The Twenty-One Balloons

Author: William Pene du Bois

Main character: Professor William Waterman Sherman

The book was written about the mid 1860's. The professor had been dreaming of a quiet, alone time for the last couple of years of his work with students. He was a teacher for over 40 years and longed for some peace and quiet. He conceived of a balloon that would take him up and away for a long time, a year he hoped. He had a very large balloon built along with a small basket apartment as the basket for his journey. He set off with only four of friends looking on and came back with the whole country watching. He had made a trip around the world in just 40 days, half the time of the record that currently stood. He told of his adventure flying over the Pacific Ocean and happening upon the island of Krakatoa. There were people living secretly on the island that he met and enjoyed. Soon after his arrival a terrible eruption took place and they hurriedly escaped from the island. As luck would have it, he didn't spend much time alone or on his trip. In all, I enjoyed the description of the island and its people. It was a good book for middle school aged students to read. It was not on my original list, but I could put it on and be fine with it.