una buena lectura.

3,5 / 5

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this book to my son. Granted he is only 3 and is still figuring out language but he loved the pictures. He would ask me to read him the Whale book. This is what we have been calling it. Almost every night I would read at least a page to him. Some nights I could read more and keep in engaged. This is a very short version of the original book. It's adapted in a way to keep young readers engaged. I'm hoping as my son grows up he'll pick up the full version of the book and love it just as much without the pictures.

[Trevor Bouma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Moby Dick. Ishmael is the narrator of the story. Ishmael wants to hunt on a whale boat. The Peaquod was the name of the whaling boat and Captain Ahab is the Captain. They hunt Sperm whales. They hunt the whales to get oil for lamps. There's a lot if stuff about whales at the beginning. It does get more exciting when they find Moby Dick. Captain Ahab wanted to kill Moby Dick because Moby Dick bit off his leg. You wouldn't want to go on a whale boat because it's dangerous. I wanted to go on a cruise boat on the ocean.

[Ria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely loathed it, was up reading it till gone 3am just so I wouldn't have to dwell on picking it up again tomorrow.
Never wanted to read it and only did so as my nephew bought me a scratch off book list that included it.
Bloodbath from beginning to end and was like a day out at an abattoir.
Cannot think of enough bad words to describe it, foul, loathsome, vile and sickening are just a few that come to mind.
Will never read this author again and I literally cheered when Moby got Ahab!
This would only appeal to other sick animal hunters and torturers out there.

[Leslie Fetterly]

I picked this up at my library’s bag sale. I have no interest in reading the real Moby Dick, but I do have interest in knowing the story to see what all of the fuss is about. After reading this, I can see some larger themes at work in the story, but I still do not see what all the fuss is about. I can read about obsession in plenty of more entertaining ways than this. I appreciate the people who turned this classic into a middle grade book, so that I could have a better time while reading it and only use a couple hours of my life instead of days or weeks to read it.

[Jadendutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Moby Dick I felt truly immersed in the story. The novel was easy to read and comprehend as well as a joy to read. The novel was still able to provide an engaging and suspenseful feeling. Even being told through the perspective of Ishmael, the author was still able to provide a personality and connection towards other characters. The novel is a true classic as well as an amazing novel to read.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite its diminutive size and simplification, I feel like this version captures the feel and story of Moby Dick well and makes it approachable for kids (or adults who want to have the knowledge but don't feel like slogging through hundreds... and hundreds of pages.) I like Moby Dick, but it's sheer size (not unlike the whale himself) and language can be daunting. In fact, I have always felt that Melville could have used a good editor. This version does a great job.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short chapters; fun to get into with the kids. We kept misplacing it, and I explained a little bit a about metaphors and how the white whale could be a metaphor for something you are trying to accomplish but can’t. I said our ‘Moby Dick’ seemed to be “Moby Dick” and the kids thought that was hilarious.

[Allison Turkish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This version was terrific! Both my 6-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son both listened to the entire story, read over a three-day period and were entranced. I also found the book to be interesting and exciting.

I had never wanted to read a book about a man and a whale that sounded long and boring but this abridged version really captured the story and made it interesting.

[Peggy Gerovac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my fav genre. I chose a children's retelling so I didn't have to invest so much time into this classic that I felt compelled to read. It was fine. Movie today to finish the task. I would recommend for junior readers. Maybe they will want to read the real deal someday.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a junior version of the book and from what I remember of the classic, this is a better read. I felt like the original book was overly long. This is a fast read for an adult and catches most of the high points.

[Angela Davenport · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good read for the short version of a classic I have never read!

[Liz.dibble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating themes, characters, and dramatic action at the end. So many opportunities to discuss good and evil, madness and courage with my children. They were riveted.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eli loved it.

[Joe Keefhaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ran across this adaptation for young readers. Having never read the original, I went ahead and read this version. I liked it. Made a good story that a young reader could understand.

[Janet Purser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tried to read the original version several times but just couldn't get through it. This was the best way for me to read this classic.

[Tony DragonYT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that will make you cry

[Madison Gage · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not what I was expecting at all !!! I would recommend the Junior version though. Its fast paced

[Monica Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the art illustrations. Being vegan, I was hurting for the illusive white whale. It's very gripping and a fun page turner. I will definitely be reading the novel.

[Julie Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad to have found this version..I attempted to read the full version..sad to say but I couldn’t read it.

[Bethany Ergican · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about whale hunting hurt my heart, so this junior classics abridged version was perfect for me. It was short and sweet but still with the same characters, themes and plot.

[Liz Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8yo son loved this one and requested we give it 5 stars, I would’ve rated it 3 so we met in the middle with 4 stars. I’d like to read a version closer to the original if not the original as opposed to a “kid” version.

[Esmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Actual Rating 3.5 Stars]
I'm glad I was able to finally know the story of Moby Dick even if it was more of a children's book. I had no idea how the story (or the prophecy) would end, but I thought this was an entertaining read.

[Lainey L · Rating 5 out of 5]

November Book Report
Moby Dick
Herman Melville

There is a man named Ishmael that wants to experience joining a ship searching for whales. When he stays at the INN he meets Queequeg who is an expert harpooner and they become good friends. They find a ship named Pequod and the captains name is Ahab. They set sail whaling but they find out that all the caption wants to do is find the white whale named Moby Dick. As the days go by the captain becomes a mad man not caring about anything except for Moby Dick. The crew encounters one adventure after the other but the captain constantly puts there lives in danger. He won't listen to his crew and in the end it could cost them all of their lives.

I personally think that the theme is that you should put others before you and not be so selfish. I think that the theme is that because in the book the captain only cares about what he wants and won't listen to his crew. This ends up putting his crews life in danger. I think if he would of acted more like a captain he would of protected his ship and his crew and not been so angry at the whale. Selfish people can be extremely dangerous and do scary things, and this book makes you think about all that can happen if you act this way. This is what I got out of reading this book.

[Amy Mikkelsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little adapted classic that entertained my 8 year old son who loves fishing. I haven’t read the full version so can’t speak to a comparison. Good lessons on man vs. nature and man vs. self. My son liked the hunt for Moby Dick and although he thought the despise of Ahab was “sad”, he was routing for Moby Dick the whole time! The names of the characters and boats can get confusing for younger children so I just had to remind him that boat have names too.