Eben Tyne, Powder Monkey

by Patricia Beatty

A thirteen-year-old powdermonkey in the Confederate navy joins the crew of the ironclad Merrimack in a mission to break the Union blockade of Norfolk harbor.

Genres: Civil War

227 pages, Library Binding

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

Patricia Beatty (1922 - 1991) was an American author of award-winning children's and young adult historical fiction novels.

She was born in Portland, Oregon, and was a longtime resident of southern California. After graduating from college, she taught high school English and history, and later held various positions as a science and technical librarian, and also as a children's librarian. She taught Writing Fiction for Children at several branches of the University of California.

She wrote over 50 novels, and co-write 10 of them with her husband, John L. Beatty.

Beatty died in Riverside, California in 1991.

Reviews

[Books Kids Like · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eben Tyne is the son of Captain Sam Tyne, a sailor. Seafaring is in Eben's blood, and his skill shows itself when he successfully maneuvers his small oyster boat during a sudden and violent squall. Eben is chosen, along with his father, to help plant mines among the Yankee ships blockading Norfolk harbor. The only crewman left conscious during a Yankee cannon bombardment, Eben manages to get the paddlewheeler, Lucy, and her crew safely to shore. Captains Tyne and Owen, and Jason Owen, Eben's best friend, leave for France hoping to gain financial support for the Confederacy. Eben joins the crew of the South's new iron-clad ship, the Merrimack. The Confederates hope to destroy the Yankee blockade with this ship. Jamie Sloat, Eben's long time enemy, joins the crew, too. The boys soon put their differences aside and become fast friends. Together they endure the choking smoke and heat of battle. Eben and Jamie keep Jack Rawlins, a Yankee spy, from blowing up the Merrimack by chewing through the explosives' fuses. When Norfolk falls to the Yankees, the Merrimack's commander orders her to be destroyed. Her crew joins the Confederate land forces and helps to beat back enemy ships trying to reach Richmond. The Yankees capture Eben and put him in a Yankee prison. Soon after, Gunner Kendrick, from his old gun crew, is brought to the prison. Both are very surprised when Jack Rawlins offers them a spot on a Yankee ship bound for Jamaica's pirate infested waters. A sailor's hatred for pirates transcends all else. They accept his offer.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

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