I absolutely adored this book. It has now firmly established itself as my all-time favorite book.

I find myself able to read it not just once, but over and over again without ever getting tired of it.

It truly has the power to tug at your heartstrings and make you deeply reflect on life during the era of Lord Admiral Nelson.

I have already recommended this wonderful book to quite a number of my friends, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who is seeking an interesting and slightly emotional read.

Whether you are a history buff or simply someone who enjoys a good story that can touch your emotions, this book is sure to satisfy.

It offers a unique perspective on a particular period in history and presents it in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

So, if you haven't yet discovered this gem of a book, I highly encourage you to give it a try. You won't be disappointed!

It was a truly cute story.

The way it was presented had a certain charm that was impossible to resist.

I have always been a big fan of Cooper's style.

His writing is so engaging and vivid that it brings the story to life in the reader's mind.

The characters he creates are full of personality and the plot is always interesting and unpredictable.

This particular story was no exception.

It had me hooked from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down until I had finished reading it.

I would highly recommend Cooper's works to anyone who loves a good story.

His style is unique and his stories are always a joy to read.

I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

The story unfolds about two young individuals who are separated by a time span of 200 years, yet both are grappling with losses.

Sam, a sailor serving aboard the HMS Victory in the 1800s, endures the hardships and perils of life at sea.

Molly, on the other hand, is trying to adapt to her new life in America after her British mother marries an American man.

One day, Molly purchases an antique book on the life of Vice Admiral Nelson at a small bookstore. To her surprise, she discovers a tiny piece of a flag hidden within the pages.

This possession of the flag sets off a chain of events that leads Molly back to England.

There, she has an extraordinary experience that bonds her with Sam on board the now restored HMS Victory.

As she steps onto the ship, she feels a connection to the past and to Sam, who lived and worked there so long ago.

The story weaves together the lives of these two individuals, showing how the past and present can intersect in the most unexpected ways.

It is a tale of loss, discovery, and the power of history to bring people together.

This book truly struck a chord with me.

I initially picked it up, misinterpreting the line, "Two lives across an ocean, two hundred years apart..." to mean it was an exciting historically based time-travel romance. All the elements that I love best! However, the fact that it wasn't such a book didn't disappoint me as deeply as it might have. Instead, I was charmed regardless, and I firmly believe this is a worthy read.

The history within these pages came alive. I was completely captivated by the vivid descriptions of life on board Lord Nelson's ship. To the extent that a tour of the HMS Victory has now been added to the agenda for my next trip to the UK. I was enormously proud (just as Sam was) to catch a few glimpses of the Vice-Admiral through this book. As the author herself so eloquently states, "...for the chance of meeting one of my greatest heroes... Writers are fortunate people." And readers, too! For this book took me two-hundred years back in time and made me feel like a fellow witness to the happenings on board.

Most importantly, I really understood the characters. I know precisely how young Molly and Sam felt during their troubles and triumphs. I understand what that intense homesickness for England is like—even though I'm America-born; missing those special sugars, the charming tea houses, and those decidedly British things that simply cannot be replicated in the States. I know how Sam felt with the wind on his face, looking ahead to an adventure; scared, yet excited. Whether it's due to my own personal bias or the author's remarkable talent, I'm not entirely certain, but I felt a deep sense of empathy throughout, and I truly loved the book for it.

However, I cannot give it five stars for one particular reason. The book is told from the perspectives of two British youths, yet it's written in American English. There is no "u" in "honor" as there should be. With Molly, who was taken to the States, it was almost forgivable, but Sam was pressed into the Royal Navy! How could one write with such striking detail about British things and completely miss the proper spellings? It may seem like a small matter, but as they say, the devil is in the details, and I found it extremely distressing. My book cover indicates that the author lives in Connecticut, but her bio says she was born and raised in England, so I'm not sure where the error lies. Is the editor to blame here? For a book with such historical detail, I firmly believe the language should have been captured along with the culture. It made it rather difficult to envision the characters speaking in their native accents. So if she had only added her "u's" and checked her "z's", this book would have been nearly perfect as perfect could be.

This is a meticulously researched account that delves into the life of a boy on HMS Victory.

However, it is intercut with a twentieth-century story that fails to be as compelling.

The narrative culminates in a somewhat underdescribed confluence of the two stories, which unfortunately leaves more questions than answers.

While there is a wealth of information to be learned here about the 19th-century British Navy, the overall work doesn't truly succeed as a cohesive and engaging story.

The lack of a more developed connection between the two time periods and the somewhat unsatisfactory resolution detract from what could have been a more impactful and enjoyable read.

Nevertheless, the detailed research on the HMS Victory and the 19th-century navy is a valuable aspect of this account.

Okay, I must admit that one of the main reasons I was drawn to this book was the character of Molly.

Cooper has crafted Molly in a way that I haven't often seen in fiction. Molly is a middle school student from England who is now living in America and is extremely homesick.

Moreover, she has epilepsy. What makes this book truly remarkable is that while Cooper does mention her epilepsy and it does create some tension during a scene where she disappears on a tour of Admiral Horatio Nelson's ship, it is not the defining aspect of Molly.

It is simply a part of who she is. Cooper doesn't talk down to the readers, nor is she writing solely to educate us about epilepsy.

Victory is not issue-driven.

Also, given that this is Susan Cooper, the writing is outstanding. We follow Molly's story as she investigates a clue she discovers in an old book about Admiral Nelson.

At the same time, we meet a young man who was pressed into service in the Royal Navy under Nelson.

I never thought I would be so engaged in a book about a figure as distant to me as Admiral Nelson.

Yes, I know he is a hero in Britain, but I knew very little about him before reading Victory.

