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Stowaway
To 11-year-old Nicholas Young, the tall masts of the exploratory ship Endeavour look like an answer to his fervent prayers. On the run from his demanding father and the cruel butcher who employed him, Nick finds adventure beyond his wildest imaginings when he stows away on the ship of legendary Captain James Cook. Once he is discovered and put to work, Nick becomes party to some amazing sights. He meets indigenous natives of Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia, wonders at the sight of kangaroos, and shudders with horror when confronted with cannibalism. Nick survives a hurricane, a near shipwreck on the Great Barrier Reef, and a deadly bout with typhoid to become one of the few original crew members to successfully circumnavigate the globe with Cook and arrive safely back in England. He notes in his worn journal shortly before sighting his homeland's shore: "We have truly led the way, charting the path for all who come after. I don't know I shall ever feel so again as I feel now. That any of us shall."
Newbery Medal-winning Karen Hesse's story is based on actual Endeavour stowaway Nicholas Young, about whom little is known. Using the real 1768 diaries of Captain Cook and shipboard naturalist Joseph Banks, Hesse has changed Young from a forgotten footnote into a living, breathing person with red hair and a penchant for pork chops. So authentic you can feel the sea spray, this fine fictionalized diary is a nautical treasure for landlubbers young and old. (Ages 10 and older) --Jennifer Hubert
294 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2000
88 people are currently reading
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About the author
Karen Hesse
64 books484 followersKaren Hesse is an American author known for her children's and young adult literature, often set in historical contexts. She received the Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust (1997), a verse novel about a young girl enduring the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. Hesse’s works frequently tackle complex themes, as seen in Witness (2001), which explores the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in a 1920s Vermont town, and The Music of Dolphins (1996), which tells the story of a girl raised by dolphins. Her novel Stowaway (2000) is based on the real-life account of a boy aboard Captain Cook’s Endeavour. Over her career, Hesse has received numerous accolades, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2002 and the Phoenix Award for Letters from Rifka (1992).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
January 9, 2025
Stowaway is a YA book my wife picked up for my kids...back when they were kids.
This is a journal format book, in which the pre-teen (11) Nicholas Young stows away on the first of Captain Cook’s journeys of discovery. We are treated to a first hand experience of the sights seen, the dangers endured, the people met. The events are reported in a pleasant style, with appropriate language that might have been used by a youngster. I have no way of telling if the dialect is appropriate for the time, or if it was evened out for the twenty first century audience. It was an enjoyable and quick read that provided enough payload to justify the journey. This seems a pretty decent introduction for young readers to a fascinating period in history.
Karen Hesse - from Scholastic
If this appeals, check out her site. Hesse has written a lot of YA books that look at history from a young person's perspective. She is a Newbery winner and a MacArthur fellow.
This is a journal format book, in which the pre-teen (11) Nicholas Young stows away on the first of Captain Cook’s journeys of discovery. We are treated to a first hand experience of the sights seen, the dangers endured, the people met. The events are reported in a pleasant style, with appropriate language that might have been used by a youngster. I have no way of telling if the dialect is appropriate for the time, or if it was evened out for the twenty first century audience. It was an enjoyable and quick read that provided enough payload to justify the journey. This seems a pretty decent introduction for young readers to a fascinating period in history.
Karen Hesse - from Scholastic
If this appeals, check out her site. Hesse has written a lot of YA books that look at history from a young person's perspective. She is a Newbery winner and a MacArthur fellow.
September 13, 2021
Book on CD read by David Cale
In the summer of 1768 Captain James Cook set sail on H.M.S. Endeavor for a major expedition to explore the possibility of a new continent. In addition to the ship’s crew he carried aboard a naturalist, Mr. Joseph Banks, and his assistants, who would record the flora and fauna encountered on the journey. He also had aboard one Nicholas Young, age 11. All this is known from the public records which have been preserved, and it’s interesting to note that Young doesn’t appear on the ship’s muster until April 18, 1769, eight months after the ship left England. Scholars have speculated about how he might have boarded Endeavor; this is Hesse’s imagined scenario.
I’ve read several of Hesse’s books for children, written in verse, and all based on some historical event. This book is the first prose book I’ve read by her. I was immediately drawn into the story of this boy escaping a situation he hated. (His father had apprenticed Nick to a butcher to “toughen him up.”) He had some education, so Hesse has Nick keeping his own journal of the voyage, and these journal entries are the way in which the story of Endeavor’s first three-years-long voyage is told.
It's a great adventure, and a believable coming-of-age story. Nick is bright, enthusiastic, hard-working and observant. There are crew members who are his champions, and others who are bound and determined to see him fail. He makes some friends and suffers along with others through storms, attacks by native peoples, hunger, damage to the ship and an illness that decimates the crew.
Hesse includes an afterword that explains the history behind the novel, a list of all the people aboard (taken from public records), and a glossary of terms.
David Cale does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life.
In the summer of 1768 Captain James Cook set sail on H.M.S. Endeavor for a major expedition to explore the possibility of a new continent. In addition to the ship’s crew he carried aboard a naturalist, Mr. Joseph Banks, and his assistants, who would record the flora and fauna encountered on the journey. He also had aboard one Nicholas Young, age 11. All this is known from the public records which have been preserved, and it’s interesting to note that Young doesn’t appear on the ship’s muster until April 18, 1769, eight months after the ship left England. Scholars have speculated about how he might have boarded Endeavor; this is Hesse’s imagined scenario.
I’ve read several of Hesse’s books for children, written in verse, and all based on some historical event. This book is the first prose book I’ve read by her. I was immediately drawn into the story of this boy escaping a situation he hated. (His father had apprenticed Nick to a butcher to “toughen him up.”) He had some education, so Hesse has Nick keeping his own journal of the voyage, and these journal entries are the way in which the story of Endeavor’s first three-years-long voyage is told.
