About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is starting to question the complexity of loyalty and whether being on the winning or losing side of a conflict defines one's character. It is an ideal choice for middle schoolers who enjoy technical details but are ready to explore the moral friction that occurs when personal duty clashes with individual conscience. The story follows Jim, a teenage apprentice who helps build the S.S. Alabama and then joins its crew as it hunts Union ships during the Civil War. While the setting is a high-seas adventure full of naval strategy and engineering, the emotional core focuses on a young man navigating the gray areas of war. It deals with the heavy themes of justice and integrity in a way that is accessible for ages 10 to 14, providing a bridge between simple action stories and complex historical analysis.
