This fun and interesting, interactive series will enthrall young readers by making them a part of the story. Readers will become the main character and can revel in the gory, dark, horrific side of life throughout important moments in history. Humorous "Handy Hints" that relate directly to the text are provided on each spread. You (the reader) are a 14-year-old boy named Thomas Nickerson. It's your boyhood dream to become a whaler, so you decide to join the crew of the whaling ship "Essex. As a member of the crew, you will get an insider's look at what life was like on a 19th-century whaling ship. Learn what tools are used for whaling, what routes are taken by whaling ships, how to hunt down a whale, and which parts of the whale can be harvested. You'll also relive the horrifying experience of having your ship rammed by a massive sperm whale and being stranded at sea. After reading this book there will be no doubt in your mind that these are grisly tasks you'd rather not do.