It's a great adventure, and a believable coming-of-age story. Nick is bright, enthusiastic, hard-working and observant. There are crew members who are his champions, and others who are bound and determined to see him fail. He makes some friends and suffers along with others through storms, attacks by native peoples, hunger, damage to the ship and an illness that decimates the crew.
Hesse includes an afterword that explains the history behind the novel, a list of all the people aboard (taken from public records), and a glossary of terms.
David Cale does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life.
February 11, 2025
A fun story, chock-full of interesting, sad, and humorous things. We got to watch the character grow up, and grow up with him.
I learned a lot about Cook's first voyage and sea terms!
The author's note at the end was great! There was a list of terms used in the book, as well as a timeline, provided at the end.
I learned a lot about Cook's first voyage and sea terms!
The author's note at the end was great! There was a list of terms used in the book, as well as a timeline, provided at the end.
September 2, 2015
This was an interesting historical read. I don't know if I would have enjoyed it so much if I wasn't so fascinated by 18th century ships and crews, but if you're interested in that sort of thing I'd recommend it! :-) Not a very happy book, that's for sure; lots of hardships, some talk of savagery, lots and lots of people dying. (Seriously, in the last twenty pages or so, they were dropping like flies! What even!) I REALLY like the character of Nicholas Young, though. He was an engaging narrator and I found myself very invested in him. I was happy with the way he grew in character and integrity on his grueling three-year voyage.
In short, I liked it a lot. :-)
In short, I liked it a lot. :-)
July 7, 2020
Very interesting journey that Captain Cook and his crew had. The book is written as a journalised account from a fictional stowaway boy of age 11-12. Worth the read for the historical value. I listened to it and glad I did.
April 8, 2022
I read this to my children as part of our homeschool curriculum (Build Your Library Level 3). The premise is good - the diary of a young stowaway on Captain Cook's voyage from England to Australia and back, circumnavigating the globe. However, it's execution made this one of the dullest books I have ever read. The realistic diary entries were often only a few sentences on the weather. Stowaway is a wasted opportunity for what could have been a fantastic adventure.
July 14, 2025
She dabbled in other types of story, but historical fiction was Karen Hesse's bread and butter. Her credibility in the genre skyrocketed after winning the 1998 Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust, and two years later she gave us Stowaway, a fictional journal based on a real travel companion to Captain James Cook during his first major voyage, in 1768. Eleven-year-old Nicholas Young sees little choice but to run away to the high seas. His father has forced him into servitude to a professional butcher who treats the boy cruelly, so Nicholas bribes a few sailors on the Endeavour to sneak him aboard for a years-long voyage. He hasn't the faintest idea how grueling it will turn out to be.
"The best way to banish the darkest mood is to lose myself in a useful pursuit."
—Stowaway, P. 166
Searching the Southern Hemisphere for new conquests on behalf of King George III is a secret mission, but Nicholas doesn't care much either way. If the crew catches him on the Endeavour before the ship gets far from England, he may be returned home for punishment at the butcher's hands, so the men helping Nicholas do their best to conceal him. Once he reveals himself, Nicholas is assigned duties like any sailor, though Captain Cook's advisors bear him no goodwill. The ship cuts through rough waters toward Australia, dogged onshore by natives with gruesome tendencies. Will the Endeavour add new land to the king's wealth? Will the botanists onboard, including kindly Mr. Banks, find novel species to satisfy their curiosity? Nicholas looks forward to the adventure.
In Polynesia, Nicholas makes friends with two natives, a man named Tupia and his servant Tarheto. They join the Endeavour's crew. Tarheto, who is Nicholas's age, proves to be an indispensable companion. The years ahead are filled with danger from sea, natives, predatory animals, and grotesque illness. Many crewmen die, but was the mission worth it? Three years at sea transforms Nicholas inside and out; it's a new boy who returns to England in July 1771.
"It's a wonder what the stomach will allow the mind to accept."
—Stowaway, P. 263
What is the best thing about this book? Nicholas sees his future in England as intolerable, so he risks his life to escape on the Endeavour, but he's not getting away with anything. Under Captain Cook he'll work harder than the butcher ever demanded; no easy route exists in life. I like the easy flow of Karen Hesse's writing, but the journal format of Stowaway can be tedious, the entries mundane. I'd consider rating this book two and a half stars, but Hesse has done better historical fiction. There's value here, though.
"The best way to banish the darkest mood is to lose myself in a useful pursuit."
—Stowaway, P. 166
Searching the Southern Hemisphere for new conquests on behalf of King George III is a secret mission, but Nicholas doesn't care much either way. If the crew catches him on the Endeavour before the ship gets far from England, he may be returned home for punishment at the butcher's hands, so the men helping Nicholas do their best to conceal him. Once he reveals himself, Nicholas is assigned duties like any sailor, though Captain Cook's advisors bear him no goodwill. The ship cuts through rough waters toward Australia, dogged onshore by natives with gruesome tendencies. Will the Endeavour add new land to the king's wealth? Will the botanists onboard, including kindly Mr. Banks, find novel species to satisfy their curiosity? Nicholas looks forward to the adventure.
In Polynesia, Nicholas makes friends with two natives, a man named Tupia and his servant Tarheto. They join the Endeavour's crew. Tarheto, who is Nicholas's age, proves to be an indispensable companion. The years ahead are filled with danger from sea, natives, predatory animals, and grotesque illness. Many crewmen die, but was the mission worth it? Three years at sea transforms Nicholas inside and out; it's a new boy who returns to England in July 1771.
"It's a wonder what the stomach will allow the mind to accept."
—Stowaway, P. 263
What is the best thing about this book? Nicholas sees his future in England as intolerable, so he risks his life to escape on the Endeavour, but he's not getting away with anything. Under Captain Cook he'll work harder than the butcher ever demanded; no easy route exists in life. I like the easy flow of Karen Hesse's writing, but the journal format of Stowaway can be tedious, the entries mundane. I'd consider rating this book two and a half stars, but Hesse has done better historical fiction. There's value here, though.
