Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

The story of Mr. Bowditch's determination is so inspiring, but I'm curious what sparked the author's interest in his true story and how they chose to tell it for young readers.

His relentless pursuit of knowledge made me want to learn more about navigation and the sea. Did the story make others feel inspired to explore new subjects?

There are so many interesting episodes from his life—what led to the choice of highlighting certain adventures over others?