What do you think?
Rate this book
Clearing Weather
The story of young Nicholas Drury's struggle to maintain his uncle's shipyard in a Massachusetts town in the difficult years following the American Revolution.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1928
3 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 8, 2022
I believe (fingers crossed!) that this is the last Meigs book I had to read on the Newbery list. Please let me be right! I don't think I can handle any more of her verbosity. Her books are so heavy, not in subject matter but how she writes. Too many words.
I thought this book might be more interesting, the beginning was definitely exciting, but as the book went on and on and on (and on), my interest started flagging until it nearly hit rock bottom.
I just finished reading it last week and I've already forgotten the names of the main characters, that's how much I cared by the end. Basically one boy is trying to keep his uncle's shipping business going, but some bad dude in town doesn't want him to succeed. The boy has proof this bad dude was a traitor but doesn't want to use it. (This did not make any sense to me. It was so dumb.)
Meanwhile, the boy's friend has gone on an expedition around the world to make the town some money. They do this for a VERY. LONG. TIME.
Meigs needed an editor (or a different editor) in a bad way.
I thought this book might be more interesting, the beginning was definitely exciting, but as the book went on and on and on (and on), my interest started flagging until it nearly hit rock bottom.
I just finished reading it last week and I've already forgotten the names of the main characters, that's how much I cared by the end. Basically one boy is trying to keep his uncle's shipping business going, but some bad dude in town doesn't want him to succeed. The boy has proof this bad dude was a traitor but doesn't want to use it. (This did not make any sense to me. It was so dumb.)
Meanwhile, the boy's friend has gone on an expedition around the world to make the town some money. They do this for a VERY. LONG. TIME.
Meigs needed an editor (or a different editor) in a bad way.
September 15, 2019
The second of Cornelia Meigs' children's novels to be selected as a Newbery Honor Book, following upon her 1922 publication,
The Windy Hill
, (Meigs also won the Newbery Medal itself, for her 1933 children's biography of Louisa May Alcott,
Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women
) Clearing Weather is an adventure story centered upon the Massachusetts town of Branscomb, and the fortunes of the ship-building Drury family in the early years of American independence. Like a number of previous Newbery titles - Charles Boardman Hawes'
The Great Quest
and
The Dark Frigate
, Padraic Colum's
The Voyagers: Being Legends and Romances of Atlantic Discovery
- sea voyaging plays a prominent part in the story.
With his Uncle Thomas lying gravely ill, and the family shipyards in serious financial trouble, young Nicholas Drury doesn't know where to turn at the beginning of Clearing Weather. But an unexpected visit from a French radical and his young American companion provide him with the assistance and confidence he needs to begin building anew, while also opening his eyes to the wider political ramifications of New England's stagnating trade. Enlisting the aid of Branscomb's workers, Nicholas soon launches the Jocasta - a Drury ship to rival them all - with his good friend Michael Slade on board to conduct trade in far ports. But when the Jocasta doesn't return for two years, and no word is heard of her, it begins to look as if he has lost it all...
Although the sea adventure is not really one of my favorite genres, I think Meigs' story is engaging enough, and has sufficient historical interest to hold the reader's attention. I was particularly struck by her depiction of the insecurity and chaos that reigned, in the early days of American independence, before the Constitution had been adopted, or any definitive form of government decided upon. Unfortunately, whatever pleasure I might have taken in the story was dulled by the frequent instances of racism and anachronistic social content in the text.
It is my habit, when reading a book such as this, to mark any particularly offensive passage with a little slip of paper, in order to return to it later for consideration. Little gems like "The odd fancies of childlike savages do not often linger in the minds of busy men" (about the Indians), or "those half-naked bodies, glistening wet from the fog, the upturned diabolical yellow faces, the long knives ready" (about the Chinese pirates), finally grew so numerous that I gave up. Some of these older titles are worth reading, despite the anachronistic content, but this isn't one of them, and I recommend that all but the determined Newbery completist, or the scholar researching this genre of children's story, forgo it.