April 29, 2025
4.5 stars & 5/10 hearts. This is a very realistic, interesting story of James Cook’s famous three-year round-the-world voyage. Being so true to history, it’s a bit rough, but I appreciated that. It shows life on a 1700s ship accurately, and the thoughts of the time are well represented. I really like Nick, and several of the characters, like the Monkhouses, Mr. Perry, Lt. Hicks, & John Charlton. It’s pretty humorous, and it shows the character of Cook & Joseph Banks well. It’s probably not for sensitive readers, with its beatings and other violence, but history buffs will likely enjoy it.
Content: 1 instance of language; mentions of drinking & being drunk; 1 suicide; a scene where a woman undresses before Banks; several mention of the natives being nearly or completely naked; 1 mention that Nick feels a dead friend is near him.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander went out in hopes of discovering something they had not yet seen. All they discovered was how very wet a Gentleman can get in the driving rain.”
Content: 1 instance of language; mentions of drinking & being drunk; 1 suicide; a scene where a woman undresses before Banks; several mention of the natives being nearly or completely naked; 1 mention that Nick feels a dead friend is near him.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander went out in hopes of discovering something they had not yet seen. All they discovered was how very wet a Gentleman can get in the driving rain.”
July 2, 2013
Fascinating read - I found myself breaking out my atlas and tracking the Endeavor's voyage. Lots of fun rabbit trails, from sailing to botany to the Pacific Island cultures. Plus it's a completely true story. Highly recommended.
December 11, 2008
me and my mom tried to read it but didn't succeed. too long/ boring im sorry Karen Hesse im sorry
February 9, 2020
Super good, but I wish more was known about the main character.
May 6, 2020
I read this one with my 9, 11 and 13 year old kids and we all enjoyed it. It is a fictional account of John Cook circumnavigating the globe told from the perspective of an 11 year old stowaway. A perilous and exciting journey, but I think the format (told in the style of a journal) maybe took some of the edge off of the thrills. But a great story of adventure, death and a young boy well on his way to becoming a man.
January 16, 2019
Written from the perspective of a young boy, Nicholas Young, he finds himself at sea with a ship filled with men and must quickly understand what it means to be a man. He eventually circumnavigated the globe before coming home at the age of fourteen. This book is a light and laughter filled read that is ultimately about all the adventures he went on and the young man he became.
November 5, 2018
I liked the book it was an interesting story on a runaway fantasy that some kids have where you run away from your parents and explore the world. I like the tone of the book how it was steady throughout. Although I do believe that the book could have used better descriptive words to give a detailed description of the environment they are in.
December 13, 2017
What better way to trace the explorations of Captain Cook than to stow away on H.M.S Endeavor herself, just before an illustrious three-year voyage of discovery?
A boy named Nicholas Young appears to have done just this. Since the historical account of his presence aboard is rather scant, beginning in the ship’s log abruptly some months into the journey, author Karen Hesse fleshes out the life and times of a typical boy growing up in the late 1700’s in England. Son of an angry father, and apprenticed slave-like to an abusive butcher, Nicholas chooses to take his chances on the high sea, to get as far from the despair and hopelessness of home as possible. By paying off several of the ship’s crew (with money stolen from his employer), he secures a front-row seat to the action by stowing away in a covered dinghy on deck, sharing sleeping quarters with the livestock.
Seasickness, deprivation, loneliness, are soon displaced by wonder at the novelties of ocean life. Nick observes the ship’s scientists at work as they discover and document all manner of never-before-seen marine plants, animals, and land. Soon, he fears he will never be discovered himself, and languish away hidden and unlamented by anyone in the world.
When finally caught, he is accepted into ship society—barely. Like any Darwinian creature from the depths, he must prove himself strong to those around him in order to survive the lowest rungs on the hierarchical ladder. He works diligently with rare manners and intellect among the rough crew, winning favor with those in authority, as well as contempt from peers he might supplant. Having fled danger at home, he finds it waiting on board in the form of a bullying ship mate. Ultimately, he decides that “The best way to banish the darkest mood is to lose myself in a useful pursuit.”
Rumors of revolution, undiscovered continents, rough weather and elements, wild animals and cannibals, disease and death, new friends and astonishing beauty, give this voyage a wonderful sense of suspense and awe. Also dreadful are the effects the Europeans have on the pristine environments and aboriginal peoples they encounter. Nicholas fears “these people not so much because of what they might do to us, but because of what we are led so quickly to do to them.” Whether by unnatural or natural selection, no one knows which few will live to return home, or even if the ship herself will survive. This is the harsh reality of the sea.
This adventure of discovery no doubt changed young Nick himself as much as it added new lines to the extant maps of the world. In Hesse’s capable imagination, the vivid and unforgettable sights, smells, and events of this nautical journey transform the friendless street urchin into a respectable young man with scientific prospects beyond anything he could have imagined for himself, and gives us a valuable glimpse into the perils and victories of Cook and his Endeavor.
A boy named Nicholas Young appears to have done just this. Since the historical account of his presence aboard is rather scant, beginning in the ship’s log abruptly some months into the journey, author Karen Hesse fleshes out the life and times of a typical boy growing up in the late 1700’s in England. Son of an angry father, and apprenticed slave-like to an abusive butcher, Nicholas chooses to take his chances on the high sea, to get as far from the despair and hopelessness of home as possible. By paying off several of the ship’s crew (with money stolen from his employer), he secures a front-row seat to the action by stowing away in a covered dinghy on deck, sharing sleeping quarters with the livestock.
Seasickness, deprivation, loneliness, are soon displaced by wonder at the novelties of ocean life. Nick observes the ship’s scientists at work as they discover and document all manner of never-before-seen marine plants, animals, and land. Soon, he fears he will never be discovered himself, and languish away hidden and unlamented by anyone in the world.
