Key to Honor by Ronald Wanttaja

Pacific Northwest Writers Conference Award and high praise from the Sea Room: “A perfect book for young adults 12-15...it demonstrates civility and honor, teaches leadership, teaches the nautical stuff along the way, is a bit better than reality, has a happy ending, and feels authentic.... Highly recommended....”

Set during the War of 1812, The Key To Honor is filled with maritime action and images. Young Nate Lawton’s bravery in combat aboard USS Constitution in her famous victory over HMS Guerriere has earned him midshipman’s rank. But he hides a guilty secret. He deserted his post during the same battle. Although everyone sees him save the Constitution’s captain, no one sees him hide from the rest of the fight. Nate is determined to regain his honor and it looks as though he will soon have his chance. He has been assigned to the Chesapeake in Boston Harbor. A pair of British frigates, led by HMS Shannon, blockade the harbor and the Chesapeake’s Captain Lawrence is under heavy pressure to deal with the blockade and reopen Boston’s vital trade.

Nate must first discover what honor is. Does it lie in the sense-less duels fought by his superior officers? The arrogance shown by his fellow shipmen? Or in overcoming the contempt of the expe-rienced seamen shown toward him, their fifteen-year-old leader? One of the shortest battles of the early U. S. Navy provides Nate’s answers and the novel’s finale.

The reader becomes one with Nate as he shares his thoughts and feelings which are juxtaposed with Navy protocol and shown both aboard and off ship. Everywhere the author’s extensive research is deftly blended with his smooth writing style to enhance the novel’s superb realism—from dialog and full-bodied characterization and mood settings to ships’ details, Navy rules, confrontational scenes and the historic, final battle.

Mr. Wanttaja is a resident of Kent, Washington.