Take Command, Captain Farragut! [Hardcover]

Peter Roop (Author), Connie Roop (Author), Michael McCurdy (Illustrator)

Book Description

At age ten, David Glasgow Farragut became the youngest midshipman ever assigned to a warship in the U. S. Navy. At roughly the same age as a fifth grader would be today, Farragut had his commission papers signed by President James Madison and then reported aboard the Essex to engage the British Navy in battle during the War of 1812. On board the Essex, led by Captain Porter, Farragut would not only have to learn much about life at sea, he would have to establish his authority over seamen twice his age. Was he up to the challenge?

Indeed he was, as the Essex first sailed the Atlantic and then traveled "around the Horn" to the Pacific where it surprised and took possession of British warships and whaling vessels alike. In fact, it was in taking command of one of those captured ships off of Valparaiso, Chile, that Farragut, then only twelve years old, was assigned his first position as full captain and was given the captain's sword he had coveted from the start.

In Take Command, Captain Farragut!, Peter and Connie Roop imagine a series of letters written by Farragut to his father while on a prison ship after the British eventually defeated and captured the Essex. The letters tell of Farragut's drive to excel despite his youth, and bring to life both his courage and confidence in facing challenges far beyond his years.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Take Command, Captain Farragut! by Peter Roop and Connie Roop, illus. by Michael McCurdy, presents the true story of 10-year-old David Glasgow Farragut, who ascended the ranks from midshipman to captain (at age 12) aboard a U.S. naval ship during the War of 1812. His rise unfolds through a series of fictional letters to his father; framed scratchboard illustrations depict the child's days at sea and eventual imprisonment by the British.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grades 3-5--David Glasgow Farragut had a successful naval career, distinguishing himself during the Civil War by capturing New Orleans, opening the Mississippi River for the Union, and winning the Battle of Mobile Bay. However, more than 50 years before the Civil War, at age nine and a half, he became the second youngest midshipman ever commissioned by the U.S. Navy. It is of this time that the Roops write in this well-researched title. Through a series of fictional letters (based on Farragut's own accounts) addressed to his father from a prison in Valparaiso, Chile, the boy relates his adventures aboard the Essex. They included crossing the equator, rounding the Cape of Good Hope, confiscating cargo ships, and battling British warships during the War of 1812 that resulted in his eventual brief imprisonment. The writing style, the vocabulary, the typeface, and the complementary scratchboard illustrations lend an air of authenticity to the volume. The correspondence is so convincing that the presentation pushes this title very close to the historical fiction shelf. The difference between this biography and the "My America" or "Dear America" series (Scholastic) is slim. For that reason, the book's use will probably be more for enjoyment than for reports. Reading about the adventures and exploits of this young man can help students relate to history.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068983022X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689830228
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,008,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love the arwork, great story, difficult reading for recommended age group, September 6, 2008

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This review is from: Take Command, Captain Farragut! (Hardcover)

Personally, I love this story. Other than the DC metro stop, I had never heard of Farragut. I learned so much about him in this book.

However, my son who is in the latter end of the book's age target spectrum said, "Mom, this story is confusing." I had to agree, it is definitely not a straightforward read. The sequence of events is presented in somewhat reverse order. Also, it is written in the very formal style of early 1800's American English. Because I was interested in the content, I did not let these facts hinder me.

With that said, this book is probably better suited as a "read-aloud". This will help young readers overcome the style and plot barriers. They are worth overcoming as the actual information will be quite inspiring and exciting to young readers.

Farragut started sailing as a very young boy with his dad on Lake Pontchartrain. Upon his mom's death 9 year old Farragut was sent to live with the family of Commodore David Porter. At 10 Farragut was appointed midshipman on Porter's boat, the Essex. By 12 he'd captained a ship (captured British whaler, the Barclay).

This story might have captured my son's imagination a little more quickly if it had been written in simpler style and if the plot had been more straightforward. At the same time, I feel that the author's approach helps give the reader a good feel for the type of person Farragut was.

I'm glad I purchased it, and will read it aloud to my children.