When finally caught, he is accepted into ship society—barely. Like any Darwinian creature from the depths, he must prove himself strong to those around him in order to survive the lowest rungs on the hierarchical ladder. He works diligently with rare manners and intellect among the rough crew, winning favor with those in authority, as well as contempt from peers he might supplant. Having fled danger at home, he finds it waiting on board in the form of a bullying ship mate. Ultimately, he decides that “The best way to banish the darkest mood is to lose myself in a useful pursuit.”
Rumors of revolution, undiscovered continents, rough weather and elements, wild animals and cannibals, disease and death, new friends and astonishing beauty, give this voyage a wonderful sense of suspense and awe. Also dreadful are the effects the Europeans have on the pristine environments and aboriginal peoples they encounter. Nicholas fears “these people not so much because of what they might do to us, but because of what we are led so quickly to do to them.” Whether by unnatural or natural selection, no one knows which few will live to return home, or even if the ship herself will survive. This is the harsh reality of the sea.
This adventure of discovery no doubt changed young Nick himself as much as it added new lines to the extant maps of the world. In Hesse’s capable imagination, the vivid and unforgettable sights, smells, and events of this nautical journey transform the friendless street urchin into a respectable young man with scientific prospects beyond anything he could have imagined for himself, and gives us a valuable glimpse into the perils and victories of Cook and his Endeavor.
July 14, 2025
2025 Butler Library Bingo [Summer Reading] #9
September 25, 2019
Captain Cook was an adventurous British cartographer, navigator, and explorer. He made many exploratory trips, but his most important one is that in which he circumnavigated the globe over a period of nearly three years, taking scientists who documented many previously unknown plant and animal life.
He also had a stowaway on board.
The fictionalized life of Nicholas Young on Captain Cook's ship the Endeavour is chronicled in the book Stowaway, a journal telling of the dangers faced by the crew as they set out into unknown seas. The pre-teen Nick is running from a past that he hopes never to have to face, from a distant father to a brutal teacher to a violent butcher. After paying three sailors to help him on board Nick stows away until the Endeavour gets far enough away from England and then is thrust into the daily work on board a ship, heaving and working and making both enemies and friends. Through stormy skies and calm seas, Nick makes it through. But is the sea really the place to run from things, when all you do is turn around and go straight back? Or perhaps is Nick really searching for something other than escape?
At about a four star rating, the writing was at times boring. This was not a holding-back-tears, can't-put-it-down type of story. Instead it was more like a tale that was to be read slowly and digested slower-- after all, it was written as a journal kept over the course of three years.
This book was one that gave a sense of reality to its writing while I read the world seen through the eyes of a scarred young boy. The sadness portrayed was all the more poignant through the simplicity of the words and the wonderings of our hero Nick.
"How could we travel so long, so far, so distant from the English world and maintain our health, only to return to this place of civilization and be devastated by disease?"
Stowaway is a book to be kept through generations as a tale of sickness, hope, and facing your past.
Tolle et lege.
He also had a stowaway on board.
The fictionalized life of Nicholas Young on Captain Cook's ship the Endeavour is chronicled in the book Stowaway, a journal telling of the dangers faced by the crew as they set out into unknown seas. The pre-teen Nick is running from a past that he hopes never to have to face, from a distant father to a brutal teacher to a violent butcher. After paying three sailors to help him on board Nick stows away until the Endeavour gets far enough away from England and then is thrust into the daily work on board a ship, heaving and working and making both enemies and friends. Through stormy skies and calm seas, Nick makes it through. But is the sea really the place to run from things, when all you do is turn around and go straight back? Or perhaps is Nick really searching for something other than escape?
At about a four star rating, the writing was at times boring. This was not a holding-back-tears, can't-put-it-down type of story. Instead it was more like a tale that was to be read slowly and digested slower-- after all, it was written as a journal kept over the course of three years.
This book was one that gave a sense of reality to its writing while I read the world seen through the eyes of a scarred young boy. The sadness portrayed was all the more poignant through the simplicity of the words and the wonderings of our hero Nick.
"How could we travel so long, so far, so distant from the English world and maintain our health, only to return to this place of civilization and be devastated by disease?"
Stowaway is a book to be kept through generations as a tale of sickness, hope, and facing your past.
Tolle et lege.
October 20, 2014
Stowaway is the fictionalized story of the amazing adventures of a real-life boy named Nicholas Young. Only a few facts are known about the real Nicholas Young: 1) he really did stow away on Captain Cook's voyage around the world when he was 11 years old; 2) when he was discovered, Captain Cook commissioned him into the Royal Navy and made him assistant to the ship's surgeon aboard the Endeavour 3) he was the first person on Captain Cook's ship to spot New Zealand; 4) when he grew up, he explored the Antarctic. From these sketchy but fascinating facts, Hesse spins a thoroughly researched yarn, filling in all the blanks to write a complete picture of Captain Cook's voyage, through the eyes of young Nicholas, from August 1768 to July 1771. Nicholas is an educated boy who can read and write. But he runs away from Reverend Smythe's school because the reverend is a cruel man. Then Nicholas's father apprentices him to a butcher, who beats the boy. So Nicholas runs away again. He bribes three seamen to smuggle him aboard a ship ready to set sail, which turns out to be the Endeavour, and he hides in a small landing boat aboard ship. It's cramped and smelly, and even though it's covered, it is not weatherproof. Nicholas's only company, except for the sailors who helped him, are the goat, pigs, and chickens penned nearby. But Nicholas sticks it out for weeks, until it's safe to show himself without being left at port somewhere and returned to England. Nicholas spends three years aboard one of history's most famous ships, an eyewitness participant in a once-in-a-lifetime voyage. He grows from a boy to a young man. What does he learn about himself? What will he decide to do when the voyage is over? Reading Stowaway will bring your history books alive. And you will want to know what happens to Nicholas.
