Waterman's Boy [Hardcover]

Susan Sharpe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1990 | Age Level: 9 and up

Two boys from a small town on the Chesapeake Bay help a scientist interested in cleaning up the water for the benefit of animals, plants, and people, while risking parental disapproval of people with too much education and of outsiders' interference in their means of earning a living.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-- This summertime adventure is about Ben, 10, who aspires to be a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay just like his father. He gets little encouragement from his father, who believes that his way of life is fast disappearing. Indeed, Ben's mother has converted their home to a bed-and-breakfast inn to supplement their income. When Ben and his friend Matt discover that someone has been dumping oil into the bay, they take steps to discover the identity of those involved. Sharpe has written that she wants the book "to leave a sweet feeling of happiness and optimism; that problems can be solved, that your parents can understand you, that the future can be rosy." Obviously, she carefully follows these strictures; unfortunately, the characters lack depth and the story is rather dull. Despite this, the book does address current issues: unemployment and pollution of the environment. The integration of these problems into the rest of the story is the book's strength. --Don Reaber, Meadowdale High School, Lynnwood, WA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (April 30, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027823512
• ISBN-13: 978-0027823516
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,098,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars this book was interesting and kept me turning the pages, November 13, 2002

By 

Riley Coonan (Fort. Wayne, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waterman's Boy (Hardcover)

This book is about a boy named Ben Warren who lives with his family in Maryland. He and his friend Matt Go down to Marsh Harbor and find oil in the water. Ben and Matt sneak down at night to Marsh Harbor to find out who is dumping oil into the water. They tell David Watchman(a scientist)what they saw and you'll have to read the book to find out what happens next!

I liked this book, even though it was a school project!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Waterman's Boy, November 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Waterman's Boy (Hardcover)

Waterman's Boy is about a 10 year old boy who wants to be a waterman (a person who catches crabs, oysters, and fish) when he grows up. The only trouble is that the bay where he lives is being polluted and the fishing industry is failing. The boy stuggles to find out why this bay is being distroyed. In the end, the boy learns about the effects of chemicals on the enviroment, sticks up for his believes, and discovers what he is ment to do in life.

This book has a very slow plot, not very much action. It wouls be great to read if you are interested in the enviroment or fishing. Overall, it was pretty good.

5.0 out of 5 stars How Think about the book., March 29, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Waterman's Boy (Hardcover)

I think the story was cool.I like the part when Ben has Matt sleepover

so they could go fishing the next day and catch some big ones which

would mean catch a big fish. Ben's dad did not catch a fish that

day and he would give up but go back the next day and then usually

catch a fish that day he went .