The Man with the Silver Oar

July 1, 2002
Gr 5-8 -Moore deftly weaves a tale of treachery on the high seas in this coming-of-age adventure. In 1718, 15-year-old Daniel Collins, a well-brought-up Philadelphian living with his aunt and uncle, can only dream of exchanging his orderly existence as an apprentice in the shipyards for a life at sea. When he discovers that a family friend, Lieutenant Mainwaring, is outfitting a ship to hunt down pirates, in particular the notorious buccaneer Jack Scarfield, Daniel stows away on it. His Quaker upbringing forbids him to take up arms against his fellow man, but when he experiences firsthand the destruction left behind by the pirates, he must decide whether or not to compromise his principles in order to defeat the most notorious sea rover of the time. A trail of burning ships and murdered men leads to a climactic battle, in the course of which Daniel learns that his Uncle Elias and Scarfield are one and the same. This character, a figure based on a real person, is largely left unexamined. Daniel is a strong protagonist who leaves home as a boy but emerges from his adventure aboard the Sea Turtle as an emotionally strong and responsible individual. Violent encounters are compellingly related, secondary characters are nicely developed, and the author does a fine job of describing life at sea. An afterword provides interesting historical information about "The Golden Age of Piracy," and the original source of the tale of Captain Scarfield. A thematically rich story of friendship, betrayal, and familial honor. -Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2002
Gr. 6-12. Showing off his masterful storytelling, Moore quickly sets into motion a highly charged clash between the worlds of pirating on the high seas and a nonviolent ideology. Daniel, a Quaker teen, stows away on a ship that is in search of a pirate who escaped hanging and apparently embarrassed and infuriated the ship's pursuing captain. Thought to be too passive and fearful to prove himself on rough waters, Daniel nonetheless develops real fortitude while privately exploring the religious teachings that both help him survive and cause inner turmoil. Some Dickensian twists and mixed identities create well-timed surprises, and the minor characters--swarthy, crass, bold, yet fitting for the eighteenth-century setting--color the landscape. An exciting, thought-provoking adventure tale that explores issues of religious faith, slavery, and pacifism.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)