With his Uncle Thomas lying gravely ill, and the family shipyards in serious financial trouble, young Nicholas Drury doesn't know where to turn at the beginning of Clearing Weather. But an unexpected visit from a French radical and his young American companion provide him with the assistance and confidence he needs to begin building anew, while also opening his eyes to the wider political ramifications of New England's stagnating trade. Enlisting the aid of Branscomb's workers, Nicholas soon launches the Jocasta - a Drury ship to rival them all - with his good friend Michael Slade on board to conduct trade in far ports. But when the Jocasta doesn't return for two years, and no word is heard of her, it begins to look as if he has lost it all...
Although the sea adventure is not really one of my favorite genres, I think Meigs' story is engaging enough, and has sufficient historical interest to hold the reader's attention. I was particularly struck by her depiction of the insecurity and chaos that reigned, in the early days of American independence, before the Constitution had been adopted, or any definitive form of government decided upon. Unfortunately, whatever pleasure I might have taken in the story was dulled by the frequent instances of racism and anachronistic social content in the text.
It is my habit, when reading a book such as this, to mark any particularly offensive passage with a little slip of paper, in order to return to it later for consideration. Little gems like "The odd fancies of childlike savages do not often linger in the minds of busy men" (about the Indians), or "those half-naked bodies, glistening wet from the fog, the upturned diabolical yellow faces, the long knives ready" (about the Chinese pirates), finally grew so numerous that I gave up. Some of these older titles are worth reading, despite the anachronistic content, but this isn't one of them, and I recommend that all but the determined Newbery completist, or the scholar researching this genre of children's story, forgo it.
July 13, 2022
4.5 stars.
August 1, 2018
Anyone interested in sailing, shipbuilding, international trade, and politics, would find this a fascinating book. You follow the fortunes of a family as they risk everything to keep their shipyard going. They convince a town to invest in the building of a ship, but they will have to overcome spies, saboteurs, and uncharted waters or they will lose everything.
I thought it is a really fun way to teach about the economic and political turmoil following the Revolutionary War. It shows the people's still conflicting loyalties, the uncertainty of the success of the new nation, the troubles of a too weak central government, and the economic ruin brought about by the war. Meigs manage to teach all of that in a fairly interesting story format. There were parts that were a little slow, especially the middle part. That is where they are facing financial struggles. After that though, it picked up and there is some wonderful action with assassins, pirates, Indians, and treasure. had
I really appreciate the patriotism of the main character. He believes in his new country and tries his best to support it and his family. I also liked the way they discussed the principles of freedom that were on trial through the first few years after the Revolution. It was done very naturally in the flow of the story and didn’t interrupt the action.
It was a good adventure story. It was perfectly clean and acceptable for any age, though it is written for a teen audience. The vocabulary was really very good. I didn't really care for the illustrations and found them a little blocky and the color illustrations were a little odd.
I received this as a free ARC from NetGalley and Dover Books. No favorable review was required. It was my pleasure to provide my honest opinions.
I thought it is a really fun way to teach about the economic and political turmoil following the Revolutionary War. It shows the people's still conflicting loyalties, the uncertainty of the success of the new nation, the troubles of a too weak central government, and the economic ruin brought about by the war. Meigs manage to teach all of that in a fairly interesting story format. There were parts that were a little slow, especially the middle part. That is where they are facing financial struggles. After that though, it picked up and there is some wonderful action with assassins, pirates, Indians, and treasure. had
I really appreciate the patriotism of the main character. He believes in his new country and tries his best to support it and his family. I also liked the way they discussed the principles of freedom that were on trial through the first few years after the Revolution. It was done very naturally in the flow of the story and didn’t interrupt the action.
It was a good adventure story. It was perfectly clean and acceptable for any age, though it is written for a teen audience. The vocabulary was really very good. I didn't really care for the illustrations and found them a little blocky and the color illustrations were a little odd.
I received this as a free ARC from NetGalley and Dover Books. No favorable review was required. It was my pleasure to provide my honest opinions.
December 26, 2023
As much as I enjoyed Cornelia Meigs’ 1922 honor (The Windy Hill) this one didn’t have quite the same effect. I still like her writing style, but I think it’s better suited for younger characters. She doesn't age them convincingly... or something. This book is centered around older teenagers, and I never got particularly attached to them. The action was good and the story was somewhat compelling. However, if I don’t fall for the characters and their plight, then the story is kind of a wash. It falls in that "eh" range for me.
