Hurricane: Open Seas, 1844 (Survival) [Paperback]

Kathleen Duey (Author), Karen A. Bale (Author), Bill Dodge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1999 | Age Level: 10 and up | Series: Survival

During almost four years at sea with her whaling captain father, thirteen-year-old Rebecca finds life both boring and difficult--especially when the ship is nearly sunk by a hurricane.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-7-An absorbing piece of historical fiction. The story is set on a petticoat whaler (a ship on which the captain brings his wife and family) in 1844, and readers will quickly be caught up in the rugged onboard life. The story follows Rebecca Whittier, the captain's daughter, and John Lowe, a boy indentured to Captain Whittier. More than halfway through the book, a storm hits and it's a corker. The captain tries valiantly to keep his ship afloat but at last has to concede to the power of nature. Fate contrives to have John and Rebecca stuck high in the rigging when the captain calls to abandon ship, and the youngsters not only weather the end of the hurricane but save the ship's cargo as well. And all the dories bearing the crew return for a happy ending. The sailors' fear as they pursue the leviathan in small boats is not glossed over. Neither is the death of the animal, which is realistic without being too gory. The preparation of the whale's carcass is clearly described, right down to the stink of the try-pots. The whale sighting, chase, and kill are deftly handled, but the storm seems anticlimactic after all of the time spent on the whaling adventure. Still, this is a rip-roaring page-turner that readers will enjoy.-Randi Hacker, Montgomery Elementary School, VT

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 169 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689825447
• ISBN-13: 978-0689825446
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #826,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have published over 80 books for children of all ages and YA/Adult readers. Many have won state and national awards and all of them have brought me the kind of fan mail that writers love to get.

Two from today's email (Jan 27 11)
Dear Ms. Duey,

I am 8 years old and I live in Catalonia (Spain). I just finished reading your book "Moonsilver" with my mom, and I really liked it. I want to ask you, what was your dream in 3rd grade? I'm asking you because at the end of the book, it says that the series of the Unicorn's Secret books is based on a dream you had in 3rd grade. I am in third grade right now, so I'm really curious!!!
Please tell me

(writer's name)



Dear Ms. Duey,

I loved your book the Unicorn's Secret. Me and my mom read it together. I like your books because I like unicorns and your story was very exciting. I like to draw unicorns. They are one of my favorite animals. I have two stuffed animal unicorns. One is named Sparkle. I sleep with her every night. Did you always want to be a writer? Have you ever seen a real unicorn? I am in 1st grade. I love to read. When I grow up I want to be a animal trainer and I want to train unicorns if I can find one.

LOVE , (writer's name)


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YA readers are writing a lot, too. Most say something like this one:

I have been waiting for the third book in Skin Hunger trilogy forever. Ok not forever but it feels like it. When is it coming out? How long will you make me wait? I love these books and am really needing to know what happens to Sadima and Hahp!!!!!


I know, me, too. Please read below.
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If it is later than 6:30am PST, I am probably writing, even if I am on an airplane. I might be working on a faerie book or writing about unicorns for grade school kids, or I could be lost in something dark, detailed, and strange for YA/adult readers. The third book in the Resurrection of Magic Trilogy is dragging me through the woods. I am working on it every day, and am Skying instead of traveling to schools and libraries until I get it DONE. It's taking wild amazing turns and I love it.

If I am not working...I might be answering readers who contact me through my website: http://www.kathleenduey.com Thanks to everyone who gets in touch with me on Facebook, my blog, http://kathleenduey.blogspot.com/, Twitter, and all the other ways to reach me. I can't keep up anymore, but I try to answer questions and I send out signed bookplates when I can. It means so much to know that you like my books.

I appear at schools, bookstores, and teach at writers' conferences nationwide and internationally. There is a schedule on my website and I try to keep it current.
And more and more... I Skype. It's a wonderful way to meet readers in classrooms and at libraries, I love to drop in on book clubs and critique groups, then get back to work!

Book news: The Unicorn's Secret books are getting lovely new covers by Sandara Tang, an amazing artist based in Singapore. The fan mail astounds me.
Sandara is the cover artist for the new kid's series The Faerie's Promise, too. Excerpts from all my books are on http://www.kathleenduey.com

YA NOVEL ONLINE/IN PROGRESS: RUSSET fans: http://russet-one-wing.blogspot.com/
I am accumulating entries and will tag you all when there is more to read. Give me your contact info and I will add you to the alert list. kathleenduey at earthlink dot net

The third book of my YA/adult trilogy is in the works now. I don't have a release date yet because I still writing like MAD. But it will be ASAP, I promise. The story is taking amazing turns and dragging me through the woods the way the first two did. Thanks!!!! to the thousands of people asking when it will come out.

You have no idea how happy that makes me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was great!!, October 6, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Hurricane: Open Seas, 1844 (Survival) (Paperback)

I have read the book of SURVIVAL! HURRICANE.
I thought that it was the BEST survival book that I have read in a long time. This is such a good book that I couldn't put it down once I started it. After I read the first few pages I was into it right away. That was when I became a good fan of the survival books. Kathleen Duey and K. A. Bale are one of the best adventure writers that I have read about.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good Survival book!, April 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hurricane: Open Seas, 1844 (Survival) (Paperback)

This story is about Rebecca Whittier, the daughter of the captain of the Vigilance-a whaling boat hunting for whales in 1844. Rebecca wishes she was back home in New Bedford, with her friend and cousin. John Lowe is a free African American about Rebecca's age. John was indentured by his father to work on the Vigilance, but John hates the work. When a sudden hurricane hits the Vigilance and the lifeboats leave without them, Rebecca and John must help each other to survive the violent winds and waves. I think the other Survival books were better than this one. They spent too much time describing the whaling process and not enough time during the hurricane. It was still a better-than-average book, though.

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Survival! book., February 19, 1999

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hurricane: Open Seas, 1844 (Survival) (Paperback)

Rebecca Whittier's father is the captain of the Vigilance, a whaling ship that sails all over the world in hunt of whales. On this particular voyage, Rebecca, her mother, and her younger brother, Joseph, have accompanied Captain Whittier. Eleven-year-old Joseph enjoys the voyage, but for thirteen-year-old Rebecca, it's been four long years of loneliness and boredom. She misses her friends in New Bedford and longs for the voyage to end. John Lowe, who is about Rebecca's age, was indentured by his father to living quarters dirty and cramped, and the work difficult. He, too, wishes the voyage to end so he can be back home. When the Vigilance is trapped in a hurricane and may sink, Rebecca and John find their lives in peril. They must help each other survive and save the ship. I loved this book