An abbreviated history for children. Contemporary readers may find Chase's mid-20th "young people's book" style a bit quaint, but it's a useful quick-read on the era of the clipper ships. Not as interesting as Chase's earlier book in this series, Sailing the Seven Seas, but that's because the earlier book is based on biographical material concerning Chase's paternal grandparents. Still, Donald McKay and the Clipper Ships is a useful introduction to the world portrayed in Chase's novels, particularly Mary Peters and Silas Crockett. ( )