Edit: I noticed some criticisms of racism and sexism against this book, and wanted to say I didn't get that feeling. (Granted, I may have missed something while I was "eh"ing through.) I wouldn't call the book completely clear of sexism or racism, but Cornelia Meigs is pretty good at making her characters have opinions, and keeping the narrator tone neutral. The characters are travelling across the world, and need adventure. They encounter villains of different races and friends of different races. Indians (of India) are the main bad guys before they finally hit China. I think that's more due to geography and trying to create some action. The point of the book is that these plucky teenagers want to prove themselves as a relevant force to the Chinese to save the shipyard, and the Chinese are the cool kids on the block. I didn’t see anything specific in the way that other early Newbery books have bugged me. As for sexism… well, I was pleased with how opinionated (borderline annoying, even) the few women characters were. No obedience here. That suited me fine for a book staged in the 1700s.
Edit: I noticed some criticisms of racism and sexism against this book, and wanted to say I didn't get that feeling. (Granted, I may have missed something while I was "eh"ing through.) I wouldn't call the book completely clear of sexism or racism, but Cornelia Meigs is pretty good at making her characters have opinions, and keeping the narrator tone neutral. The characters are travelling across the world, and need adventure. They encounter villains of different races and friends of different races. Indians (of India) are the main bad guys before they finally hit China. I think that's more due to geography and trying to create some action. The point of the book is that these plucky teenagers want to prove themselves as a relevant force to the Chinese to save the shipyard, and the Chinese are the cool kids on the block. I didn’t see anything specific in the way that other early Newbery books have bugged me. As for sexism… well, I was pleased with how opinionated (borderline annoying, even) the few women characters were. No obedience here. That suited me fine for a book staged in the 1700s.
May 17, 2016
This 1929 Newbery Honor book attempts to illustrate the influence of ships on the building of America during and after the American Revolution.
The story itself feels worn and outdated; the plot was predictable to me even as a child which makes the book feel like it takes longer to read than it actually does. Granted, this book was easier to read than the last few Newbery books I have re-read. The language is modern; I said of Meigs' 1922 Newbery Honor book (The Windy Hill) that she reminded me of Mary Stewart in the way that she handles descriptions; that statement still applies with this book. That's her strong point - Meigs knew how to spin a description.
The problem is that some of her descriptions, while they may have been acceptable at the time of publication, are not acceptable in our evolving modern world. Like many books of this time, this story is disparaging toward Native Americans and Asians. On the other hand, this book also mentions how widespread trade was between North and South American natives and we catch a glimpse of China. But still, we watch white men invade territories that they have no jurisdiction over and we're supposed to sympathize with them when the native populations attempt to mete out their own law and order - law and order that is only depicted as ruthlessness and savagery to these white invaders. Strangely enough, this plot-line is paralleled with England's attempt to claim America.
Then, there's the depiction of women. A handful of comments scattered throughout the text reinforce the notion that a woman's rightful place is "in the home." Meanwhile, one female character laments that she can't be a sailor herself and, ultimately, it's the women who save the whole town's trade while all the credit goes to the men who took the women's wares out into the world.
This juxtaposition of information makes me wonder if Meigs intended this book to be a starting point for discussions about these issues? And, if used as such, this book has potential to inspire those conversations between parents and children/teachers and students. I don't know that I would want a child to read this book on their own and potentially take away some of these attitudes without getting those discussions.
The story itself feels worn and outdated; the plot was predictable to me even as a child which makes the book feel like it takes longer to read than it actually does. Granted, this book was easier to read than the last few Newbery books I have re-read. The language is modern; I said of Meigs' 1922 Newbery Honor book (The Windy Hill) that she reminded me of Mary Stewart in the way that she handles descriptions; that statement still applies with this book. That's her strong point - Meigs knew how to spin a description.
