Young Adult Naval Fiction

Young adult novels are really what got me interested in this genre to begin with, in particular The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi (and, of course, Treasure Island).

I also loved the first few of the Bloody Jack series by Louis A. Meyer. The later books are still enjoyable, but I don't feel as strongly about them.

I've just picked up Powder Monkey by Paul Dowswell, and am liking it so far.

But this got me to thinking, what are your favorite young adult nautical novels?

Interesting question, but frankly when I was a young adult I started right off with Hornblower, but that was the only nautical novel I could find.

Robert A. Mosher

Run the Blockade by G. Clifton Wisler would work well; the story of a teen on a Confederate blockade runner.

I started off with the Hornblower series as a child/teenager.

Treasure Island started me on my love of nautical books.
Followed by the Bounty Triology Mutiny on the Bounty,Men Against the Sea and Pitcairn's Island by Charles Nordhoff. Then I read Beat To Quarters and the whole Hornblower saga.

Linda Collison's Star-Crossed is a new Young Adult novel -- the story of a girl aboard an 18th Century man of war. An excellent book. (I invite you to read my review.)

The riddle of the sands is wonderful at any age--espionage and adventure in the Baltic and the North Sea, among Frisian Islands.

I adored Jules Verne's Dick Sand, a captain at fifteen (Un capitaine de quinze ans in French); any young person with a passion for sea adventures (and righteousness!) would enjoy the story of how a boy handled command of a ship AND fought the slave-traders.

Emilio Salgari wrote a series of books about the pirate Sandokan--these might appeal especially to younger teens, I remember them fondly.