Randy of the River; Or, The Adventures of a Young Deckhand

"Randy of the River; Or, The Adventures of a Young Deckhand" by Horatio Alger, Jr. is a story from the early 1900s about a young boy's journey to manhood. The story follows Randy Thompson, a hard-working and honest fourteen-year-old eager to help his family. When Randy becomes a deckhand on a steamboat, he faces difficulties that test his values. From the start, we see Randy's strong family ties and his determination to succeed, despite bullies like Bob Bangs who try to bring him down. As Randy faces these challenges, he learns about honesty and responsibility, and the reader sees him grow and change as a person on the lively Hudson River.