The problem is that some of her descriptions, while they may have been acceptable at the time of publication, are not acceptable in our evolving modern world. Like many books of this time, this story is disparaging toward Native Americans and Asians. On the other hand, this book also mentions how widespread trade was between North and South American natives and we catch a glimpse of China. But still, we watch white men invade territories that they have no jurisdiction over and we're supposed to sympathize with them when the native populations attempt to mete out their own law and order - law and order that is only depicted as ruthlessness and savagery to these white invaders. Strangely enough, this plot-line is paralleled with England's attempt to claim America.
Then, there's the depiction of women. A handful of comments scattered throughout the text reinforce the notion that a woman's rightful place is "in the home." Meanwhile, one female character laments that she can't be a sailor herself and, ultimately, it's the women who save the whole town's trade while all the credit goes to the men who took the women's wares out into the world.
This juxtaposition of information makes me wonder if Meigs intended this book to be a starting point for discussions about these issues? And, if used as such, this book has potential to inspire those conversations between parents and children/teachers and students. I don't know that I would want a child to read this book on their own and potentially take away some of these attitudes without getting those discussions.
June 4, 2016
I had a difficult time rating this book. It's an engaging adventure story of ship-building and sailing in the years immediately following the American Revolution that reveals quite a bit of the uncertainty and difficulties faced by normal people in New England at that time. However, Meigs writes with a strong streak of early-20th century white patrimony, revealing now and then the erroneous popular notion at the time of southern slaves and Native Americans being childlike and less capable than Caucasians. That right there diminishes my enjoyment of the tale.
Structurally, I had a couple annoyances. The figure of Etienne Bardeau is put forward as an important proponent in the developing French revolution, with hints at a masked identity of great importance, yet this is never revealed. He is a secondary character, so that's not of profound importance to the story. Even more annoying to me, personally, is the way the main character's refusal to turn a traitor in is held up as a great virtue despite the immense damage that person continued to wield on the main character (and thus the entire community). Why is that stance "noble" rather than a case of twisted and unnecessary long suffering? It's not a trait that appeals to me in the least. Self-defense does not need to be vindictive, nor (done legally) is it reproachful, but rather it is necessary and right to pursue.
Grammatically, I almost couldn't get myself to read this book. The first half-page is riddled with horrid punctuation errors that were extremely distracting. I was actually astonished to see such poor construction bear a Newbery Honor status. It doesn't take too long to adjust to the old style of voice, though. Eventually you can ignore the punctuation errors as the adventure draws you in. In fact, the book's tone is rather like reading a cross between Robinson Crusoe and the Hardy Boys.
So there it is - Zero stars for being so blatantly patronizing to non-Caucasians; One star for having story elements that drive me nuts, and a plethora of continuity-breaking punctuation errors; 5 stars for being an engaging tale that has a good cultural reveal of the years following the revolution. I'm averaging this out for 2 stars on my review.
Structurally, I had a couple annoyances. The figure of Etienne Bardeau is put forward as an important proponent in the developing French revolution, with hints at a masked identity of great importance, yet this is never revealed. He is a secondary character, so that's not of profound importance to the story. Even more annoying to me, personally, is the way the main character's refusal to turn a traitor in is held up as a great virtue despite the immense damage that person continued to wield on the main character (and thus the entire community). Why is that stance "noble" rather than a case of twisted and unnecessary long suffering? It's not a trait that appeals to me in the least. Self-defense does not need to be vindictive, nor (done legally) is it reproachful, but rather it is necessary and right to pursue.
Grammatically, I almost couldn't get myself to read this book. The first half-page is riddled with horrid punctuation errors that were extremely distracting. I was actually astonished to see such poor construction bear a Newbery Honor status. It doesn't take too long to adjust to the old style of voice, though. Eventually you can ignore the punctuation errors as the adventure draws you in. In fact, the book's tone is rather like reading a cross between Robinson Crusoe and the Hardy Boys.
So there it is - Zero stars for being so blatantly patronizing to non-Caucasians; One star for having story elements that drive me nuts, and a plethora of continuity-breaking punctuation errors; 5 stars for being an engaging tale that has a good cultural reveal of the years following the revolution. I'm averaging this out for 2 stars on my review.