Military history, biography, and fiction aren't really my main interests. However, Cooper brings both the contemporary and historical aspects of the story to life until they ultimately converge in an unexpected manner.

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book, but I particularly appreciated the details of Molly's character.

It is always a positive sign of acceptance when characters who are black, gay, or disabled become integral parts of a story that addresses these aspects without making the character's difference the sole focus of the narrative.

Thank you, Susan, for a wonderful book that truly warms my heart.

I have a profound love for all the history that is encapsulated within it. It has been an incredibly enriching experience as I have learned a vast amount. I was so extremely anxious to uncover what they have in common. The anticipation was palpable, and it truly felt as if it was going to take an eternity to figure it out. Additionally, I could never accurately tell or fully understand if she was dreaming about Sam or if Sam was the main character for certain parts. In a way, it should have been a little more descriptive. This lack of clarity made it somewhat challenging to fully immerse myself in the story. (Sorry about the bad grammar and misspelled words. Yea, I know it's not perfect, but I hope you can still get the gist of what I'm trying to convey.)

Format: 186 pages, plus Author's notes and glossary
Appx: 50,000 words; first person, past for Sam; third person, present for Molly

Molly is deeply homesick and still mourning the loss of her father. One day, while rummaging through an old trunk, she discovers a book about Admiral Nelson. Intrigued, she begins to read, and soon finds herself drawn into the mystery of the book and her own grief.

In contrast, Sam, who lived almost 200 years ago, is suddenly pressed into service under the command of Admiral Nelson. His life is filled with hardships and challenges as he battles on the high seas.

As the story unfolds, the reader is given subtle clues that Molly is somehow experiencing some of Sam's difficulties. Through their shared connection, Molly begins to understand her own pain in a new way.

Ultimately, Molly is able to find strength and growth through Sam's experiences and his willingness to share them with her. The book is well researched and utterly gripping, with vivid details of Sam's adventures and a palpable sense of Molly's struggles. It is a truly remarkable and powerful work that will stay with readers long after they have turned the final page.

This story is presented through alternating viewpoints. One is Molly's, a modern-day preteen who has been compelled to relocate to America from England. The other is Sam's, a boy who finds himself drafted into England's navy in the 1800s. They are linked due to a scrap of cloth (and for another reason, which I somewhat surmised long before the revelation at the end).

My appreciation of this book hinged on whose perspective I was in. I was captivated by Sam's world, particularly when it came to life on the ship. Cooper truly appears to be well-versed in what she's discussing, and I can envision myself perusing this book simply to re-read about ship life and how the ship functions. (But I'll confess this likely has to do with me being a writer and having my own story that occurs on a ship.) I'm unfamiliar with the history surrounding this event, and thus had no clue what to anticipate. Sam was someone I cared about, and as a result, I couldn't read his chapters quickly enough.

As for Molly... I found her irritating. I understand it's difficult to move to a new place (especially a new country), but all she did was complain about Americans and tourists and so on. It became tiresome rapidly. Moreover, her story simply wasn't as engaging, as there wasn't as much at stake compared to Sam's story.

Overall, I adored one half of the book and endured the other. I almost believe this book would have been better if it was solely Sam's story. However, I think Molly's story did add a touch more depth, as her story was sort of the conclusion of Sam's. I'll probably skip most of her chapters the next time I read this, though.

I have a great affection for Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising sequence. However, this particular work didn't quite capture my heart to the same extent. While it was interesting and skillfully crafted, it just felt a bit lacking in excitement for me.

I did manage to learn a significant amount about British warships during Napoleon's era. In fact, perhaps I learned a bit too much. Additionally, the author employs an interesting format, alternating between two seemingly unconnected stories. One is set in the modern day, told in the present tense, while the other is historical, presented in the past tense. By the end, the two stories are brought together in a rather clever way.

To be honest, I highly doubt that this story would hold the attention of any of my kids. Eric might potentially develop an interest in it someday, provided he remains fascinated by ships and is old enough to patiently work through a book that moves at a relatively slow pace and doesn't have a particularly complex plot. The almost-fantasy elements didn't quite click with me, perhaps because the author is so dedicated to historical accuracy. Maybe it's impossible to have both. Nevertheless, I still have to admire the effort and creativity that she has put into this work.

I won this remarkable book at school. The reason? I had one of the tidiest English books in the class.

It's truly an emotional experience to have received this book. It has kindled a strong desire within me to go and visit the HMS Victory.

The story is crafted in two distinct time periods. There's Sam, who exists during the time of the Battle of Trafalgar. And then there's Molly, in the present day. Molly discovers a book about Admiral Nelson. As she delves into it, she begins to have vivid visions of the events unfolding on the great ship.

These visions transport her back in time, allowing her to experience the excitement and drama of that era. It's a captivating narrative that weaves together the past and the present, making it a truly engaging read.

I truly have a great fondness for Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Series. That's why I decided to give this particular book a try. However, it didn't turn out to be my absolute favorite. Nevertheless, it did have several very fascinating aspects regarding what it was like to serve in the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

This book focuses on two distinct 11-year-olds from different time periods and explores how they are interconnected. Cooper crafts one chapter for each of them, alternating back and forth. I really struggled to understand where the author was headed with the connection between Sam and Molly until reaching the end. And even then, it didn't seem as profound as it perhaps should have been.

Moreover, the way she wrote the chapters about Molly was rather strange. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it was just, well, I don't know, weird. On the other hand, Sam's "chapters" were extremely interesting and engaging. You really got immersed in the characters and their lives, and I found myself longing for more of that part of the book. In contrast, Molly's "chapters" were dull. As I previously mentioned, just weird. I would rate Sam's part of the book four stars, while Molly's part only gets 2 1/2 stars.