Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | L. Frank Baum (as "Capt. Hugh Fitzgerald") |
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| Illustrator | Howard Heath |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Adventure fiction young adult fiction |
| Publisher | Reilly & Britton |
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Publication date
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1906 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 271 pp. |
Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea is an exciting adventure book for young people. It was written by L. Frank Baum, who is famous for creating the magical Land of Oz. This book was Baum's first time writing especially for teenage boys. He published it in 1906 using a different name, "Capt. Hugh Fitzgerald." This was one of many pen names Baum used.
Contents
Why Baum Wrote for Different Readers
Around the early 1900s, L. Frank Baum became a very popular writer. His book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (published in 1900) was a huge success. By 1905, Baum wanted to write for more types of readers.
He wrote his first book for adults in 1905. Then, in 1906, he wrote his first books for teenage girls. These were Annabel and Aunt Jane's Nieces. At the same time, he also wrote his first book for boys, which was Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea. This book was meant to be the start of a series. The next book, Sam Steele's Adventures in Panama, came out in 1907.
What Happens in the Story
The story of Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea is told by Sam Steele himself. This was a bit unusual for L. Frank Baum's books. Sam Steele is a brave, smart, and friendly 16-year-old American boy.
Sam's Journey Begins
The story starts in 1897. Sam learns that his father, Captain Richard Steele, has died in a shipwreck. Sam is then tricked out of his family's money. Now an orphan, he meets his uncle, Naboth Perkins. Uncle Naboth is also a sea captain and owns ships. Together, they decide to sail the Pacific Ocean for trade.
Adventure at Sea
Sam and his uncle set sail from San Francisco on a ship called the Flipper. They are taking supplies north to open a store. Their goal is the busy gold mining towns of the Klondike Gold Rush in "Alaska."
A big storm hits their ship. It washes them onto a faraway island. On this island, they find a group of desperate miners. These miners have found a lot of gold but are stuck.
Facing Challenges
The crew of the Flipper and the miners team up. They have to deal with thieves and dangerous natural events. After many challenges, they manage to return home. They bring back plenty of rewards from their adventure.
A Happy Return
Back home, Sam and Naboth get a big surprise. Sam's father, Richard Steele, is alive! He survived the shipwreck, but he lost one leg. Sam and his father then win a legal fight. They get back the money that Sam had lost earlier.
Story Connections
L. Frank Baum's plot for Sam Steele was inspired by other famous adventure books. One influence was Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The book also has a small part that reminds readers of She by H. Rider Haggard.
Baum also used ideas from this first Sam Steele book in his later works. Five years later, he wrote The Sea Fairies. He even turned the character Naboth Perkins into Cap'n Bill Weedles in that book.
