On July 1, 1856, the great clipper ship Neptune's Car sailed from New York in a race to San Francisco, 15,000 miles away, with Captain Joseph Patten and his young wife Mary on board.

They knew the voyage around Cape Horn would be filled with danger, and sure enough the weather worsened as they neared the Cape. The fierce winds and high seas had forced other ships to turn back, and many men had been lost. Then, with the first mate in chains for disobeying orders, the Captain was struck with “brain fever” and could neither see nor hear. The second mate did not understand navigation. In the midst of the terrible storm and bitter cold, there was only one person aboard ship who could save the crew and the cargo: nineteen year-old Mary Patten took command.

This dramatic story of high adventure and remarkable courage is based on a real-life sea voyage that took place more than one hundred years ago. For young readers, the unusual story of Mary Patten and the dramatic illustrations by Joe Lasker will provide a rare glimpse into the life of a brave American.

From the dust jacket