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Victory

susan cooper

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Two Children,

Two Struggles,

One Battle...

One child is Sam Robbins, a powder monkey aboard HMS Victory, the ship in which Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson will die a hero's death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The other is Molly Jennings, an English girl transplanted from London to the United States in 2006, fighting a battle of her own against loss and loneliness.

This extraordinary time-shifting adventure tells the interwoven stories of Sam and Molly, linked by a mystery. Sam is a farm boy, kidnapped at eleven years old by the "press gang" to serve in the Royal Navy. At first terrified and seasick, Sam is transformed gradually into a sailor. In the rowdy, dangerous world of a hundred-gun warship enduring the Napoleonic Wars, he meets both cruelty and kindness, and survives a fearsome battle whose echoes reach through the years to involve Molly as well. Like Sam, Molly has lost her childhood but will find her future, with help from a very unexpected source.

Separate yet together, Sam Robbins and Molly Jennings struggle through fear and excitement to a final ordeal that terrifyingly tests their courage. And the moving climax of the book shows two lives joined forever by the touch of Nelson, one of the greatest sailors of all time.

196 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2,2006

This edition

Format
196 pages, Hardcover
Published
July 1, 2006 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
ISBN
9781416914778
ASIN
1416914773
Language
English

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About the author

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susan cooper

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Susan Cooper's latest book is the YA novel "Ghost Hawk" (2013)

Susan Cooper was born in 1935, and grew up in England's Buckinghamshire, an area that was green countryside then but has since become part of Greater London. As a child, she loved to read, as did her younger brother, who also became a writer. After attending Oxford, where she became the first woman to ever edit that university's newspaper, Cooper worked as a reporter and feature writer for London's Sunday Times; her first boss was James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

Cooper wrote her first book for young readers in response to a publishing house competition; "Over Sea, Under Stone" would later form the basis for her critically acclaimed five-book fantasy sequence, "The Dark Is Rising." The fourth book in the series, "The Grey King," won the Newbery Medal in 1976. By that time, Susan Cooper had been living in America for 13 years, having moved to marry her first husband, an American professor, and was stepmother to three children and the mother of two.

Cooper went on to write other well-received novels, including "The Boggart" (and its sequel "The Boggart and the Monster"), "King of Shadows", and "Victory," as well as several picture books for young readers with illustrators such as Ashley Bryan and Warwick Hutton. She has also written books for adults, as well as plays and Emmy-nominated screenplays, many in collaboration with the actor Hume Cronyn, whom she married in 1996. Hume Cronyn died in 2003 and Ms. Cooper now lives in Marshfield MA. When Cooper is not working, she enjoys playing piano, gardening, and traveling.

Recent books include the collaborative project "The Exquisite Corpse Adventure" and her biography of Jack Langstaff titled "The Magic Maker." Her newest book is "Ghost Hawk."

Visit her Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/SusanCooperFanPage
www.facebook.com/GhostHawkBySusanCooper

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
28(28%)
4 stars
40(40%)
3 stars
32(32%)
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100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
mvhcmaniac
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The book delved into the lives of Sam, who was pressed into service on the HMS Victory, and Molly, a modern-day English girl who had relocated to America.

Sam had to grapple with the challenges of adapting to life on the ship, while Molly was busy adjusting to her new life in a foreign country.

Despite their separate struggles, they were curiously connected through the HMS Victory.

I had initially expected the time travel aspect to be more like that in "King of Shadows," but unfortunately, nothing significant occurred until the very end.

I found myself more captivated by Sam's story than Molly's, and I was rather frustrated that the connection between them was revealed so late in the book.

Due to its focus on the boy and girl characters, it is likely to appeal to many children. However, it proves rather difficult to simply classify what "type" of book it is.

It seems to blend elements of historical fiction with a touch of mystery and a hint of modern-day adventure.

This unique combination makes it both engaging and somewhat perplexing in terms of categorization.

Overall, while it has its strengths, the delayed connection and the ambiguity of its genre may leave some readers with mixed feelings.

Nevertheless, it still has the potential to charm and intrigue young minds.

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Paperwhales
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I've read several of Cooper's books.

This particular one isn't among my absolute favorites. However, it is an interesting piece of historical fiction that is set during the time of Vice-Admiral Nelson.

She employs a double-pronged literary device. There's a young modern English girl in America and a young English boy in the time of Nelson.

The writing style varies. It's in the first person for the boy and in the third person for the girl.

I had really hoped to like this book a great deal, but unfortunately, I just never got fully immersed in the story. I felt that it was a bit contrived.

Nevertheless, I will still recommend it to my readers who are assigned to read a historical fiction book.

Cooper puts in a lot of effort to create a vivid sense of place on the H.M.S. Victory, and she does a rather good job of it.

Overall, while it may not be a top pick for me, it does have its merits and could be an enjoyable read for those interested in historical fiction set during this era.
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Kod_Creed
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is a remarkable YA (perhaps even a bit younger in its appeal) historical piece with a hint of fantasy.

It tells the story of Sam, an English boy who is forcibly enlisted into the navy and ultimately finds himself on the Victory alongside Lord Nelson.

Simultaneously, it weaves in the modern-day life of Molly, a girl who has had to relocate from London to the United States due to her mother's remarriage.

Molly discovers a fragment of the Victory's flag, which creates an unexpected connection between the two timelines.

