Skiff Beaman is a very determined boy.  He's trying to save the Mary Rose, his father's fishing boat.  No matter how hard he works, he can't keep her afloat.  There's one more crazy chance he can take, but is it worth his life?   (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Committee, 2004-05)

Booktalk #2

After the death of his mother, twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman tries his hand at setting lobster traps to earn enough money to put his father's fishing boat back into service so that his dad will snap out of his depression and go back to fishing. When lobstering doesn't work out because the bully, Tyler Croft, keeps cutting his lines, Skiff tries fishing for bluefin tuna in the wide-open ocean in search of big money.   Black-eyed Susan Award nominee 2005-2006

Booktalk #3

" ‘Dad!’ I go. ‘She gone under!’ He rolls to the side and puts a bleary eye on me. His beard is all matted because he ain’t combed it in months, and it makes him look old and scruffy. ‘School’s out, huh? How’d it get to be that late?’ ‘The boat sunk! What’ll we do?’ ”

This is an exciting adventure story about young Skiff Beaman and the struggles he faces in life. He takes on tasks that many adults would not even consider. Does he have the courage to face the hardest tasks? Read The Young Man and the Sea to find out. (Prepared by Marley Shaver, SCASL Children’s Book Awards)

Booktalk #4

Skiff Beaman’s mom always said “show the world what you’re made of, Skiff Beaman.” She also had three rules for him to live by. Rule Number One: think smart. Rule Number Two: speak true. Rule Number Three: never give up. So after his mom dies, twelve-year-old Skiff takes care of his father as promised, but gets tired of trying to get his dad to quit drinking, get off the couch, and out of the house. On the last day of school, his boat sinks and Skiff seeks advice from 93 year-old Mr. Woodwell on how to raise a sunken boat and repair it. For $5000 the boat’s engine can be rebuilt so Skiff spends the rest of the summer trying to earn the money to fix the engine when the biggest fish in the sea tries to kill him and then ends up saving his life. (Prepared by: Tambra Pingle , SCASL Junior Book Awards)

Booktalk #5

Twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman spends his summer repairing the fishing boat while his negligent father drinks and mourns for his wife. Tormented and sabotaged by a bully, Skiff struggles to make enough money to replace the boat’s engine. In one last desperate move, Skiff risks his life in the open ocean. Skiff decides to take his chances and go after the big one - a 900 lb tuna. Can he bring it in? What will his father do? A gripping tale with a satisfying ending.  (Jean B. Bellavance for Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards, 2006-2007)