Two children cross an ocean, two hundred years apart. One is Sam Robbins, a powder monkey aboard HMS Victory, the ship in which Lord Nelson will die a hero's death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The other is Molly Jennings, a present-day English girl transplanted from London to America, 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, press ganged to serve in the Royal Navy. In the dangerous world of a 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 him, she has lost her childhood but will find her future, with help from a very unexpected source. Two lives joined forever by the touch of Nelson, the greatest sailor of all time.

Both swashbuckling and moving, no child should miss this book!

About the Author
Susan Cooper is a world-renowned author of children's books. Born in 1935 and brought up in England, she worked as a journalist before moving to America, where she now lives. Her fabulous The Dark is Rising sequence has won the Newbery Medal and been twice nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her Boggart titles have won the Scottish Arts Council Children's Book Award and been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. King of Shadows was also shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. As well as writing novels, Susan Cooper writes successful plays, and screenplays for film and television.

Reviews
Meticulously researched and written with economy and sympathy -- Amanda Craig * The Times *
Themes of loss, displacement and - eventually - adjustment and acceptance link two very different narrative strands in this evocative novel . . . The historical background is meticulously researched but above all this is an engrossing story for children to enjoy -- Kate Agnew * Guardian *
Susan Cooper hits top form with Victory . . . A rousing yarn, crammed with enough accurate detail to keep any history teacher more than happy -- Nick Tucker * Independent *
Susan Cooper shows great empathy for her characters . . . this is masterful historical writing which vividly brings the past to life * Publishing News *
The emotional demands of contemporary family life are beautifully counter-pointed with the privations of early 19th century seafaring . . . An evocative novel -- Lesley Agnew * The Bookseller *



Book Information
ISBN 9780552554152
Author Susan Cooper
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Corgi Childrens
Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
Weight(grams) 191g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 17mm