Told in alternating voices, this is the story of two young people: Sam Robbins living in 1803 and Molly Jennings living in the twenty-first century. Sam is a farm boy who is abducted and pressed into naval service. There is a war between Great Britain and France, and sailors are desperately needed. Sam is assigned to the HMS Victory, Admiral Nelson’s flagship in the Battle of Trafalgar. Molly’s mother has remarried an American after her husband— Molly’s father—is killed in a plane accident. Cooper meticulously erects parallels between the two characters so that the dénouement is satisfying and credible. Author won the Newbery Medal for The Grey King (1976) and Newbery Honor for The Dark Is Rising (1974). lmp