Revenge of the Whale

In 1820, the “Essex” was rammed by an enraged sperm whale and sunk in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. As the ship went down, the twenty-man crew, many of whom were teenagers, piled into three leaky boats with minimal supplies and little hope. Yet three months later, eight of the men were rescued. How these young men overcame starvation, dehydration, and the maddening fear of a vengeful whale is an adventure that was famous in the nineteenth century and that thrills readers to this day. Now Nathaniel Philbrick brings that adventure to life for young readers. Including maps, diagrams, and an eight-page photo insert, “Revenge of the Whale” will keep readers on the edge of their seats as it recounts the shocking ordeal these brave men endured.

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