Adversities frequently happen to people. These challenges can come in many forms. They can be health issues or life situations. Regardless of the shapes of these trying times, the response of individuals to these occurrences is critical. Can people rise above difficulties or do they give up and accept smaller goals? Are the troubles building blocks in character development or crushing blows to aspirations?

The common denominator to conquer adversities seems to be personal choices to use these trying times as building blocks instead of stumbling stones. Jean Lee Latham has written such a story in her acclaimed adolescent biography, "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch."

As a young boy, Nathaniel (Nat) Bowditch witnesses many troubling events. His father has wrecked his ship off the coast of Massachusetts, harming the Bowditch’s family fortune. Instead of living the life of a wealthy shipman, Nathaniel sees his father struggling to support his family as a cooper by making barrels.

The Revolutionary War erupts at this time, causing great hardship throughout the American colonies. Periodically, diseases sweep though Salem, killing many local citizens. Nat’s mother weakens from all of these trials and eventually dies.

Now Mr. Bowditch realizes he cannot continue to take care of all of his children, and signs over Nat to be an indentured servant to an accounting firm. The 12-year-old boy knows that he will have to labor for the next nine years without pay.

At first, Nat struggles with loneliness and the difficulties of learning the intricacies of accounting. But the boy is quite intelligent and realizes that he can learn something valuable from this experience.

Quite talented in mathematics, Nat diligently studies everything he can on the subject. Soon he teaches himself algorithms, geometry and starts studying trigonometry. A chance visit with a Harvard University professor starts him off on the study of Latin so that he can read Isaac Newton’s "Principia Mathematica." He takes his struggles and channels that energy in his work and studies.

By the time Nat turns 21 years old, he knows as much mathematics as a Harvard graduate. What he doesn’t have is anyone to lead him when his indentured servitude is over. He is offered a surveying job and throws himself into the trade with his normal vigor.

A beautiful young woman named Elizabeth Boardman notices this virtuous young man and is impressed. Being born into a rich Salem shipping family, Elizabeth knows the perils and prosperity of sea life.

Nathaniel becomes such an accomplished surveyor, that a shipping company soon hires him to be a navigator for a voyage. Just before leaving, Nat meets Elizabeth and falls in love with her. As he leaves Salem on his first voyage, Elizabeth stands on the upper porch of her family’s beautiful home and wave’s goodbye. Having finally found the love he always wanted, Nat is again faced with the challenges of life.

What happens to Nat and Elizabeth? Do they marry and have a beautiful and long marriage? Or does life throw more trying and difficult ordeals Nat’s way?

What do you do when you are faced with hard times? What does Nathaniel do? To find out, read this outstanding biography about Nathaniel Bowditch.

Nathaniel Bowditch actually overcame the long odds described in Latham’s biography. He rewrote the navigation manuals of the time and published his famous book "Bowditch’s American Practical Navigator." The book was so much more accurate than any other books on naval navigation that it became a standard text in the sea world.

I hope you enjoy this biography as much as I did. It is well written and shows the power of making the most of opportunities and staying optimistic when trials arrive.