Newbery Medal Winner
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
by Jean Lee Latham
Summary
Jean Lee Latham retells the life of Nathaniel Bowditch, a self taught mathematician from Salem, Massachusetts who rose from an indentured apprenticeship to revolutionize sea navigation. Despite being denied formal schooling, Bowditch mastered Latin, astronomy, and complex calculations, eventually writing a navigation guide that sailors trusted for generations. The biography blends seafaring adventure with an inspiring portrait of determination and self education.
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Historical Context & Significance
Bowditch's real navigation manual, The New American Practical Navigator, is still carried aboard United States Navy vessels today.