On the Blockade

Blue and the Gray Afloat #3

by Oliver Optic

In this third book of the six book Blue and the Gray Series, the presence of spies onboard ship complicates matters for Christy Passford as he attempts to intercept new Confederate gunboats on their way from England to service in the South.

Genres: Classics

351 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1890

About the author

Oliver Optic was the pen name of William Taylor Adams, a Massachusetts schoolteacher whose magazines and stories for children reached a very wide audience from the 1850s through the turn of the twentieth century.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, I didn't realize it was a third book in a series, so that may be part of why others enjoyed it more than me.

Second, I think it contains the funniest typo I have ever seen, where he thinks perhaps he should go wear "ashcloth and sashes" instead of sackcloth and ashes! Oh, what a mental picture.

Overall, the plot was really confusing because the characters kept getting called by the titles (the commander, the captain) and with each conquest of a new ship the positions change. Christy himself is barely out of school and is smarter than all the other captains combined. While it's nice he is that smart, it gets told to us over and over again, until it begins to seem really disrespectful of all the other veterans who have been on the high seas for years.

Lastly, the characters that people the pages are extremely one-dimensional and function only as mere figures and puppets for the action of the story, and most emotions are seen through the opinions of other characters.

I had tried one Optic book when I was young and wasn't able to finish it. This simply confirms my opinion that his writing is not and will never be in my style.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An air of mystery surrounds as Lieutenant Passford, newly commisioned, takes command upon the Union steamer Bronx. His first time assigned a commission, yet a confederate spy is found aboard, and Christy Passford must be wary. Along the way he also has his orders; to capture Confederate vessels trying to get through the Union blockade, if at all possible.

I pretty much read this book in a weekend, it was so full of excitement and intreuge and plot! There was a little more historical information in this book as well, which I loved.