Jim Murphy once again writes an exciting story of a young boy on the cusp of a great, and sometimes violent, world. Jonathan Dodge has run away from his father's house, fleeing his father's wrathful punishments. He signs on as a "greenhorn," a sailor on an Alaskan whaling ship. On the high seas Jonathan finds more adventure and danger than one boy could have hoped for.

		Our next watch will be called soon, but I want to tell about my first shipboard meal. When I ended the last entry, the door to the midships bust open and the cook made his appearance, trailed by they cabin boy who was carrying two large buckets. The ship's cat scurried in, too. Cookie wore big black boots that weren't tied up, so he thumped whenever he took a step. "Grub's as ready as it'll ever be, ya worthless--. Eat up and no back talk ne'ther." Most greenies were to seasick to eat. Nathaniel prayed that the world would stop spinning and Stephen amen-ed that several times in a voice that could have come from the grave. A young sailor--his name Ethan Braddy, I think--went around with a repulsive old piece of salt pork dangling from a string saying the cure for seasickness was to swallow it and have it pulled up the throat slowly. His smile widened when any of the greenies gagged.