July 21, 2012
This is a young adult novel about Captain Cook’s 1768-71 voyage to the South Seas and around the world on the ship Endeavour. The author found documentation that a boy, Nicholas Young, about age 11 had stowed away on the Endeavour. The book is told entirely through the eyes of Nick in his journal. (There was evidence that Nick was literate.) The author has used ship logs and diaries so that the story of the trip is accurate. Read the brief epilogue first.
I have read a number of books about sea voyages in the 18th and 19th centuries and Stowaway seems to be fairly accurate. The book is easy to read, and avoids the common over enthusiastic cheeriness of too many young adult books. I enjoyed the story but Nick is pretty modern in his outlook. He serves to point out the social world of his time: the strong class system, that most adults were illiterate, the view the British had of native peoples, the intense interest in botany, the heavy use of corporal discipline, the helplessness in face of disease, etc.
I liked being able to consult the listing of all the men on the Endeavour and the Endeavour’s itinerary and the vocabulary. There was a map from the 18th century, but it was too small to be very useful.
This is probably more for a pre-teen. By the time I and my girls were 11 or 12 we were reading and reading the Mutiny on the Bounty series.
I have read a number of books about sea voyages in the 18th and 19th centuries and Stowaway seems to be fairly accurate. The book is easy to read, and avoids the common over enthusiastic cheeriness of too many young adult books. I enjoyed the story but Nick is pretty modern in his outlook. He serves to point out the social world of his time: the strong class system, that most adults were illiterate, the view the British had of native peoples, the intense interest in botany, the heavy use of corporal discipline, the helplessness in face of disease, etc.
I liked being able to consult the listing of all the men on the Endeavour and the Endeavour’s itinerary and the vocabulary. There was a map from the 18th century, but it was too small to be very useful.
This is probably more for a pre-teen. By the time I and my girls were 11 or 12 we were reading and reading the Mutiny on the Bounty series.
October 14, 2021
4.5 étoiles et 5/10 cœurs. Il s’agit d’une histoire très réaliste et intéressante du célèbre voyage autour du monde de James Cook sur trois ans. Étant si fidèle à l'histoire, cette histoire est un peu rude, mais j'ai apprécié cela. Elle montre la vie sur un navire des années 1700 avec précision et les pensées de l'époque sont bien représentées. J'aime beaucoup Nick et plusieurs des personnages, comme les Monkhouses, M. Perry, le lieutenant Hicks et John Charlton. C'est assez drôle, et ça montre bien le personnage de Cook & Joseph Banks. Ce n'est probablement pas pour les lecteurs sensibles, avec ses coups et autres violences, mais les passionnés d'histoire l'apprécieront probablement.
Contenu: Quelques jurons; mention de boire et d'être saoul; 1 suicide; une scène où une femme se déshabille devant Banks; plusieurs mentionnent que les indigènes étaient presque ou complètement nus; 1 mention que Nick ressent un ami mort près de lui.
Une citation humoristique préférée: « M. Banks et le docteur Solander sont partis dans l’espoir de découvrir quelque chose qu’ils n’avaient pas encore vu. Tout ce qu’ils ont découvert, c’est à quel point un gentleman peut être mouillé quand il est surpris par la pluie battante. »
Contenu: Quelques jurons; mention de boire et d'être saoul; 1 suicide; une scène où une femme se déshabille devant Banks; plusieurs mentionnent que les indigènes étaient presque ou complètement nus; 1 mention que Nick ressent un ami mort près de lui.
Une citation humoristique préférée: « M. Banks et le docteur Solander sont partis dans l’espoir de découvrir quelque chose qu’ils n’avaient pas encore vu. Tout ce qu’ils ont découvert, c’est à quel point un gentleman peut être mouillé quand il est surpris par la pluie battante. »
June 30, 2010
Stowaway was slow at times but if you like adventure stories (particularly taking place on a boat) then you'll love this. The way Hesse writes makes it seem like an actual journal written by an actual boy. Her factual style and young-boy personification makes it even more enjoyable.
July 30, 2015
Based off the true story of Captain Cook's first voyage around the world and written in a journal style. Fascinating, and well written you will be cheering for NiK throughout the book!
October 22, 2009
I thought it was a pretty good book. I don't know why he would stowaway on a ship and risk being killed, but otherwise, it was really good.
July 8, 2015
A great adventure story, for readers in the 9-12 year old age group who like adventure/science/nature/history. Highly recommended.
November 14, 2015
Awesome book!
October 26, 2025
This book is written from the perspective of a boy who runs away from harsh treatment in England to sail on the Endeavor with Captain Cook who is the first European to sail around, chart, and document the flora and fauna of Australia and some of the surrounding islands. The book is written in journal entry form which I find interesting because it is different than most other types of books I read or listen to.
I listened to this book with my 15 year old son and 10 year old daughter. There are descriptions of abuse and violence as well as nudity and cannibalism, but there is nothing in the book that is over the top graphic or gratuitous though some scenes were stomach wrenching. These instances only described what happened in the native setting. It was very interesting to hear about the first contact between cultures and see how the native people lived before colonization. The book simply told the truth which often was not very pretty. For this reason, I would recommend the book for middle school students and up.
I thoroughly enjoyed this listen. I borrowed it from the library but will likely purchase the book as well. I want to know more about the real life boy and the journey as well. Someone ought to write a novel unit with geography, botany, sailing, cultural, and navigation tie ins. The book also has some wonderful characterization though much of this is implied. I found that the style made me think a little harder about what was really going on.
Imagine sailing across the globe in a small wooden crate (by today's standards), all men aboard with each other day in and out through all sorts of situations including daily depending on each other for their survival. It is an amazing thing they did, very courageous, a little crazy, and I admire them all, but I did not like them all because some of the sailors were not good people.
