In the Heart of the Sea (Young Readers Edition): The True Story of the Whaleship Essex

by Nathaniel Philbrick

The New York Times bestselling and National Book Award winning In the Heart of the Sea, soon to be a major motion picture directed by Ron Howard, adapted by the author for young readers. 

On November 20, 1820, the whaleship Essex was rammed and sunk by an angry whale.  Within minutes, the twenty-one-man crew, including the fourteen-year-old cabin boy Thomas Nickerson, found themselves stranded in three leaky boats in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with barely any supplies and little hope.  Three months later, two of the boats were rescued 4,500 miles away, off the coast of South America.  Of the twenty-one castaways, only eight survived, including young Thomas.  Based on his New York Times best-seller In the Heart of the Sea, Nathaniel Philbrick recreates the amazing events of the ill-fated Essex through the sailors own first-hand accounts, photos, maps, and artwork, and tells the tale of one of the great true-life adventure stories.

"Horrifyingly engrossing." —Kirkus Reviews

"A compelling saga of desperation and survival." —School Library Journal

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Adventure, Audiobook, Historical, Survival

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2015

About the author

Philbrick was Brown’s first Intercollegiate All-American sailor in 1978; that year he won the Sunfish North Americans in Barrington, RI; today he and his wife Melissa sail their Beetle Cat Clio and their Tiffany Jane 34 Marie-J in the waters surrounding Nantucket Island.

After grad school, Philbrick worked for four years at Sailing World magazine; was a freelancer for a number of years, during which time he wrote/edited several sailing books, including Yaahting: A Parody (1984), for which he was the editor-in-chief; during this time he was also the primary caregiver for his two children. After moving to Nantucket in 1986, he became interested in the history of the island and wrote Away Off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People. He was offered the opportunity to start the Egan Maritime Institute in 1995, and in 2000 he published In the Heart of the Sea, followed by Sea of Glory, in 2003, and Mayflower. He is presently at work on a book about the Battle of Little Big Horn.

Mayflower was a finalist for both the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in History and the Los Angeles Times Book Award and was winner of the Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction. In the Heart of the Sea won the National Book Award for nonfiction; Revenge of the Whale won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; Sea of Glory won the Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History Prize and the Albion-Monroe Award from the National Maritime Historical Society. Philbrick has also received the Byrne Waterman Award from the Kendall Whaling Museum, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for distinguished service from the USS Constitution Museum, the Nathaniel Bowditch Award from the American Merchant Marine Museum, the William Bradford Award from the Pilgrim Society, the Boston History Award from the Bostonian Society, and the New England Book Award from the New England Independent Booksellers Association.

from his website

Reviews

[Keren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first bit of the story was a little dry, but it was interesting to learn the basics of whaling and about the men who sailed in the doomed Essex. After the unexpected (to them) whale attack, the story of the men's struggle to survive surpasses the imagination. It's nearly impossible to imagine oneself in their place, and living on the open sea for 90 days with only a bit of hard tack and each other is unimaginable.

[Kelly Hohenstern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read

What a fascinating story! Loved the tale of the whale ship Essex. The author described the events so well I can feel the characters happiness and despair.

[Tomiko Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably wouldn’t have picked this up if not for the “read a book with a nautical theme” square of YPL’s summer reading bingo, but what a fascinating world. I knew next to nothing about the whaling industry or whalers or the crazy risks taken in this era.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting historical read, but I also found it to be a fairly depressing story. I needed to check out the young readers edition for inclusion in a class, and I'm curious how it compares to the full text. However, I'm not sure I could bring myself to revisit the story a third time (my first encounter was the film). If you enjoy harrowing tales of survival, this is right up your alley.

[R.L. Muscatello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and immersive read, but be forewarned, “The Essex disaster is not a tale of adventure. It is a tragedy that happens to be one of the greatest true stories ever told.” A highly recommended story of what happened immediately following the attack of the great, white whale and the fight for survival the crew of the Essex faced in the endless sea.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philbrick is a great writer. Really impressed with his ability to tell stories, much more to be able to condense from the larger work that almost doubled the young reader’s version. I can say I won’t be reading the full version, though only due to subject matter 😅

[MaryAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had both this version and the “full length” version on my to-read list. I’m glad I read this version. I didn’t need more detailed descriptions about the whaling profession or cannibalism! My guess is that this version wasn’t dumped down, just shortened. This true story is gripping!!

