During colonial times, the whaling industry developed along the eastern coast. Nantucket and New Bedford, Massachusetts, were the centers where ships were built and outfitted, and where they returned laden with their precious cargo. These whaling ships supplied 80% of the oil used by Americans for well over a century.Because whaling was so dangerous, captains and crews of the whaling boats set themselves apart from ordinary seamen. Despite the challenges of the sea, runaway slaves we eager to enlist; they were used to hard work and willing to accept lower pay than other sailors. Free black seamen signed on because of the career opportunities; one day they might be a first mate, a captain, or even an owner. Additionally, there was less prejudice onboard a whale ship than on land because everyone had to cooperate for the common good of all. As one black seaman wrote, "The sea was an equalizer of men, therefore the captain chose his crew based on who could do the job best."This book details the lives of such well-known figures as Paul Cuffee, ship owner and captain; Crispus Attucks, a whaleman killed in the Boston Massacre; Fredrick Douglass, a leading abolitionist who was once a caulker of ships in New Bedford harbor; Joe Hershey, a well-known ships' blacksmith; and Lewis Temple, who invented the toggle harpoon. Information on lesser known individuals is also included. Readers will follow a complete voyage of a whale ship, from signing on at the docks, to the hunt, and the return home. Grade 6-9-A well-researched and detailed book chronicling the contributions of African Americans to the whaling industry. Many were drawn to jobs on whaling ships throughout the 1600-1800s, for while conditions were difficult, they were preferable to slavery. The authors go to great lengths to draw out the roles of African Americans, and while many of these connections are eye-opening, they are sometimes tenuous. The first half of the book, an introduction to the whales and the business surrounding their hunting, features significant men such as Prince Boston and Paul Cuffe, but also some who were less directly involved. Frederick Douglass did briefly work as a ship's caulker but many pages are devoted to describing aspects of his life that are irrelevant to whaling. Midway, the emphasis shifts to interesting aspects of life aboard ship, explaining phrases we use today that derive from whalers, superstitions of the seas, sailing songs and shanties, the story of the famous Essex, and the role of whalers in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. While the story becomes much more engaging at this point, the role of African Americans seems to have diminished importance as race is only occasionally mentioned. Overall, though, as an important and under-explored aspect of both African-American and nautical history, this book merits a place on the shelves in larger libraries and in African-American collections. However, for a more fascinating look at whaling, and one that integrates the African-American story along with the many other participants, look to Jim Murphy's Gone A-Whaling (Clarion, 1998). Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. This fascinating look at the convergent histories of whaling and the abolitionist movement weaves seemingly disparate threads into a detailed tapestry. The authors trace the whaling industry from its colonial New England roots through the end of the nineteenth century, establishing it within a strong political, social, and economic context. The connections they describe are illuminating, including the use of whaling ships as vehicles on the Underground Railroad and as weapons in the blockade of two Confederate harbors. Whaling was a harsh profession that offered, if not equality, at least greater opportunity for African American men. Drawing heavily from primary sources, the McKissacks celebrate the accomplishments of such sailors, captains, shipbuilders, and inventors as Lewis Temple, the blacksmith who designed the first barbed harpoon. Less-skilled readers may have difficulty following the expansive narrative that pulls in details from several different angles, but history buffs and researchers should find the book's complexity rewarding. Appended is information on whale species, a time line, and a bibliography. Randy Meyer From the McKissacks (Young, Black, and Determined, 1998, etc.), a well-written, historical account of African-Americans who sailed on whaling ships off the East Coast between 1730 and 1880. The whaling industry provided great opportunities for free black seaman (and runaway slaves), many of whom could not find jobs elsewhere. The McKissacks note that during the ``golden age'' of whaling in the early 19th century, African-Americans comprised one-quarter of the crews; after the Civil War, their ranks swelled to half of all whalers. Not only does this book describe the whaling industry, it provides original maritime documents and his