The people of the Pacific were amazing as well for how they traveled the ocean in their canoes, but I am glad there are no more cannibals. Not all changes brought about by colonialism were bad. The book shows the good, the beautiful, the bad, and the ugly of all people here. It simply showed the truth.
We have listened in about 15 minute to 1 hour intervals over the space of 2 weeks. I recommend doing this and interspersing the story with visuals about the land they travel to as well as maps. I believe most boredom with the book is due to lack of understanding of the sailing terms, geography, cultures, and places discussed. A little more education would help kids appreciate the immense accomplishments and courage of the Endeavor's crew.
The book is filled with adventure but not really written as an adventure story like The Lord of the Rings or Huckleberry Finn. The book does not really have an overall plot like fantasy fiction or even a video game. The book is more important than fiction because it reminds us that the only way to experience real adventure is to actually go live it. Most of us will never get to experience such an expedition, but in their story we can find inspiration to help us as we face challenges and seek adventure in whatever direction our lives takes us.
I listened to this book with my 15 year old son and 10 year old daughter. There are descriptions of abuse and violence as well as nudity and cannibalism, but there is nothing in the book that is over the top graphic or gratuitous though some scenes were stomach wrenching. These instances only described what happened in the native setting. It was very interesting to hear about the first contact between cultures and see how the native people lived before colonization. The book simply told the truth which often was not very pretty. For this reason, I would recommend the book for middle school students and up.
I thoroughly enjoyed this listen. I borrowed it from the library but will likely purchase the book as well. I want to know more about the real life boy and the journey as well. Someone ought to write a novel unit with geography, botany, sailing, cultural, and navigation tie ins. The book also has some wonderful characterization though much of this is implied. I found that the style made me think a little harder about what was really going on.
Imagine sailing across the globe in a small wooden crate (by today's standards), all men aboard with each other day in and out through all sorts of situations including daily depending on each other for their survival. It is an amazing thing they did, very courageous, a little crazy, and I admire them all, but I did not like them all because some of the sailors were not good people.
The people of the Pacific were amazing as well for how they traveled the ocean in their canoes, but I am glad there are no more cannibals. Not all changes brought about by colonialism were bad. The book shows the good, the beautiful, the bad, and the ugly of all people here. It simply showed the truth.
We have listened in about 15 minute to 1 hour intervals over the space of 2 weeks. I recommend doing this and interspersing the story with visuals about the land they travel to as well as maps. I believe most boredom with the book is due to lack of understanding of the sailing terms, geography, cultures, and places discussed. A little more education would help kids appreciate the immense accomplishments and courage of the Endeavor's crew.
The book is filled with adventure but not really written as an adventure story like The Lord of the Rings or Huckleberry Finn. The book does not really have an overall plot like fantasy fiction or even a video game. The book is more important than fiction because it reminds us that the only way to experience real adventure is to actually go live it. Most of us will never get to experience such an expedition, but in their story we can find inspiration to help us as we face challenges and seek adventure in whatever direction our lives takes us.
December 11, 2023
author [Hesse Mc Elderry] explores the profound journey of a young boy grappling with loss, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of promise. The story unfolds as the protagonist, still reeling from the recent loss of his mother, makes a daring decision to embark on a transformative adventure as a stowaway on a ship.
The narrative deftly captures the raw emotions of grief, painting a poignant portrait of the protagonist's struggle to cope with the void left by his mother's absence. As he boards the ship, carrying only a journal and the weight of his promise, readers are taken on an introspective voyage into the depths of the boy's heart and mind.
The I becomes a sanctuary for the protagonist, a confidant for his innermost thoughts, fears, and hopes. Through meticulous entries, the author weaves a rich tapestry of the protagonist's evolving perspective, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
The maritime setting adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, with the ship serving as both a vessel of physical transport and a metaphorical vessel of emotional healing. The author skillfully navigates the challenges of life at sea, detailing the camaraderie among the crew, the vast expanse of the ocean, and the unpredictable nature of the journey. These elements contribute to the overarching theme of resilience and the transformative power of hope.
The relationships formed onboard play a pivotal role in the protagonist's development. From the grizzled captain to the diverse crew members, each character leaves an indelible mark on the boy's journey. The author masterfully crafts these interactions, illustrating how human connections can serve as a compass, guiding one through the storms of life.
As the protagonist faces the trials of being a stowaway, the narrative evolves into a testament to the power of keeping promises. The boy's unwavering commitment to fulfilling his vow, despite the odds stacked against him, instills a sense of determination in readers. It prompts reflection on the promises we make to ourselves and others, urging us to consider the profound impact of staying true to our word.
The journal entries not only document the external challenges faced on the ship but also chronicle the internal transformation of the protagonist. Themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the healing power of time resonate throughout the narrative, leaving readers with a profound sense of empathy and understanding.
In conclusion, stowaway is a captivating tale of loss, love, and the transformative journey of a boy who discovers the strength within himself. The author's evocative storytelling and rich character development make this novel a compelling exploration of the human spirit's capacity to weather life's storms and emerge stronger on the other side.
The narrative deftly captures the raw emotions of grief, painting a poignant portrait of the protagonist's struggle to cope with the void left by his mother's absence. As he boards the ship, carrying only a journal and the weight of his promise, readers are taken on an introspective voyage into the depths of the boy's heart and mind.
The I becomes a sanctuary for the protagonist, a confidant for his innermost thoughts, fears, and hopes. Through meticulous entries, the author weaves a rich tapestry of the protagonist's evolving perspective, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
The maritime setting adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, with the ship serving as both a vessel of physical transport and a metaphorical vessel of emotional healing. The author skillfully navigates the challenges of life at sea, detailing the camaraderie among the crew, the vast expanse of the ocean, and the unpredictable nature of the journey. These elements contribute to the overarching theme of resilience and the transformative power of hope.
