The Powder Monkey

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About this book

A hungry, exhausted boy near Torquay finds an unexpected protector in Jack Jeens, a sailor whose gruff manner conceals practical kindness. Jack carries the child into town, secures a bed at an inn and hopes his ship's captain can decide how to help. George Manville Fenn builds The Powder Monkey around this unlikely bond, with the boy's vulnerability set beside the seaman's rough speech and careful actions.

Aboard a much larger vessel, Phil becomes a favourite with the sailors and officers, while Jack remains his closest companion. Acceptance by the crew also brings trouble from older boys, who chase and harass him around the decks. This historical sea story for young readers, associated with the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, combines shipboard routines with a child's need for protection and belonging. Its interest lies as much in the everyday exchanges between the two companions as in the pressures of naval life.