November 24, 2017
I'm giving this one 4 stars in spite of some 1920s issues with race because the story was just that good. The setting is small town New England (probably Massachusetts), specifically a ship building town. It's early days post American Revolution and the country is far from united. There are Tories about who are engaged in undermining the new country (much as in The Codfish Musket which was set in the same period but on the frontier). The main protagonist is 20ish Nicholas Drury, nephew of a shipbuilder who has fallen on hard times. Drury comes up with a plan to save the firm: build a new ship in which the builders will have a stake rather than wages. Ranged against him is his uncle's former friend Cortland who has no desire to see any American enterprise succeed. Enter a dashing Frenchman, Etienne, and his dashing southern squire, Michael, and the shenanigans begin. On her maiden voyage the Jocasta sets sail first to the West Indies, then she deviates from her plan to sail to Europe and the Mediterranean and instead sails around the Horn for the Northwest to trade for furs with the Indians then onward to China. A voyage which was to be less than a year becomes twice that and everyone fears the Jocasta is lost. Is there racism in the book? Yes. There is a definite feeling that the First Peoples are both child-like, savage, and not to be trusted - given that no white speaks their language or attempts to do so, it's amazing any trade takes place. The Chinese are introduced first in a pirate attack and then in more hospitable quarters when trade begins. While Western European culture and initiative is lauded throughout, overall Chinese culture doesn't fare too badly. The most racist parts of the books are two of the three color plates, one depicting leering, snarling natives, the other leering, snarling Chinese pirates. But the depiction of Cortland is no better. It's as if the artist can depict villains only as leering and snarling. I read this for my 2017 Reading Challenge and my Newbery Challenge (Honor Book 1929).
July 3, 2014
I thought it was a pretty good book. Definitely full of adventure, but nothing too extraordinary. I thought it was ridiculous how Nicholas wanted to deal 'fairly' with Darius by not using the book against him. However, in today's world what Nicholas did is called blackmail and withholding evidence from the law. I also thought this book did a good job at not being too racist when they had many chances, but the author didn't seem to quite understand some of the cultures she professed to. Yes, disrespect is there, but not so much as it is in many books of the time.
December 16, 2011
Interesting? Yes. Sensitive to other cultures? Not in the slightest. And I occasionally felt like I'd read this story before, though I cannot think what book I am thinking of. Something where the people of the town pack up their nicest possessions (particularly the young women with portions of their dowries) to invest in a local merchant's venture. I thought maybe I had simply read this same book before, but none of the rest seems familiar. Guess I'll have to keep thinking and see if I can remember what book this one reminded me of.
September 13, 2016
Read the full review here: http://newberyandbeyond.com/newbery-r...
Clearing Weather tells the story of the years right after the Revolutionary War. Nicholas is in charge of his uncle’s failing business when he decides to build his own ship and set it off in search of riches. This is not a bad story; I found myself enjoying the plot in many places, but it’s full of racism and sexism. For that reason, I found this book unsalvageable.
Clearing Weather tells the story of the years right after the Revolutionary War. Nicholas is in charge of his uncle’s failing business when he decides to build his own ship and set it off in search of riches. This is not a bad story; I found myself enjoying the plot in many places, but it’s full of racism and sexism. For that reason, I found this book unsalvageable.
August 28, 2020
Despite my great efforts, this one ceased to grab my attention. It was all I could do to make it through. NIcholas Drury's idea to financially save the welfare of his community by building one last ship, in which each willing resident would own a piece and be able to transport goods for sale, was noble, but not compelling. It felt like it took a lot of words in the beginning to even get the plot rolling. I am relieved to me done with this one.
January 7, 2019
A decent adventure story in the vein of Treasure Island set just after the American Revolution in New England. Lots of info about ships and trading during the time. However, way more description than really necessary, plus some racism and sexist, make this maybe not the best choice for children today.
