All Taut; Or, Rigging the Boat
1886
A rip-roaring 19th-century nautical adventure that follows Tom Topover and his gang of ruffians from Beech Hill Industrial School as they attempt to build and sail their own boat against all odds. Under the watchful eye of Captain Gildrock, the reformed naval officer who runs the school, the boys trade mischief for marlinspike as they learn to rig a makeshift vessel on a local creek. But Tom wants command, and Ash Burton wants it too, and neither boy knows the first thing about steering a boat through treacherous waters. Their first voyage descends into glorious chaos, testing not just their sailing skills but their fragile alliances and competing egos. What follows is a story of scraped knees, swollen rivers, hard-won lessons about leadership, and the peculiar dignity of admitting you don't know everything. Oliver Optic writes with the kind of rough affection for mischievous boys that made Mark Twain admire his work, crafting a tale where discipline feels like salvation and the open water promises transformation for those willing to earn it. Perfect for readers who loved Treasure Island but want something with more heart and less piracy.
