I have read multiple biographies of the family and somehow was not surprised to win The Adventures of Young John Quincy Adams: Sea Chase on Goodreads, even though it is written for young readers.
The author John Braddock was a case officer with the CIA and is a strategy consultant. His previous book is A Spy's Guide to Thinking.
The history behind the story in Sea Chase concerns the eventful journey across the Atlantic in 1778, when an eleven-year-old JQA accompanied his father to France to ask for French support of the American Revolution.
Reading Sea Chase, I had to keep in mind two things: my understanding of JQA and my memories of the historical fiction read in childhood that encouraged a lifelong interest in the American Revolution and history. When a teacher read Ben and Me by Robert Lawson to the class, I loved it and read it several times. Of course, a mouse living in Benjamin Franklin's hat did not give him all his ideas. It was a device to catch a child's attention and interest. It worked.
In Sea Chase, the brilliant mind of JQA has yet to show itself. Instead, at least one person thinks he must have been adopted because he is so naive and clueless. The story is of the Education of John Quincy Adams (not to be confused with the autobiography of his grandson the Education of Henry Adams) in which JQA not only learns French from Dr. Noel, but the art of spycraft as well, involving critical thinking skills and discernment.
While his old man seems busy with papers and oblivious to what is going on around him, another unlikely characterization, JQA makes friends with other young travelers on the ship, including a cabin boy with a secret, suffers seasickness, and learns--literally--to climb the ropes. One night he overhears sailors talking, for there are British spies on board, and his inquisitive mind leads him into troubled waters. There is adventure ahead for the children.
As the good Doctor mentors JQA, he also is lectured about political philosophy and the superiority of Democratic and Christian values.
As a child, I loved adventure stories and stories on the high seas. I believe I would have liked this novel.
As an adult, I cringe at the characterization of JQA, for it is hard to believe he would have been such a dunce. And yet...what about that mouse who gave Ben Franklin his best ideas? I remind myself. It is fiction. For kids. And if that means that twenty years later they pick up a solid biography of the man who dedicated his life to his country, and who after a lackluster presidency returned to the House and argued for an end to slavery, I'm in.
Learn More About JQA:
Read about the quilt I made for John Quncy Adams at
https://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2014/08/john-quincy-adams-champion-of-human.html
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| President's Quilt for John Quincy Adams made by Nancy A. Bekofske for traveling exhibition by Sue Reich and appears in her book Quilts Political and Presidential |
https://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2016/12/in-his-own-words-john-quincy-adams-on.html
The Remarkable Life of Young John Quincy Adams
https://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2014/09/portrait-of-president-as-young-man.html
Mr Adam's Last Crusade
https://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2014/08/mr-adams-last-crusade-by-joseph-wheelan.html
And a book I have been reading, John Quincy Adams Militant Spirit
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/10/books/review/john-quincy-adams-militant-spirit-by-james-traub.html