May 31, 2025
This had a really slow start, but once it got going (maybe 1/3-1/2 into the book, I became really invested in what the outcome was going to be. There are a lot of problematic and racist depictions of, basically anyone who isn't white. The portrayal of American Indians in particular is really bad, but the Chinese depiction isn't a whole lot better. There are references to African Americans living on a plantation, but they are much more mentioned in passing. The main adventure part is very engaging but much of this has not held up well at all. The frontispiece in color of the fight between the main ship and the Chinese pirates paints the Chinese pirates in lurid, bright yellow and it's pretty terrible.
August 19, 2022
Some parts of this book are engaging. Others are stunningly boring. The travel of the ship Jocosta from the New England coast to the South, around Cape Horn to the Pacific Northwest Coast, and then to China gave opportunity to a broader variety of racism than I've seen before in Newbery books. Example in notes.
August 10, 2023
Old Adventure made alive
It’s a great historical fiction showing a time in American history. Kind of a peak into the back story of the newly, free young America. The theme of Americans taking risk and fighting for a place in the world runs through out.
It’s a great historical fiction showing a time in American history. Kind of a peak into the back story of the newly, free young America. The theme of Americans taking risk and fighting for a place in the world runs through out.
Want to read
June 12, 20251929 Newbery honor book
August 12, 2022
Nicholas Drury has the unfortunate task of declaring his Uncle Thomas's shipyard bankrupt, which would ruin half the town, when a mysterious man named Etienne Bardeau appears. Darius Corland is trying to take away the Drury's property. Nicholas meets Michael Slade, Etienne's friend, and learns from Etienne that Corland and his lawyer, Joseph Ryland, were on the British side during the Revolutionary War, and Etienne has a letter to prove it. Nicholas and Michael become business partners and plan to build the Jocasta and find new ports for trading. As the Jocasta is built, two of Corland's cronies attempt to murder Nicholas, but Michael saves him. After loading, the Jocasta sets sail with Michael on board, but doesn't come back when they expect her. Nicholas tries to get another ship ready to sail, but it burns.
Meanwhile, Michael has convinced Captain Douglas to sail around Cape Horn instead of going to the Mediterranean. They trade the shells Michael acquired for otter pelts, which they plan to trade in China, but the Jocasta gets stuck in a river. Timothy Tripp's friend, Hanno, helps them escape, and they sail to Asia, where the Jocasta collides with a pirate ship. They defeat the pirates and have a strange prisoner on board who turns out to be Leung Tsi-pun, who trades with them and wants Nicholas to build him a ship.
Etienne comes back to Massachusetts, and he and Nicholas save Corland from being murdered. At long last, the Jocasta finally comes home.
This was another exciting tale from Cornelia Meigs. I really enjoy her writing. The characters have so much depth and are always learning and growing, and they have values like being honest, working hard, and being loyal to your friends. I enjoyed the history of the struggle the United States went through as a new nation.
Meanwhile, Michael has convinced Captain Douglas to sail around Cape Horn instead of going to the Mediterranean. They trade the shells Michael acquired for otter pelts, which they plan to trade in China, but the Jocasta gets stuck in a river. Timothy Tripp's friend, Hanno, helps them escape, and they sail to Asia, where the Jocasta collides with a pirate ship. They defeat the pirates and have a strange prisoner on board who turns out to be Leung Tsi-pun, who trades with them and wants Nicholas to build him a ship.
Etienne comes back to Massachusetts, and he and Nicholas save Corland from being murdered. At long last, the Jocasta finally comes home.
This was another exciting tale from Cornelia Meigs. I really enjoy her writing. The characters have so much depth and are always learning and growing, and they have values like being honest, working hard, and being loyal to your friends. I enjoyed the history of the struggle the United States went through as a new nation.
July 20, 2016
A story of adversity at home and adventure abroad on the sea. Ship building leads to exploration on the sea of far off lands.
Unfortunately there are certain stereotypes about native tribes and Chinese that we don't need to be perpetuating and not to mention a lack of female characters. I wouldn't recommend this book.
Unfortunately there are certain stereotypes about native tribes and Chinese that we don't need to be perpetuating and not to mention a lack of female characters. I wouldn't recommend this book.
Want to read
July 15, 20121929 Newbery Honor book
Read
October 22, 2014f7e5e610-5d59-448a-ae7e-bdc7fef78da5
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews