With Porter in the Essex A Story of His Famous Cruise in the Southern Waters During the War of 1812

"With Porter in the Essex" by James Otis is a historical fiction story set during the War of 1812 that follows fourteen-year-old Ezra McKnight as he joins the crew of the USS Essex. Ezra, inspired by his cousin, dreams of naval glory, but quickly discovers the difficult realities of life at sea when he faces seasickness and struggles to learn the ropes. Accompanied by his friend, Philip Robbins, Ezra experiences both the thrill and peril of their mission to capture enemy ships, forging bonds of friendship with his fellow young sailors as they navigate their initial experiences with naval combat.