Dangerous Crossing

It's February 1778, and the war is going badly for the Americans. John Adams, with his 10-year-old son, John Quincy, boards the Boston for a transatlantic voyage to enlist French support for the war. This short, exciting story introduces young readers to two important characters from our early history. Tom Stechschulte's reading is riveting and concise, relating the dangers of wartime travel across a vast ocean filled with hostile warships and winter storms. An author's note places the story in context and relates John Quincy's future as an important statesman. Side Two repeats the story with page-turn cues, allowing young readers to read along while following an excellent model of pacing and expression. N.E.M (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

Travel is a fine form of education. At the age of 10, John Quincy Adams and his father went on a mission to France during the third year of the American Revolution. John Quincy experiences stench and seasickness, chase and battle, a Portuguese man-of-war, and a horrific storm as he makes a wintertime ocean crossing on the frigate BOSTON. Tom Stechschulte offers a thoughtful presentation of this historical vignette, blending the curiosity of young Johnny with the gravity of the voyage and the precarious American situation. Voicing the thoughts of an occasional officer or crew member brings the recording to life. The author's notes about John Quincy Adams's later life complete the recording. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine