68 Knots
by Michael Robert Evans
by Michael Robert Evans
68 KNOTS by Michael Robert Evans
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 10/25/07
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
Reviewed by: Andie Z.
Rating: 5 Stars
Eight teenagers are ready for the summer of a lifetime – as part of a Leadership Cruise on board the schooner
Dreadnought. But when the camp owner commits suicide just a few days into the cruise, rather than go back home, the
teens decide to take charge of the ship themselves. They tie knots into a piece of rope, one knot for each day of
summer remaining, and then set off to enjoy their 68 days of freedom.
The journey is not always easy, and they face many challenges along the way – including struggles for leadership, failed
romances, storms, desertions, damages to the ship, and diminishing food supplies. But it’s not all difficult, and they
manage to have several fun adventures as well, such as trying to rescue a whale, searching for buried treasure, raiding
yachts, racing other boats, and going hunting for seals.
The teens may not have had the summer experience they were expecting, but they are all undoubtedly changed by their
time aboard the Dreadnought, as new friendships and relationships are formed, and they all begin to question their own
futures.
68 KNOTS is a very fun read, and I really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and diverse (although a couple of
them have rather annoying habits), and the book is full of great details about sailing a ship. Even though the crew of the
Dreadnought gets into some pretty sticky situations, anyone who reads this is bound to want to go out and experience
the same summer at sea as these kids – I know I do!
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 10/25/07
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
Reviewed by: Andie Z.
Rating: 5 Stars
Eight teenagers are ready for the summer of a lifetime – as part of a Leadership Cruise on board the schooner
Dreadnought. But when the camp owner commits suicide just a few days into the cruise, rather than go back home, the
teens decide to take charge of the ship themselves. They tie knots into a piece of rope, one knot for each day of
summer remaining, and then set off to enjoy their 68 days of freedom.
The journey is not always easy, and they face many challenges along the way – including struggles for leadership, failed
romances, storms, desertions, damages to the ship, and diminishing food supplies. But it’s not all difficult, and they
manage to have several fun adventures as well, such as trying to rescue a whale, searching for buried treasure, raiding
yachts, racing other boats, and going hunting for seals.
The teens may not have had the summer experience they were expecting, but they are all undoubtedly changed by their
time aboard the Dreadnought, as new friendships and relationships are formed, and they all begin to question their own
futures.
68 KNOTS is a very fun read, and I really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and diverse (although a couple of
them have rather annoying habits), and the book is full of great details about sailing a ship. Even though the crew of the
Dreadnought gets into some pretty sticky situations, anyone who reads this is bound to want to go out and experience
the same summer at sea as these kids – I know I do!