Bibliographic Information:
Frederick, H. V. (2002). The voyage of Patience Goodspeed. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Readability Level: 7.1
Audience Level: Grades 6-8
Suggested Delivery: read aloud or small group
Summary: "After the death of their mother, Patience and her younger brother, Tad, are taken by their captain father aboard his whaling ship for a three-year journey. At first, Patience desperately misses her Nantucket home, but she slowly grows accustomed to life at sea. The 12-year-old isn't thrilled to be confined to menial housekeeping chores, but after she is the first person to spot a whale, her father teaches her to use navigation equipment. When the ship is later threatened with sabotage by mutinous sailors, the girl must put her newfound skills and confidence to the test. Patience is a fully fleshed-out character, with layers of strength, intelligence, courage, and resourcefulness. She is also seeking approval from her father and anxious about her role on the ship and in life. Readers get a good sense of conditions aboard a whaler in 1835 and what daily life entailed. Nautical terms are included, but are not too technical and are woven throughout the text smoothly enough to glean the meaning (a glossary is included). The flow and pace of the novel are breezy enough to hold reader interest. Overall, a delightful journey with an appealing, well-rounded character."
-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Frederick, H. V. (2002). The voyage of Patience Goodspeed. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Readability Level: 7.1
Audience Level: Grades 6-8
Suggested Delivery: read aloud or small group
Summary: "After the death of their mother, Patience and her younger brother, Tad, are taken by their captain father aboard his whaling ship for a three-year journey. At first, Patience desperately misses her Nantucket home, but she slowly grows accustomed to life at sea. The 12-year-old isn't thrilled to be confined to menial housekeeping chores, but after she is the first person to spot a whale, her father teaches her to use navigation equipment. When the ship is later threatened with sabotage by mutinous sailors, the girl must put her newfound skills and confidence to the test. Patience is a fully fleshed-out character, with layers of strength, intelligence, courage, and resourcefulness. She is also seeking approval from her father and anxious about her role on the ship and in life. Readers get a good sense of conditions aboard a whaler in 1835 and what daily life entailed. Nautical terms are included, but are not too technical and are woven throughout the text smoothly enough to glean the meaning (a glossary is included). The flow and pace of the novel are breezy enough to hold reader interest. Overall, a delightful journey with an appealing, well-rounded character."
-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Curriculum Connections:
Taken from Wild Geese Guides
Taken from Wild Geese Guides
- Instruct a friend, or a teacher, on some interesting tidbit you learned while reading Voyage. Use a Voki to present this tidbit to the class.
- Compile a list of items you would want to take with you aboard The Morning Star for a three-year journey.
- Illustrate your favorite scene from the book in whatever media you choose: collage, paint, black and white, even photography or a digital comic strip!