The relationships formed onboard play a pivotal role in the protagonist's development. From the grizzled captain to the diverse crew members, each character leaves an indelible mark on the boy's journey. The author masterfully crafts these interactions, illustrating how human connections can serve as a compass, guiding one through the storms of life.
As the protagonist faces the trials of being a stowaway, the narrative evolves into a testament to the power of keeping promises. The boy's unwavering commitment to fulfilling his vow, despite the odds stacked against him, instills a sense of determination in readers. It prompts reflection on the promises we make to ourselves and others, urging us to consider the profound impact of staying true to our word.
The journal entries not only document the external challenges faced on the ship but also chronicle the internal transformation of the protagonist. Themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the healing power of time resonate throughout the narrative, leaving readers with a profound sense of empathy and understanding.
In conclusion, stowaway is a captivating tale of loss, love, and the transformative journey of a boy who discovers the strength within himself. The author's evocative storytelling and rich character development make this novel a compelling exploration of the human spirit's capacity to weather life's storms and emerge stronger on the other side.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2024
I unexpectedly found myself without a book to read, so I picked a book off the shelf at work--the first one to catch my eye. This was that book.
I thought I knew a little bit about the Endeavor and her voyage around the world, but it turns out I was wrong about most of what I thought I knew. :P I thought this was the voyage that discovered Antarctica, but it turns out they failed that mission. So, don't get your hopes up for that. :P
But this book is an excellent place to start for learning more about Endeavor and her voyage. I'm not sure on most of the fact versus the fiction, but this appears to be a highly accurate retelling of said voyage.
The story is told from young Nicholas Young's POV in the form of journal entries. I simply thought him fictional while most of the other characters not, but it turns out even his presence as a stowaway on the ship is fact. Rather, this book's fiction is in fleshing him out and in filling in the gaps of the little bit that is known about him.
Most of his journal entries are short and state the type of things I imagine are in the captain's logs, adding to my belief this book is mostly fact.
Regardless of what is fact and what is fiction, though, I really enjoyed this book. Nick was a great main character, and I loved his view on the world and on this grand adventure he was on. The biggest frustrations of this book come down to the frustrations of real life, as often the ship and crew made little progress against the might of the ocean and wind, and the last leg of their journey was quite heartbreaking to read.
I gained a new appreciation for what sailing was like in those days, with many of the short entries showing just how difficult such a thing was.
The search for the proposed final continent was quite frustrating as a modern person, as they started searching for it when basically at the farthest from it--though it did make sense to search there back in the day, it a massive stretch of ocean. That's really my only complaint about the book as well. It does include a map of Endeavor's voyage, but it doesn't show where the ship ventured south--I had to turn to Google for a more accurate map.
I really enjoyed the character arc the author gave Nick. It's a very gradual thing, an arc I didn't know was there until near the end of the book, but I was really glad for it, and it helped give a more positive closure to this book after all the hardship faced.
I honestly wasn't ready for this book to be over. I wanted to see more of the aftermath, both of the bigger news of Endeavor's voyage, but also of the smaller bit with Nick. I would also love a sequel of seeing him on his second voyage. None of that was necessary for a satisfactory conclusion, but the fact I wanted more shows how much I enjoyed this book.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read. It appears to be highly factual, but Nick is a very likeable character, and I was always excited to see what happened next with the voyage and with his life. This had made me want to pick up a nonfiction book about this voyage, but this book is an excellent place to start if you aren't quite ready for that.
I thought I knew a little bit about the Endeavor and her voyage around the world, but it turns out I was wrong about most of what I thought I knew. :P I thought this was the voyage that discovered Antarctica, but it turns out they failed that mission. So, don't get your hopes up for that. :P
But this book is an excellent place to start for learning more about Endeavor and her voyage. I'm not sure on most of the fact versus the fiction, but this appears to be a highly accurate retelling of said voyage.
The story is told from young Nicholas Young's POV in the form of journal entries. I simply thought him fictional while most of the other characters not, but it turns out even his presence as a stowaway on the ship is fact. Rather, this book's fiction is in fleshing him out and in filling in the gaps of the little bit that is known about him.
Most of his journal entries are short and state the type of things I imagine are in the captain's logs, adding to my belief this book is mostly fact.
Regardless of what is fact and what is fiction, though, I really enjoyed this book. Nick was a great main character, and I loved his view on the world and on this grand adventure he was on. The biggest frustrations of this book come down to the frustrations of real life, as often the ship and crew made little progress against the might of the ocean and wind, and the last leg of their journey was quite heartbreaking to read.
I gained a new appreciation for what sailing was like in those days, with many of the short entries showing just how difficult such a thing was.
The search for the proposed final continent was quite frustrating as a modern person, as they started searching for it when basically at the farthest from it--though it did make sense to search there back in the day, it a massive stretch of ocean. That's really my only complaint about the book as well. It does include a map of Endeavor's voyage, but it doesn't show where the ship ventured south--I had to turn to Google for a more accurate map.
I really enjoyed the character arc the author gave Nick. It's a very gradual thing, an arc I didn't know was there until near the end of the book, but I was really glad for it, and it helped give a more positive closure to this book after all the hardship faced.
I honestly wasn't ready for this book to be over. I wanted to see more of the aftermath, both of the bigger news of Endeavor's voyage, but also of the smaller bit with Nick. I would also love a sequel of seeing him on his second voyage. None of that was necessary for a satisfactory conclusion, but the fact I wanted more shows how much I enjoyed this book.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read. It appears to be highly factual, but Nick is a very likeable character, and I was always excited to see what happened next with the voyage and with his life. This had made me want to pick up a nonfiction book about this voyage, but this book is an excellent place to start if you aren't quite ready for that.
May 26, 2017
Stowaway Book Review
By RJ Rathsack
Karen Hesse takes readers on a marvelous journey throughout the book Stowaway. The story is inspired by a real boy who stowed away aboard Captain James Cook's ship Endeavour on its 1768 voyage. It is based on what little is known about 11-year-old Nicholas Young and spins an imaginative tale firmly anchored in fact. The brief diary entries adhere to the ship's actual itinerary and detail Nick's adventures. This historical fiction read is right around a 6th grade reading level.