[Rick Hribko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tells the survival tale of the sailors of the whaleship Essex who had to survive on whaleboats after the whaleship was attacked and sunk by a whale . I had read the original full version years ago and had received copies of the Young Readers edition from our department. I have always wanted to compare read the young readers edition and compare it to the adult version. The Young readers edition moved as a steady clip whereas the adult version had more historical details which may have slowed it down a little too much for a young reader. However, I was surprised at how much of the content was still left in the book. Triggers could include the brutal details of how they would kill a whale but moreover, the details on how to butcher a man for cannibalism and the details of eating specific parts made me wonder if this is placed at the right age level. The publisher says it is for grades 3-7, ages 8-12. But I would venture to say is should be placed at a higher reading level, maybe even high school. There were lines that were left in the books such as calling one cannibalism incident "gastrointestinal incest" and another inference about how there was privacy where the officers live to allow sailors to "find pleasure in their fellow men." There is also a picture in the book representing sensational representations of cannibalism that shows a hedonistic portrayal of naked people eating grilled humans. Yikes! While some of the words may go over our elementary and middle schoolers' heads, I am almost certain the pictures will not. I would caution teachers and school librarians to take a close look and read it yourself so you can decide for yourself if you are comfortable with it.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Heart of the Sea is the true story behind the inspiration for Moby Dick. The Nantucket whaleship, the Essex, is set to depart with its crew of twenty, with at least half of them being newcomers to whale hunting. Their goal was to collect as much whale oil as possible, for that is how their town thrived. However, the journey proved to be a letdown as they traveled down the Atlantic to see very few whales to catch. But upon one chance with a single sperm whale, it crashes and knocks the Essex to the sea. The crew evacuates on three separate whaleboats with only a few belongings. Now at the mercy of the sea, they struggle to survive against the elemental forces as they search for land & rescue.

This being the young readers edition, the story is a bit more abridged to the original book's 300 pages. The first couple of chapters focuses on the notable crew members and the aspect of whale hunting as well as a brief history of the Essex. The second half focuses on the hunting journey and then the infamous shipwreck survival saga. It's a little dry at parts but very informative in delving into all aspects of each notable accounts of the events that occur. Of course, I do believe there is more to be said in the original novel, this edition is relatively okay for younger readers to be introduced to this bit of American history as it does focus on the themes of the hunt & cannibalism without going into lengthy details. I am kind of interested in reading the original edition to explore this story more, as I feel it is far more exciting to read the actual story that inspired the classic novel.

[Amanda Dein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on Audible as part of a book challenge (Word of the Month - Heart). I chose it because it sounded kind of interesting but mostly because it was short and had the word "heart" in the title. This is why I love book challenges - never would I have looked twice at this book if I wasn't looking for the word heart and something short because my original pick was too terrible to finish (I'm looking at you Once Upon a Broken Heart). Wow! I do not give out 5 stars easily but this one was great. I kept looking for ways to squeeze in a few more minutes - at night, on my way to the gym, on my way home from the gym, while driving my kids once (my 15 yo daughter said after 15 minutes - that was intense!). The only reason it took me 5 days to finish instead of 1 or 2 is because I can't listen to audio books and do something else at the same time. This book was gross in some parts and yet - that is part of the charm. It didn't shy away from the terrible. I loved that the author sprinkled or poured in quotes from live accounts from survivors. I loved that it included so many details about a time and place that I knew nothing about. I was hoping to be entertained - I was enthralled. It wasn't always action packed but even the day to day was interesting. To end things - the author gives you details about what happened to the survivors after they made it home and I for one am grateful. After going through this tragedy with them - I really enjoyed hearing how the rest of their lives played out.

[Caitlin Beardall Schwanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. The description of the "tonguing" process was a little gruesome, especially for former vegans. We really felt like we got to know the captain and his crew. There are many quotes from the accounts, journals, letters, etc. The book doesn't follow one person, but gives you the perspective of many of the crew members. After 70+ days in the whale boats, with only three ounces of hard tack and a cup of two of water per day, the men did resort to cannibalism of their deceased crew mates. One sailor drew a lot to be executed and eaten, and the process is described. It's an uncomfortable portion of the book, and I didn't expect to see that in the young reader's edition, but we learned from the book that drawing lots to eat crew members was common practice in the case of ship wreck at that time. It is a gripping story and very remarkable. One thing that really caught my attention was how literary their journals and letters were. Recommended, but with qualifications for how young your readers are.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the full version of this years ago, but decided to check out the Young Reader's Edition just for fun. It was pretty good. Not quite as engaging as the full version, but for young'ns it cuts out a lot of the extra details. Overall, I'd say this is a good option for the middle/high school crowd. There is one odd comment about some of the quarters on the ship that provides privacy from where the officers live and allow sailors to "find pleasure in their fellow men." This may have been an oversight, but if you are purposefully making a Young Reader's Edition this might be the type of thing you'd cut out. I'm just including this for any parents or teachers who may be thinking of using the book. Plenty of kids will read over this and not even notice. Others will not and will enjoy sharing the salacious detail with friends.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whale of a tale

Quick and concise read about the whale ship Essex and the tribulations of the crew. Really drew me in to the experience, and showed how important good leadership and good decision making is. There were were many chanced to avert disaster, and the captain bent to the will of his immediate subordinates instead of following his own good instincts.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook was riveting. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out the next detail of what had happened with this terrific true story. What brave men the world has known who would cast out into the unknown and in such harsh environments. It's a wonder anyone ever makes it back again. This story will stay with me a long time.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Essex disaster is not a tale of adventure. It is a tragedy that happens to be one of the greatest true stories ever told." (Nathaniel Philbrick)

[Darcie Saunier · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to read this book. I found it really dull. I completely lost interest in it and didn't finish.

