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The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed by Heather Vogel Frederick

Summary

Precocious Patience Goodspeed, almost thirteen, hates to leave Nantucket and her treasured math tutor for a three-year whaling voyage. Patience's father, Isaiah Goodspeed, runs a tight ship. Between endless kitchen duty and run-ins with the motley crew, she hardly has time to learn navigation. But smooth sailing gives way to a rocky course: Soon suspicious mates come aboard and maroon Patience's father and brother on a deserted island. And Patience is faced with a problem that will take more than just brains to solve.

Discussion questions

  1. If you were in Patience's place, would you want to go on the whaling voyage or stay on land at boarding school? Why?
  2. Do you agree with Patience's father's decision to bring his children along on the voyage with him? Why do you think he did that?
  3. How would you describe Patience? What kind of a person is she? Does her name fit her personality? How does she change over the course of the novel?
  4. This novel features Patience's personal journal. What did you like about it being included in the story?
  5. How did you feel when the first whale was caught?
  6. Patience receives three gifts for her 13th birthday from her family: a kitten, a strand of pearls, and a sextant. What do you think each of these gifts symbolize?
  7. Why do you think Binyon and Todd act the way they do? How would you deal with it?
  8. Did you suspect there was anything shady about Bridgewater before he revealed his true self?
  9. Why do you think Bridgewater kept Patience on board?
  10. How does the remaining crew overcome the mutiny?
  11. What do you predict for Patience's future?
  12. Did you use the glossary much while reading the novel? Would you ever try to make the recipes included at the end of the story?

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