Nick grows into young manhood shaped by the three-year voyage, teaching an illiterate shipmate to read, befriending a Tahitian boy and witnessing cannibalism as well as a share of tragedy while helping to nurse a crew ravaged by accident and disease. The crew of the Endeavour learn to accept and enjoy having Nick as a crewmate. His lively observations keep the action sailing smoothly forward, while Hesse's incredible research hit the novel with a wealth of detail.
Karen Hesse re-creates Cook's momentous voyage through the eyes of this remarkable boy, creating a fictional journal filled with fierce hurricanes, warring natives, and disease, as Nick discovers new lands, incredible creatures, and lifelong friends.
The author uses great craft throughout the book. Hesse uses a great mix of memory moments and words of the wiser along the story. Most of the memory moments involve Nick remembering being back in England before he runs away. The words of the wise included Nick learning many life lessons from older smarter crew mates. Crewman like Mr. Banks and Mr. Roberts help keep Nick on a safe and smart path throughout the Endeavors journey.
I would definitely recommend this book to a reader of any age. The words are not too tough and not very confusing. One concept the reader must understand is a day to day journal because that's the form Stowaway is in. I loved every page of the book and sometimes couldn't put it down.
By RJ Rathsack
Karen Hesse takes readers on a marvelous journey throughout the book Stowaway. The story is inspired by a real boy who stowed away aboard Captain James Cook's ship Endeavour on its 1768 voyage. It is based on what little is known about 11-year-old Nicholas Young and spins an imaginative tale firmly anchored in fact. The brief diary entries adhere to the ship's actual itinerary and detail Nick's adventures. This historical fiction read is right around a 6th grade reading level.
Nick grows into young manhood shaped by the three-year voyage, teaching an illiterate shipmate to read, befriending a Tahitian boy and witnessing cannibalism as well as a share of tragedy while helping to nurse a crew ravaged by accident and disease. The crew of the Endeavour learn to accept and enjoy having Nick as a crewmate. His lively observations keep the action sailing smoothly forward, while Hesse's incredible research hit the novel with a wealth of detail.
Karen Hesse re-creates Cook's momentous voyage through the eyes of this remarkable boy, creating a fictional journal filled with fierce hurricanes, warring natives, and disease, as Nick discovers new lands, incredible creatures, and lifelong friends.
The author uses great craft throughout the book. Hesse uses a great mix of memory moments and words of the wiser along the story. Most of the memory moments involve Nick remembering being back in England before he runs away. The words of the wise included Nick learning many life lessons from older smarter crew mates. Crewman like Mr. Banks and Mr. Roberts help keep Nick on a safe and smart path throughout the Endeavors journey.
I would definitely recommend this book to a reader of any age. The words are not too tough and not very confusing. One concept the reader must understand is a day to day journal because that's the form Stowaway is in. I loved every page of the book and sometimes couldn't put it down.
October 3, 2017
This is one of my least favorite genres, a fictionalized account of a real person. Very little is known about Nicholas Young except that he was a stowaway on Captain Cook's first voyage to circumnavigate the globe. The author invents a diary written by the young boy.
I gave the book 4 stars due to all the details about Cook's voyage and the day to day life on
board a relatively small ship on a voyage that lasted 3 years. Cook was looking for a new
continent (Antarctica?)that they did not discover. He was also charting the waters around
New Zealand and Australia. Joseph Banks, a naturalist, was collecting sea life, birds and
plants . Sydney Parkinson, an artist, was tirelessly drawing and painting all of these
specimens.
Captain Cook was an excellent seaman and brought the ship and crew through many
dangers. The ship was almost lost when they were driven into the shallows and the ship
was damaged. Only by some lucky winds and the crew's frantic pumping
did they survive.
They encounter natives on numerous islands , some friendly, some fearful, some warlike.
They traded when possible with cloth, beads, nails and hatchets. Two natives from
Tahiti joined the voyage and were able to interpret with the natives on many of the
other islands.
After sailing past New Zealand and Australia the ship docked at Batavia to take on
supplies. Unfortunately, malaria was rampant and almost the whole crew were
sickened. At some points there were not enough men well enough to sail the ship.
Many died. What a tragedy after they had survived so many hardships and were
really on their way home.
The diary did become a bit tedious after awhile. I'm sure on a long voyage, days
do begin to run together. If it had been a real diary I would have accepted that, but
since in was a fabrication I wasn't so generous.
I gave the book 4 stars due to all the details about Cook's voyage and the day to day life on
board a relatively small ship on a voyage that lasted 3 years. Cook was looking for a new
continent (Antarctica?)that they did not discover. He was also charting the waters around
New Zealand and Australia. Joseph Banks, a naturalist, was collecting sea life, birds and
plants . Sydney Parkinson, an artist, was tirelessly drawing and painting all of these
specimens.
Captain Cook was an excellent seaman and brought the ship and crew through many
dangers. The ship was almost lost when they were driven into the shallows and the ship
was damaged. Only by some lucky winds and the crew's frantic pumping
did they survive.
They encounter natives on numerous islands , some friendly, some fearful, some warlike.
They traded when possible with cloth, beads, nails and hatchets. Two natives from
Tahiti joined the voyage and were able to interpret with the natives on many of the
other islands.
After sailing past New Zealand and Australia the ship docked at Batavia to take on
supplies. Unfortunately, malaria was rampant and almost the whole crew were
sickened. At some points there were not enough men well enough to sail the ship.
Many died. What a tragedy after they had survived so many hardships and were
really on their way home.
The diary did become a bit tedious after awhile. I'm sure on a long voyage, days
do begin to run together. If it had been a real diary I would have accepted that, but
since in was a fabrication I wasn't so generous.
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