[M.K.B. Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy-read version of the story of the shipwrecked Essex, a true tale that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick. A little gruesome at times, it's a fast, interesting read.

[Karen Kurth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read learned a lot

[Lynn Carrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn’t imagine being in a boat that long!

[Mark Wenzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Read aloud with my 9-year-old son. Riveting. An amazing account. Also a good way to review geography. Grateful for young readers editions.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting tale to say the least.

[Heather Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really enjoyed this book! Well researched and well written! I learned a lot! (You should know that I give stars based on how well I think a book represents its genre.)

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though parts were a little slow, I found this interesting. Oh what people have survived!

[Bill Reavey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding story of survival and seamanship. When I read books such as this I wonder if anyone in today’s age could survive such a daunting ordeal.

[Adam Kynaston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting, it didn’t feel quite as character driven as the nonfiction I most enjoy. Lots of interesting (super gross) facts about whaling!

[Sheppard C. Webb, MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Harrowing Tale

Well written tale of bad luck, pure terror, and human resilience make for a compelling tho terrifying read. Don’t miss this book.

[The]

this book is about the whale attack and the sinking and the first hand experience of the survivors of the uss essex this was a exceptional and enjoyable read it starts off at the start of the whale ships uss essex trip to hunt whales for their fat they came out of the whaling center of the world the town of nantucket the captain is inexperienced and the first mate was choosing to help guide him into his role once on the voyage they had some luck in finding some whales to kill and harvest their fat but their luck ran out when there was a storm brewing ahead of them the captain made a bad decision to keep the sales up thinking they can ride the storm they did for a bit then the storm hit them hard and they lost the main sale with their stock of whale fat is none to speak of the captain decide to sail to a strait of water called the offshore ground right smack in the middle of nowhere and rumors of cannibals that live on the surrounding island give them pause but they have no choice but go and that is where they are attacked by the whale that will make their voyage and ship the uss essex marked in history and in literature infamy with a famous classic novel being loosely based off of the retelling by the first mate
ill try to do a basic retelling of the tale of survival
in truth the whale probably attacked the ship because of the noise of the repairs they were doing to the hull of the essex i guess the whale thought it might of been a male whale trying to but in on his turf or the whale thought it was the sounds of a female in heat and that was what probably attracted the whales attention to the essex once the ship was attacked they had to split what was left of the supplies between the two boats and head out to try to find a ship to save them or try to get to one of the surrounding islands to be saved
one thing that i found interesting was that at a small island they tried to attract attention of passing ships was to burn all the trees of the island and in doing so they nearly made the species of seagulls of that island extinct and they made the tortoise species on that island extinct thats really the two thing that caught my interest
i have to say this about the book that was loosely based on the retelling of the first mate that the whale didn't attack the ship with an intent to sink the ship it was confused with all the noise of the repairs of the hull and its thought that the ship was a female whale in heat and the captain was never obsessed to find the whale and kill it in revenge that is the authors fictional depiction of what the first mate told him
i have to say about the movie of the same name of the book that the way it potraied the whale is also fictional it didn't do all it did before it attacked the ship and it didn't follow the two boats when they left the sinking ship i just wished that the movie had some truth to the whale that it just attacked the ship and left and that it didn't do what else it did in the movie it just was added to the movie to make it more interesting
i give this book a 6/10

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, Goodreads doesn’t have the adult version of In the Heart of the Sea listed, so I’m using the youngster’s version so I can keep a record of what I’ve read.

Secondly, this is such a powerful book. I have learned so much more history since graduating from high school and college than I ever did when I was taking classes. I love history, I love sea stories, I love adventure / disaster stories. And this is a great one.

Philbrick gives a brief history of Nantucket and the whaling business that dominated the island in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He gives background on the family and island ties, people bound together by their being Quakers in a town with a singular focus on building wealth. He shows how outsiders - either mainlanders or non-Quakers - were ostracized. And he shows the compulsion to be better, faster, more successful than friends and neighbors.

All that came to bear in the disastrous voyage of the whaleship Essex, the ship whose destruction by an angry whale inspired Melville to write Moby Dick. The privations of the men were terrible - I think the worst is having to kill one another to survive. I can see how desperate people would be forced to eat anything they could, even if it were other people, but to eat people who have died is very different from drawing lots to determine who’s going to be the next meal. How do you live with that?

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!! The author wrote a compelling non-fiction story that reads more like a novel in a lot if places. It's not biased and I really feel like I learned something reading this book. Totally recommending!!

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great audio book!