The historical details are masterfully presented, painting a vivid picture of life on the Victory during that era.

The parallel storylines of homesickness, loss, and acceptance are delicately and beautifully handled, making the reader empathize with both Sam and Molly.

This book offers a unique and engaging reading experience that combines history, fantasy, and relatable emotions.

It is sure to captivate young readers and transport them to different times and places.

Overall, it is a wonderful addition to the YA literature genre.
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ChibiMilly
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I read this book when I was approximately 12 years old, and it truly made me fall head over heels in love with history!

This book, along with the Mummy movies starring Brendan Frasier, kindled within me a burning desire to pursue history as a career.

Now, I hold a BA in History and Art History, as well as an MA in Public History.

I have always been captivated by time travel stories, and this book had the faintest whisper of it.

In the story, it absolutely fascinated me that someone could be so deeply and strongly connected to a particular piece of history.

Cooper did an outstanding job of leaving certain parts of the story open to the imagination, which added an extra layer of allure.

I typically have a hard time reading books twice, but I may just have to make an exception for this one since it has been a few years since I last read it!

I'm eager to revisit the enchanting world that Cooper has created and once again be immersed in the captivating narrative.
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ccchipa
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Excellent!

I might have taken more time to savor this wonderful work, but unfortunately, I rushed through it in my eagerness to come here and recommend it to some of you.

I must confess that this is the very first non-Dark-is-Rising Susan Cooper book that I have read all the way through. However, the description on the jacket flap was so intriguing that I simply had to give it a try. And from the very first page, I fell in love with it.

The story is set in 19th century England and involves sailing, which adds a touch of adventure and excitement. At the same time, it also delves into modern-day England and the life of a young girl who has to leave her homeland behind and come to the US. The combination of these two time periods and settings creates a unique and engaging narrative.

Moreover, there is just a touch of fantasy in the story, which adds an extra layer of charm and mystery. It's a book that you simply can't miss. If you're looking for a captivating read that will transport you to different times and places, then this is definitely the book for you.
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milkman57
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I went out of my way to grade this the way I would other books, so it got 3 stars.

However, in terms of Susan Cooper's ability, this probably should have been on the one to two star level. She never accounted for the fantastic element in the midst of realistic fiction.

If you're going to suddenly toss something completely unrealistic into a book written as though it is realistic fiction, you have to account for how it could happen if you want the story to be "believable". Even when reading fantasy that works by its own rules, you have to obey the rules you've established and account for it.

Cooper does this brilliantly in the "Dark is Rising" series. There she makes the interplay between the real world of Will's family and Will's group of Old Ones work. Here, she just doesn't seem to account for the fantastic element at all.

The two individual stories were nicely told, with decent likable characters. Molly is pretty obviously based on Susan herself and how homesick she was for England. Sam is also well drawn and seems quite authentic. She did a fine job on those two stories which accounts for the 3 star rating.

It was where she tried to intersect the two stories that she fell down on the job. I have checked out other Susan Cooper titles and hope they aren't as disappointing.

I found myself disappointed with this particular work of Susan Cooper. While the individual stories had their merits, the overall lack of integration of the fantastic element left me feeling unfulfilled.

The characters, although likable, couldn't quite make up for the disjointedness of the plot. I had high expectations based on her other works, but unfortunately, this one didn't quite measure up.

I will still give her other titles a chance, hoping to find the same brilliance that I saw in the "Dark is Rising" series. Maybe this was just a one-off misstep, and I'm looking forward to being proven wrong.
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windeen-windy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Sam Robbins was a young lad who, at the tender age of eleven in 1803, was compelled to enter the service on the ship Victory, which was under the command of the renowned Admiral Nelson. The book then proceeds to vividly describe his experiences aboard that ship over the subsequent three years.

Molly, a thirteen-year-old girl, had just relocated to America from England in 2006. She deeply missed her homeland. One day, while in a bookstore, she discovered a book and soon began to have dreams about the events that befell Sam Robbins.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an effortless and quick read that provided valuable insights into ships and the Battle of Trafalgar. I found myself immersed in the story, empathizing with both Sam and Molly. The author did an excellent job of bringing the characters and their experiences to life, making it a truly engaging read.
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unrealgentleman
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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In a captivating blend of history and modern time, we meet a boy named Sam who is aboard HMS Victory. Meanwhile, in the 21st Century, there is a girl called Molly. Both of them are grappling with the challenge of finding their place in the world and controlling their emotions. Interestingly, they seem to have a connection through a scrap of fabric, and eventually, they manage to sort things out and end up just fine.

However, I must admit that I could not really empathize with either of the characters. This lack of connection on my part unfortunately reduced the overall impact of the book for me.

On the other hand, this review was written by a ten-year-old girl, and it reflects her rather different experience of this lovely book. She found that the book is filled with beautiful imagery, which allowed her to fully immerse herself in the settings and atmosphere throughout the story.

Moreover, she learned a great deal about 19th-century life at sea, including the values, attitudes, and the way children were treated during those days. The layout of the chapters was also very clear, as it clearly defined the characters and the dates, enabling the reader to follow the story with ease.

She was particularly compelled by the book because the endings of the chapters were quite effective and intriguing. Susan Cooper does a great job of giving clues to whet our appetite for what comes next, making it difficult to put the book down.

Overall, while my experience may have been different, it's clear that this book has a lot to offer, especially for those who can connect with the characters and are interested in learning about history.
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