The Young Man and the Sea

The Young Man and the Sea (2004) is a middle grade novel by Rodman Philbrick. After the death of his mother, 12-year-old Skiff Beaman’s father slips into a depressive episode, and their boat, the Mary Rose, is damaged. Armed with a small wooden skiff (boat) his father built for him, Skiff embarks on a mission to catch a giant bluefin tuna, so he can raise enough money to fix the Mary Rose’s engine and lift his father’s spirits. The novel emphasizes the importance of family, resilience, and thinking smart.

This guide refers to the paperback edition published by Scholastic in 2005.

Content Warning: The Young Man and the Sea depicts depression and alcohol addiction and mentions death.

Plot Summary

School lets out for summer in Spinney Cove, Maine, and 12-year-old Samuel “Skiff” Beaman Jr. cycles home to discover his father’s fishing boat, the Mary Rose—named after his deceased mother—has sunk. Skiff tells his father, Skiff Sr., but the latter has been in a depressive episode since Mary Rose’s death. He instead enlists the help of his elderly neighbor, Mr. Amos Woodwell, and raises the boat. However, some of the boat’s planks are rotten, so Mr. Woodwell helps Skiff replace them. Meanwhile, Skiff Sr. drinks beer and stares at the TV.

Skiff calls a mechanic, who tells him that the Mary Rose’s engine is broken and repairing the Mary Rose will cost over $5,000. Since Skiff’s mother died, his father, who used to be a fisherman, hasn’t been working. Skiff starts brainstorming ways to raise money: His first idea is to use his small wooden skiff (boat), which his father built for him, to set 200 lobster traps around the area. He works hard for a few weeks, but soon discovers someone has been cutting his traps.

At night, Skiff sneaks out in his skiff to catch the culprit who’s been cutting his lobster traps—Tyler Croft, a boy who bullies Skiff for being working-class. Skiff Sr. used to work for Tyler’s father, Jack, but they got in an argument and no longer talk. Skiff confronts Tyler, but Tyler claims a lack of proof. Skiff informs his father, Mr. Woodwell, and another man named Captain Keelson, but none of these people are willing or able to help.

Skiff tries to recover his lobster traps, but one day, sees a man at the docks bring a large tuna and sell it to a buyer named Mr. Nagahachi for over $6,000. He decides to catch a bluefin tuna himself. At night, he sneaks out in his skiff and steals his father’s harpoon. Skiff heads east for 30 miles amid fog, but keeps going, remembering what his father taught him about fishing and geography, as well as his mother’s advice to think smart.

Skiff dumps bait in the water, which attracts mackerel. After a while, tuna appear to feed on the mackerel. Skiff throws his harpoon even though he can’t see where the tuna are. He realizes this strategy is ineffective, so he waits until he has a clearer shot. The fish disappear and he takes a nap, then is woken by a foghorn. The tuna return and Skiff hits one with his harpoon. However, the tuna swims down and pulls Skiff underwater.

Skiff, who lacks a life jacket, fights to swim back up to the surface. He waits until the tuna stops flailing, then wraps rope around its tail to control it. He drags the tuna behind the skiff, but the motor quits and he has to row. Skiff weakens from exhaustion and dehydration, but his father appears with Jack Croft to rescue him. He falls asleep and has to go to the hospital, but recovers with no serious injuries. It turns out, he caught the biggest tuna in Maine all summer, which raises more than enough money to buy a new engine for the Mary Rose. Skiff Sr. rekindles his friendship with Jack and starts attending sobriety meetings.