October 1835. Patience Goodspeed, almost thirteen years old, departs
from Nantucket aboard her father's whaling ship. Between kitchen duty
and whale blubber stench, this voyage is far from a pleasure cruise. At
least Papa lets Patience assist the ship's navigator since she's so good
at calculations.
But the smooth sailing doesn't last long. Mutinous mates maroon most of
the crew, including Patience's father and brother, on a deserted island.
Can Patience rescue everyone before it's too late?