<CENTER><Font size="+1"><I>I, Tom Cringle, two days before my <P>thirteenth birthday, have made the <P>decision of my life: to go to sea.</I></Font></CENTER> <P> Just two and a half weeks after Tom makes this bold declaration, he sets sail aboard the <I>Bream</I> as a midshipman in England's navy. The War of 1812 is raging, and Tom's ship is headed for Jamaica to patrol the waters against pirates. <P> Tom finds all the adventure he ever dreamed of -- and then some. Within his first few months as a sailor, he's caught in a life-and-death battle with a mysterious ghost ship, is rescued from a shipwreck by his faithful dog, Sneezer, survives an earthquake, and is kidnapped by Obediah Glasgow, a fierce and dangerous pirate for whom Tom develops an unexpected loyalty. <P> <I>Tom Cringle: Battle on the High Seas</I> is a fast-paced and gripping story of life on the high seas, of conflicting allegiances, and of finding friends where they are least expected. But most all, it is the tale of a boy who seeks a personal code of honor to guide him through unpredictable and perilous times. Tom's earnest, honest voice and the dynamic and memorable characters he meets make this an irresistible coming-of-age story that will resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page.