Submarines, Secrets and A Daring Rescue

Boom.

Ambrose quickly wiped the glass of the porthole and looked out. Black smoke from a cannon filled the air on the side of the ship.

Splash.

The cannonball collided with the water only feet from their vessel. John looked out the porthole at the buoy. “If we pass it and those rowboats keep coming at us, we’re dead.”

“If that ship hits us with a cannonball, we’re dead too. Ambrose wiped the sweat from his brow. What to do?

Book: Submarines, Secrets and a Daring Rescue (American Revolutionary War Adventures) by Robert J. Skead with Robert A. Skead, Zonderkidz, 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 10-15

Subjects: Revolutionary War, Sibling Relationships, Courage, Right from Wrong

Summary: Their dad would love nothing more than to send anyone, anyone at all out again rather than his sons. But there’s no choice. Ambrose really is the best sailor around. And he and John have already proven themselves courageous and loyal to the cause. Their mission this time is to tow the submarine to the drop off point where it will sneak under the water and attach a bomb to the bottom of a ship. Their only responsibility is to safely tow it to the drop off point where their older and stronger brother will take over. The problem is that he has been captured by the redcoats and so now it’s up to them to finish the mission and this part is even more dangerous than the first part!

Notes: Submarines, Secrets and A Daring Rescue is the second in the American Revolutionary War Adventures series. The series is written by a father/son team who trace their own legacy back to heroes of the Revolutionary War. The purpose is to convey truth about the kinds of events and key figures of the war. The end of the book contains numerous notes about the historical facts referenced in the book. This book focuses on the Turtle – a submarine built for the purpose of attempting to sabotage British ships during the war. The historical note at the end says it was never successful in attaching a bomb, but it did attempt it. There are a couple spiritual references in this story. When someone says something about good luck, the characters note that it isn’t luck, but “Providence” that helped them. There is also a large focus on conscience. General Washington encourages the boys to listen to that quiet voice inside them that is guiding them, helping them figure out right from wrong.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Isaiah 30:21 - Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Thank you to the publisher for proving me with a free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.