When people venture into an unknown land they may have many dangers and perils. But with the risk comes the possibility of great gain.
In the early 1600s many hardy souls left England to come to the New World. They find a vast land with great possibilities. Among these groups are the Pilgrims. They are devout Calvinists and want to escape the Anglican Church of England.
On September 6, 1620, they leave England for the colony of Virginia. Their ship is named The Mayflower and the sailing crew numbers about 30. Below the decks, 102 intrepid Pilgrims gather as the ship casts off.
In this fascinating book, Kate Peters gives an interesting account of the voyage through the use of re-enactors. The photographs of crew and the passengers are very revealing. The story is seen primarily through the eyes of the ship’s youthful apprentice, William Small, and a young Pilgrim girl named Ellen Moore.
As they cast off, readers see the sails filling with a hearty breeze. William Small is nervous and excited, as this is his first voyage to the New World. As the ship leaves Plymouth Harbor and England is left behind, all kinds of work begin on the Mayflower. Though William is young, he must help pull the heavy rigging that control the sails.
The captain of the ship decides that William must learn to be an accomplished sailor and starts teaching him how to measure the position of the sun and the horizon with a quadrant. The first night, William attends to his other duties of serving food to the officers. Meanwhile, the Pilgrims are down at the bottom of the ship eating dinner and getting ready for their first night at sea.
The next morning a young girl named Ellen Moore walks up to the deck. She and William begin talking about their lives and homes. Ellen tells William that she is quite busy below. She helps the older women preparing the meals for the other travelers. There is constant mending of torn clothes and attending to passengers suffering from sea sickness. For being a girl no older than 10, Ellen is an accomplished sewer and dutiful helper on the sea voyage.
But suddenly frightening news comes from the captain. A severe storm is about to strike that will test the courage and tenacity of both the crew and the Pilgrims.
What effect do the storms the Pilgrims encounter have on the ship’s navigation? Why do they wind up in Massachusetts inside of Virginia?
Do many people get sick during the storms? Is there ever a fear that the ship might sink? How do the children react? Do you think you would be up to the challenges faced by William and Ellen?
To find out the answers to these and other questions about the Pilgrims, go to the library and check out "On the Mayflower: Voyage of the Ship’s Apprentice & a Passenger Girl" by Kate Waters.
This is a very interesting story about the voyage of the Mayflower. The pictures throughout the book are taken on an exact replica of the original Mayflower. All the re-enactors are dressed in clothing of the time. Waters gives readers a feeling that they are part of the Pilgrim experience throughout the book. There is a useful glossary of terms at the end of the book.
I enjoyed reading this book. It gives important historical information in a very intuitive manner. It is always good to learn in a manner that is also entertaining. Share this book with a member of your family. You will enjoy the experience.
