Windcatcher
Simon & Schuster, 1991
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audio book narrated by
George Guidall
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What’s this book about?
Tony can hardly believe it. He’s sailing with the wind, maneuvering through the narrow channels between the offshore islands with amazing skill. And he’s just learned to sail! But suddenly Tony is confused. Which way had he come? Which way is he headed? And who are the mysterious couple with the high-powered motor boat who are too busy searching beneath the water to answer his call for help?
Tony does some searching on his own. What he discovers leads him on a daring hunt for a 200-year-old shipwreck … and a dangerous confrontation with treasure hunters who will stop at nothing to keep Tony from learning their secret.
Story Behind the Story
For a short time I lived in Connecticut, and for some reason or other I came upon a US government map (I like maps) of its southern coast. That’s when I discovered the Thimble Islands, which, to quote Wikipedia, “is an archipelago consisting of small islands in Long Island Sound, located in and around the harbor of Stony Creek in the southeast corner of Branford, Connecticut.”
Aside from the charm of the name, I was struck with the fact that these islands were relatively close to shore, and close to one another. I had also recently purchased a tiny sailboat with a friend, something called a Snark. It was barely more than a styrene cup with a sail. But I learned to sail it—one man in size—and greatly enjoyed myself.
Awards and Recognition
- Bank Street Teachers College, One of the Best Books of the Year, 1991
Reviews
““… a potent brew of mystery and adventure in this tale of an 11-year-old boy involved in a search for a centuries-old shipwreck.” (Publishers Weekly)
buy the book
if you liked this book, try: